Hillingdon Abbots (Under 14s) 34 - 14 Enfield Ignatians Under (14s)

Report by Rob 'Hold The Back Page' Painter

The boys in blue and gold travelled to Hillingdon where they saw their unbeaten league run end on Sunday, against a side who were themselves unbeaten in two seasons with their only blot being a draw against Chiswick during the 22/23 campaign. As had been the case at Old Albanians, the squad arrived packed full of first season players and once again missing a number of their 'veteran' mini/youth section players including two of their 4 L&SC Academy/DPP contingent. This time however the squad were unable to claim victory and they looked more of a team in transition.

Enfield started well. Strong carries up through the middle from Adam, Liam S, David and Hayden saw us occupy the Abbots 22. However fierce tackling in response held us at bay and the home team kicked well to clear. On five minutes Enfield were in the ascendancy but a turnover and excellent kick chase moved Abbots downfield for the first time. From a line out the home team put the ball through the hands (including one long pass) for the first time and scored in the opposite corner. 5-0. The pattern was already set and I’m sure from the coaches perspective frustratingly so. This game was already looking very similar to our first defeat in 10 games at Hertford; Enfield with territory and possession advantage largely through the forwards, but sloppy in protecting the ball. We get turned over and then miss tackles as the opposition score from distance. We are conceding tries in transition.

Enfield responded well. We had a spell of pressure with David and Berkay going close. But the home defence was good and the calls from outside with ‘men over’ were missed. However we went ahead with a converted try on 15 mins. David lost the ball when close to the line, Hayden somehow snatched it back, fed George who put Patrick through a gap and he scored under the posts, before adding the conversion. 5-7. Five minutes later we had more Groundhog Day. Abbots were forced to kick clear following more Enfield pressure in their 22. The kick chase was brilliant and the home side moved downfield. The line out was over thrown and we were unlucky not to retrieve it. But from the loose ball one of the opposition ran across the field with too few tackles to stop him. 10-7. Straight from kick off, the scoreline got worse. George kicked wide to an Abbots winger who ran straight down the touch line without any tackles coming in. Soft try. 17-7.

Just before half time the boys can consider themselves unlucky. After putting the ball through the hands of the backs Ciaran thought he had scored in the corner but Sir said the ball had been held up. Now we know how the Scot’s felt last week! HT17-7. Early in the second half the game got away from the boys. Perhaps a forward pass and a knock on was missed in the process but as one grizzly observer pointed out it was the four missed tackles that we should focus on as the Abbots big number 14 ran through. 24-7.

Despite the poor day in the tackling department the boys played some good stuff for the next quarter of the game. The scrum was really powerful and looked to be improved from the early part of the season. We also saw some of the new boys like Daniel show better ball retention and presentation too. There were also some good runs from Berkay, David, Kaiden, Ollie S (nice footwork) and others. The team as a whole is in transition. We are seeing more of the forwards this season from a team that was backs reliant. The ball carrying and strength in the team is good. Put the two parts together alongside the squad depth and the team will be ready to step up!

But back to the game….We were held up again just short of the line on 31mins. A few plays later on 36mins we broke to the right with a three on two but a pass fell behind a runner. On a couple of occasions more conviction closer to the line could have seen us score but credit must also go to an excellent scramble defence with good, low and aggressive tackling techniques throughout their team. Further chances came and went but after a series of penalties George put in Adam who barged through a defender to score by the posts. Patrick converted to reduce the gap back to 10pts. 24-14 42mins. Alas that was our last celebration until George won the post match drinking race in the bar.

The next points were crucial. We once more looked in a good position going wide but a dropped ball was scooped up. Our pockets were picked again. 29-14. And very late on the home side were denied by a brilliant tackle from Patrick. However a last minute breakaway try for Abbots came about after a great run from David. The ball was not looked after and a breakaway try occurred again from distance. 34-14 Full time score which was a little harsh and I would back a full and more experienced squad to turn the tables next season given the chance.

Transition is probably the word of the game. Not only is the squad going through change improving in some areas and missing players in others. It is the transition moment where a turnover takes place or a ball goes loose that we need to be better. In defence with less less ball watching we can be more organised to be ready for an attack but of course we still need more boys making committed tackles. In attack we need to look after the ball better and know when to switch from Forwards to backs, but to do that we also have to get to rucks quicker (again less player watching) and the players need to fan out wider to anticipate the opportunities. All very easily said from the sidelines of course!!

Well done to the lads for a valiant effort against a team with some powerful and highly committed players, but with one of the opposition front row bemoaning a couple of new bumps and bruises, it appeared that they knew they had been in a a game. The Enfield coaches would particularly like to thank those players who played out of position, not least Ollie S and Adam who swapped their usual 7 and 8 shirts for the 12 and 13 spots on this occasion and to Ollie H who made a late switch to fullback and did a commendable job under the pressure of the high ball and the very effective chase from Hillingdon.

Thanks also to our hosts, the match officials and as always to a very committed and supportive group of parents for assisting with a lot of behind the scenes work whether that be transport and on this particular occasion procuring an emergency gumshields.