Junior Rugby

THE damp conditions in the first-half, meant both sides struggled to hold and control the ball.

Good kicking from Richians saw them push into the hosts’ half.

However, Evesham’s well-drilled scrum proved to be the difference in the first period.

Led by Jordon Gurney and Ade Cook they attacked every scrum and turned over Richians put in, to allow Jack Haines to power over the line for the first try.

The second try came from a solid scrum in the opposition’s 22.

Evesham’s two half-backs pulled in the drifting defensive line to create a gap for Scott Fairfax to run in for his first score.

With the cold wind behind Evesham for the second-half, and with points in on the board, they began to play a more expansive game.

Evesham’s backs were able to exploit the open spaces and link-up play between Billy Stokes and Jamie Coles put Fairfax through for his second try.

Tired legs saw the Evesham’s back row start to dominate at the ruck. John Garrood and Charlie Smith strongly contested every breakdown and successfully recycled and drove Richians off the ball to set up an attacking scrum on the opposition’s five-metre line.

Evesham’s solid scrum provided quick ball to stand-in scrum-half Josh Perry, who darted over the line for a great individual try which was converted.

Richians’ kick-off caught Evesham napping but quick thinking and strong tackling from Evesham’s full-back Ben Proctor meant they kept a clean sheet.

Evesham’s last try came from quick recycling by the forwards at the breakdown as they drove into the opposition’s half.

Great movement and link play among the backs created the gap for Scott to run in for his hat-trick.

Old Richians u15s 31, Evesham u15s 7.

EVESHAM travelled to Gloucester for the second week running and enjoyed another tough game against strong opposition.

The visitors took the game to their hosts throughout, but were unable to convert possession into points.

But Richians were clinical in punishing any Evesham mistakes.

The Gloucester team started quickly putting immediate pressure on the Evesham line, brave tackles from Ben Middlicott and Adam Johnson weren’t enough to stop the first try. Evesham were then unlucky not to score following great work from the back row of Matt Camp, Luke Clements and Dom Berry.

They settled for a penalty kick which Berry pulled fractionally wide.

The hosts hit back immediately with two quick tries, before Evesham played well in the second quarter of the match.

The boys began to get the ball wide where they looked dangerous with pace at centre and wing.

Evesham’s only try came from a penalty, inside their 22, taken quickly and fed through the hands of Jake Shotton, Clements and Camp to put Oli Salcedo into space to outflank the cover defence and score. Berry kicked the conversion to make the half-time score 17-7.

Evesham started the second-half brightly, with excellent work up front from James Williamson, Sam Wright, Martin Di Franco and Cam Kyle among others, but try as they might they could not get control of the game.

The hosts had realised Evesham’s strengths and kept the ball tight, generating a frustrating game with lots of penalties for infringements at the breakdown.

The visitors’ rhythm was further disrupted by some handling errors.

Berry, who played well all game, was unlucky to miss a penalty kick before the home team scored two further tries.

Painswick u13s 22, Bredon Buzzards u13s 17.

BOTH sides had large squads keen to play, so it was decided to play three 20-minute periods so all could have a good run-out.

The first-half started well for Bredon. From the kick-off they pinned Painswick deep into their own half.

The Painswick defence held firm and as the try line beckoned, loose ball or a knock-on prevented early Bredon tries.

As the first period drew to a close a penalty against Bredon allowed Painswick to clear their lines and drive into the visitor’s half.

The Painswick winger was halted metres from the Bredon line.

A knock-on, however, allowed Bredon to have put in at the scrum to clear their own line.

Three scrums and panicked attempts to clear resulted in a Painswick try in the last minute of the first period, which was converted. The second period saw a few changes in both the pack and back-line. Again, Bredon pressed hard for the equalising try but handling errors at crucial times prevented a sustained attack on the Painswick line.

Flanker Ben Pates and prop Ryan Taylor were beginning to disrupt the driving maul and give Bredon some much-needed forward momentum.

From a maul Rob Shepherd was able to break free and score a fine solo try in the corner.

Fly-half Rory Burner was inches short of drawing the match level when his conversion from out by the touchline bounced off the post. Painswick scored two quick tries in the third period, leaving Bredon with an uphill battle.

Bredon scored their second try after quick ball from a scrum, allowing Shepherd to run in for his second.

The visitors pressed on and duly got their third try in the dying seconds of the game, a hat-trick for Shepherd under the posts. He converted to level the scores.

It seemed like the game was destined to finish level as there were only a couple of minutes to play from the re-start.

Despite warnings, they failed to cope with Painswick, who continued to press to the Bredon line.