BIGGAR U15s YORKSHIRE (VALENTINE) TOUR

 

MATCH REPORTS

 

 

On a weekend when their wives were expecting to be romanced, the under 15 coaches took their boys to Yorkshire to play 2 games. The first on Friday was to be against Driffield and was to be followed up on Saturday by a game against Beverley.

 

Six hours on a coach and straight into a match isn’t the routine enjoyed by many teams, so a slightly apprehensive 15 took to the pitch on Friday evening. Having been told that they were to face a side that was marginally older and quite physical they were relieved to find that the difference wasn’t that marked and settled down for the start of play cheered on by the travelling support (David, Debbie and Henry Adams).

 

From the kick-off Biggar put pressure on their opponents and spent the first 10 minutes in the opposition’s half of the pitch. The stronger, heavier Driffield pack took the initiative and rallied and securing good ball from the rucks and mauls had some good attacking runs to the Biggar line.

The Biggar defence held firm for a good spell with some of their defensive play quite heroic – echoing in many ways the performance that Scotland put in against Australia.

There was excellent blocking and Driffield were forced back on a number of occasions. This prolonged pressure did tell and although Biggar managed to clear their lines the play remained mainly in their half and before the half-time whistle the Biggar line was crossed twice.

 

Close to half time, however a good attacking move by Biggar was spoiled by Driffield and the resultant penalty, outside the 22, was slotted cleanly between the posts by Mark Bertram.

 

With both their tries un-converted Driffield ran out to start the second half with an 8 point advantage. The Biggar boys hadn’t been that far out of contention and with the scrum starting to get the measure of their opposition there was good ball being fed out. Strong running and commitment from all the Biggar boys meant that the Driffield line was being regularly challenged. Biggar created some rolling mauls and made good distance from them and from the penalties awarded were threatening the opposition line for long spells.

 

In one of these spells a Driffield kick down the pitch was gathered on the bounce by Fraser Topp who set off from deep in his own half. Getting by a couple of tackles he went to ground in the opposition half, laying the ball back. This was fed out and taken wide by Gavin Parker. Stepping back inside he broke through a couple of tackles, rounded another and ran in near the posts to give his side a much deserved, but un-converted try.

 

Driffield came back strongly and in the remaining spell of play they scored from a penalty and ran a late try in almost on the final whistle. With all their tries being un-converted the final score stood at 18 – 8 to the hosts.

 

At the start of the game the Biggar players were dismayed to find that there was to be no lifting in the line-outs. The sudden change of style – which they’d not had time to prepare for - had unsettled them and they struggled in the line-outs as a result of this. To their credit they still turned on a very strong performance and played very maturely, if Driffield ever venture north of the border our boys will be keen for a re-match.

 

Fifteen hours later the Under 15s took to the pitch again, this time against Beverley, the old club of Biggar coach Ants Posa.

Beverley kicked off and soon had Biggar under pressure, an early penalty cleared off the Biggar line – again by some very sound defending. Five minutes into the game however Beverley had a try when their player McBeth dashed through, but again the opposition failed to convert.

 

Biggar quickly went on the offensive and Paul Davidson was stopped just short of the line. In the 12^th minute a driving maul took Biggar within sight of the line again and from that Mark Bertram went in to score under the posts, a try he duly converted.

 

Beverley started to run wide and tried again with a number of forward-based moved but again Biggar’s defence stood firm. Good solid rucking saw a turn-over in the Biggar 22 and peter Millar put in a good kick and hase to take the play back to Beverley’s 22 metre line. From that position Nick Beagan got the ball out to Aaron Crayton, but he has bundled into touch just as he got up to full speed.

 

The ding-dong play continued with Beverley counter-attacking, Biggar getting turn-over and sending Beverley backwards again. Beagan took the ball over the line from this lively spell and Bertram converted to put Biggar ahead at 14 - 5.

Beverley managed to cross the Biggar line and touch down before half time – a 5 metre scrum following a carry-over by Biggar gave Beverley possession and they worked away at then visitor’s defence before finally crossing their line below the posts. Both teams retired with the score standing at 14 – 10 for Biggar

 

From the re-start Beverley worked the ball wide and almost made it to the corner but their player Dixon was knocked into touch. The play again went from end-to- end but even as Beverley were turning their pressure up on a tiring team Biggar were gaining advantages from a good number of penalties. Gavin Parker broke away from a defensive position following one of these and made it deep into enemy territory before being pulled up.

 

Three big and determined attacks were launched, mid-way through the half, against Biggar only to be foiled by some equally determined defensive play and some exceptional individual tackling. Morrison and Starrs pulled out a couple of big tackles on their own and all around there were some brave performances being put in.

 

The demand being put on Biggar was, sadly, beginning to tell and Beverley scored their third try as the last quarter was started. Being the fresher team was finally beginning to give them a reward and from a poor clearance the ball was taken back and the fourth scored.

 

 Biggar battled on despite a rising body count - Tom Stott suffering a bad head knock in the last few minutes after some brave tackling on his part close to the Biggar line. With Biggar running out of steam rather than fighting spirit Beverley managed to force another score at the final whistle and, with all their tries being un-converted the final tally was Beverley 25 – Biggar 14.

 

To sum up, both games were played in tremendous spirit by this under 15 team and their performances both on and off the pitch were very mature, the coaching staff being very fulsome in their praise. A win against Beverley would have been a nice present to take back to Mr Posa, that it didn’t happen is no slight on the boys.