A Winning Start for the Under 15s

Collegiate started fairly sluggishly, which is understandable perhaps. Some of the forwards in particular were a little off the pace.

The scrum was getting used to the new rules and the Collegiate pack was penalised a few times for pushing too early.

The ball did not get to the back in the early stages of the game, but after about ten minutes the ball was thrown across the pitch a couple of times and then found Luke on the left who scored in the corner. It left Aaron a very tricky kick from near the touch line but he converted confidently.

From the re-start Terry received the ball and made a really powerful run down the right wing. Soon after Collegiate the put in at a scrum on the right near the try line. The ball was moved quickly through the back line to Natty who scored, leaving an easier kick for Aaron. So easy in fact that he booted the ball through the posts, over the fence and onto the railway line. Collegiate were now playing more solidly.

Terry made another run down the right wing but was injured in the tackle and had to leave the field. Terry was replaced by Will who almost immediately received the ball on the wing and ran straight to the corner to score a try. No conversion.

Collegiate again applied pressure. From a collegiate put in at a scrum in front of the Southport posts the ball went right to find Natty who went over easily for a try. No conversion.

Half time Collegiate 24 : 0 Southport

The second half started with a lot more pressure from Southport. Southport spent a good 10 or 15 minutes testing the Collegiate defence. But they received nothing for their efforts. Collegiate were again ponderous just as at the beginning of the first half.

However, after 15 minutes Matthew and Joe Welsh combined to inject a bit more momentum into the game, carrying the ball with purpose and breaking through the Southport defence. Joe got the team into a dangerous area near their opponents' try line. Aaron went over for the try but did not convert.

The ball was getting moved a lit bit more fluently now and Matthew popped up to score a try fairly centrally, leaving Aaron an easy conversion.

The backs were getting a lot more of the ball and this was stretching the Southport defence. Matthew collected the ball 15 metres out and jinked in and out to score again. No conversion.

A mention for |Matthew Cotter on his debut who tackled well in particular.

Full time Collegiate 41 : 0 Southport