Sunday 10th September saw the EIRFC U15’s (23/34 Season) blaze into a new era. A change in head coach at the end of last season and a number of players leaving to pursue other interests or move on to other clubs has led to a reshuffle of position for many players. The U15’s were not the only thing blazing on Sunday, the sun was in full effect on the pitch of Datchworth RFC and reminiscent of the current World Cup games, with the game was played in 4 quarters to allow water breaks for the players and officials to hydrate regularly.
With a couple of players away and a couple off with injuries we traveled to Datchworth with only 16, but where elated to see Ender, one of our props/No 8’s returning from long term injury for a brief run out to ease him back into the game he loves. So, with the boys all geared up to try new positions and new moves, every one of the 17 wanted to be in the starting 15, but with no quibble two old hands took the bench to allow Bantshin his debut for the club and Ender to take the field.
As 12:30 ticked over, the game got underway with Ignatians forwards making a rapid progress into the Datchworth half, followed by the backs pushing it deeper into the field. With the rule changes in tackle height, the refs whistle blew a few times for high tackles for both sides in the opening minutes as the boys all settled into the rhythm of the game after the long break, the preseason training engaged and the pattern of the game was disrupted less and less as the match went on.
In just under 7 minutes Ignatians put the first points on the board through a series of forward crash balls with Alan a former No. 8 and now inside center dotting down to the left of the posts. Time for one our Props/Flankers to step up in his new additional role as kicker, with a few nerves showing Ben “Big Mac” slotted the ball through the center of the uprights and Ignatians where off the mark. From the restart, an old hand in the backs, James set off on one of his trademark mazy runs and with great communication between our scrum half and another old stalwart Tommy playing in a new position at 10, it did not take long for Ignatians to be back in the opposition 22.
Now was the time for another new skill for the U15’s to master, the Line Out Lift. A smart throw and a clean lift saw flanker Josh rise into the sunshine and take a clean ball and get it away to the scrum half before landing. Backs and forwards combined and shortly after Ender crashed over for our second try. Step up Big Mac on the bottom of the downward slope for his second conversion that unfortunately narrowly slide past the far upright. With the last play of the quarter, Ignatians controlled the ball and the boys all headed for the shade and to take on water beyond the touchline in a buoyant mode.
The 2nd Quarter was played in much the same way with Ignatians working hard to push Datchworth off the ball in the scrum leading to the only stolen scrum of the match for either team when hooker/flanker Robin nicked a Datchworth ball. Quick and clean dispersion of the ball by the backs saw us heading for the corner only to be stopped short of the line. A quick recycle of the ball saw some more forward action as the team spread the field to attack again. Patiance and good ball handling along with a mix of forwards and backs eventually lead to another Ignatians try from prop Cinar and another conversion. With the half-time whistle being blown the boys went in for more hydration and a quick talk from the coaches. More of the same was the words heard by everyone as for the majority of the match so far, we had kept Datchworth out of our own 22.
Time for the 3rd quarter and Datchworth with a squad of 28 made 13 changes and fresh legs were to prove a little strong for our boys this quarter and Datchworth set about bringing the match to us and scored first. Another line out, and time to try something different as the forwards only 10 from the line decided it was time to catch and drive. After breaking off from the back of the drive a very spirited defense by Datchworth saw us stopped short a few times before a quick pick and drive from the back of the ruck saw one of the wingers, Tor, dot the ball over the line covered in Datchworth forwards. Ignatians continued to soak up pressure from Datchworth as they tried many variations of the preseason training moves and with only seconds of the quarter left, they burst through 3 or 4 tackles to dot down under the posts to leave an easy conversion. Tired bodies lead to a little resentment about the missed tackles, but quickly spotted by the captain Alex, this was put to bed before the boys left the field to hydrate and to a man each boy vowed to get their positions right.
Quarter 4 and time for the boys to dig in and hold out for the win, but the boys had other ideas and quarter 4 started to look a lot like the first half. Once again preseason training and a massive desire from the boys, put in another try from 2nd row and captain Alex, which once again was converted. Changes in our front pack in terms of position saw our other hooker/flanker, Jake soaring into the air at the line out to deliver a perfect pass to the scrum half and the backs were on the way again. A spirited defense by Datchworth held us mostly between the 22’s until the last minutes of the game. From left to right to left again, the ball moved across the field and Ignatians moved forward into the opposition 22 and in the final seconds Alan doted the ball down again in the bottom corner.
Datchworth 12 – Enfield Ignatians 41.
Even with all the heat and game was played by both sides in the true spirit of the game and to a boy every Datchworth players was congratulated by our Head Coach Andy. Datchworth are a division above us, and Datchworth Head Coach had nothing but praise for our boys and they look forward to not only the return visit at the end of the season, but hopefully us both being in the same league next year.
Freezer pops provided by Datchworth were soon consumed as coaches Andy, Danny, Darren, and I congratulated the boys on a job well done. Apart from a little loss of concentration in the 3rd quarter and getting sucked in a little too much, the effort from the entire team could not be faulted and everyone put a mark on the board.
Coach Darren was to say
“Awesome first game. The effort all the boys put in this afternoon in the heat against 28 Datchworth boys was incredible. I could easily mention all the team … the forwards never took a backwards step and the new look backline looked sharp!”
Coach Andy said “Top effort everyone. Great to see things we have been working on in training coming off in games already.”
Our boys did not only did the club proud, but more importantly after the summer shake up, they did themselves proud. Onwards and upwards lads and we all look forward to seeing how the season develops and the boys grow into their new roles.
Team Sheet.
Ira
Jake
Cinar
Alex (captain)
Sam
Josh
Ben
Ender
Robin
Nyle
Lewis
Tommy
Alan
James
Tor
Bantshin
Tom D