Under 14s Secure League Win Against Letchworth

A Champion Performance!

The recently crowned double world champions, South Africa, showed us once again that what you do when you don’t have the ball is as important as what you do with it. Sunday’s victory for Enfield at home to Letchworth was a perfect example of this. Letchworth visited Donkey Lane for a second time this season. In the first game, a pre season friendly, a very good side in Black and Amber turned around an early deficit to run out deserved winners. So the second game, the more important league rubber was set to be a big challenge.

But just as the world champions tend to win when it matters this time the Enfield boys stepped up and produced their best result of the season, generated by a 50minute robust performance. Driven by the encouraging pre match poetry from their coaches, the boys played with high intensity from kick off. In the first minute, Letchworth were pinned in their own half by the boys getting off the line quickly, forcing panic in their ranks which resulted in a knock on. Enfield picked up the ball, playing the advantage and moved it quickly to the left wing. Sammy, then produced a characteristic burst forward, cutting inside and forcing himself over the line despite close attention. Patrick converted well in tricky conditions. 7-0 first minute!

The second try followed a few minutes later. First, more committed tackling and pressing without the ball forced mistakes from Letchworth, creating a home scrum. The pack was under pressure at the following set piece but Adam, playing at 8, scooped up. Hayden followed up and gave a terrific long and flat pass to wide-boy Sammy (his dad is wider). He again galloped to the line, beating the last defender to score the second try. 12-0.

Midway through the first half saw a highlight. A rampaging David picked up the ball in his own half and gained 30 metres with a run. All strength, leg drive and determination with Letchworth defenders bouncing off him. It didn’t result in a try but it’s probably the most outstanding show of power in recent seasons.

Chances came and went on 14 mins with Enfield camped in the opposition 22. The next score felt crucial after what had happened in the friendly. We had to wait another 7 minutes. Again the try was created by the boys work off the ball. Aggressive high press, retaining defensive shape and not missing tackles was the recipe. The away side were made to play deep in their own half and then even under their posts. The resulting try may have looked fortuitous on 21mins with Liam S falling on top of a loose pass over the try line but it was all from home team pressure. Patrick with the conversion 19-0.

Before Half time there was still time for a quick tap and go plus kick thru from Ollie, a strong run from Cian and another drive from David after a line out. HT 19-0.

A cracking first half performance was followed by a gritty second period in the rain. Most impressive was there was no let up in the boys intensity. Letchworth tried to step it up. They have four or five talented players and remained a running threat. The second half was all about the result. Territory superiority was ours again and Letchworth were pressed to kick clear on numerous occasions. Little rugby of note was played. But the high press continued, the game was scrappy and the clock happily ticked away.

The key second half drama occurred on the 41st of the 50 minute match. David was first held up (how?!) close to the line and then Ollie H thought he had scored! Had he touched the ball first? Sir wasn’t sure and awarded an attacking scrum. However the watching gallery thought his arm was raised high and Enfield had been given a penalty under the posts! Maybe the rather dehydrated chap in the middle was just asking for some water? Spectators were bewildered when the boys packed down for the scrum thinking they had missed the chance to put the game to bed and take an easy three pts. It would have been a very Springbok thing to do to elect for a scrum in any circumstance. Unfortunately we lost the scrum and within seconds Letchworth enjoyed four minutes camped on our try line. There was still enough time in the game had Letchworth scored during those phases. But no, a cracking series of desperate tackles kept them out and the pressure passed.

The last word did fall to Letchworth with an deserved try for their efforts. It featured an amazing run from their No.4 carving across the pitch. FT 19-5. Big cheers at the final whistle.

A champion performance!