U15 Reports

Under 15’s Match Report Old Saltleians v’s Tamworth Sunday 10^th February	Score
Both teams were struggling for players in this half-term game with Salts Under 14’s lending Tamworth 2 players to allow the game to go ahead 15 a-side. However, both sides went in to the game prepared for a close fought battle. Salts opened the scoring when Biddle managed to ghost his way through two tackles and score wide out. Unfortunately he was unable to convert. Tamworth stepped up to the plate and hit back with some physical running close to the rucks. The scores were levelled when Salts turned their backs allowing Tamworth to take a quick tap penalty and score unconverted. However, Beaty always has an eye for a quick penalty and, when given the opportunity just outside the Tamworth 22, he took the option to go blind. A cheeky chip over and kick on found the ball over the try line and he would have scored himself had he not been body checked. Pyzer had followed him all the way and was on hand to score the easiest try of his short career so far. Half time: Old Salts 10 - 5 Tamworth Tamworth were roused by their halftime oranges and struck straight from the restart to take the lead with a converted try under the posts. Salts started playing for territory and profited from some basic errors from Tamworth at the scrums and breakdowns. Salts were next on the score sheet when Mordue, playing out of position, hunted down the fullback to isolate him in the mid-field. Biddle had followed up and collected the loose ball to score under the posts. The conversion took Salts 5 points clear. Tamworth were not to be outdone and continued to pressurise. Their 8 broke through the line and offloaded out of the tackle for the support runner to score. However, the conversion was hooked wide leaving the game balanced at 17 - 17 with minutes to go. Salts, inspired by a larger than average crowd, wanted to show they could dog out a victory and put more pressure on the line. As they welcomed back Lee in the front row the forwards began to roll. Good rucking close to the line gave the backs space and time to play with allowing Minton to cross the line for the winning try. Biddle converted to make the game safe. A fantastic game played by both teams was enjoyed by everyone there. Joint man of the match awards go to Tom (Fred) for his aggression in the loose and to Mordue (for the third week in a row) for an outstanding defensive display. Old Saltleians 24 - 17 Tamworth	24-17
Under 15’s Match Report Old Saltleians v’s Burton Sunday 3^rd February	Score
Old Salts welcomed Burton to Watton Lane on a glorious early spring morning. Salts pounced immediately from the kick-off with Loffman collecting a short kick-off and offloading to Court to outpace the defence and beat the full-back to score. However, Burton rallied from this initial set-back and produced some aggressive up front displays. They hit back almost immediately levelling the score at 5-5 before taking the lead with a further unconverted try. Burton looked to be going in to half time with the lead until Beaty kicked through a loose ball on the floor for Lloyd to outpace and touchdown. The second half continued in the same physical way, not helped by some poor refereeing at the break down situation. Burton were gifted a try when, with the referee struggling to keep up with the pace of the game, a blatant knock on was missed allowing Burton to score. Salts heads dropped and Burton punished them almost immediately by adding a further unconverted score. This was how the game was to end; spoiled slightly by some poor decisions. Man of the match was outside centre Mordue for the second week in a row for a fantastic defensive display. Old Salts 10 - 20 Burton	10-20
Under 15’s Match Report North Mids Plate Preliminary Round Sunday 20^th January	Score
Old Saltleians vs. Birmingham & Solihull Spirits were high despite the damp weather, as Salts looked forward to their chance to progress into the quarter finals of the North Midlands Plate competition. Their earlier meeting with Birmingham Solihull had resulted in a convincing win, but the visitors had recruited several new players, so caution was required. Salts began the game firmly wedged into the B&S half, but failed to make any impact on the scoreboard as B&S defended well and forced some errors. But after 10 minutes Evans cleared the ball from a maul and shipped it to Lloyd who found the space and took a classic run to touch down under the posts. Beaty converted and was quickly scoring again after Biddle received the ball from Lloyd at the restart and scored. Salts were finding their confidence and began to dominate the game. The pressure was definitely on B&S as they struggled to keep the Salts off their line. Quick thinking Ward scooped up the ball, dodged the winger and found the corner. He was closely followed after the restart by Beaty who snaked through the defence putting a further 7 points on the score board, bringing the half time score to 26:0. Salts began the second half where they left off and their constant pressure paid off. The centres Mordue and Minton performed well getting the ball out to the wingers who used their speed to dodge past the B&S defence. Biddle scored twice achieving his hat trick, both of which were converted, one by Beaty and one by Biddle himself. Court wanted a piece of the action and found himself on the right wing with ball in hand, powering through from almost half way to score. Birmingham Solihull fought on but Salts were unrelenting, again the ball found the wing and Cartwright crossed the line allowing Biddle another 2 points. This took the score to 50:0 and the referee officially ended the cup game with Salts as victors. However both teams were eager to play the full 60 minutes, so the ref allowed the play to continue. This gave the backs further opportunities to demonstrate their speed with Jobson, Cartwright and Hall adding to the tally - again the magic boot of Biddle converted. At 60 minutes the final score was 69:0. Great team work from the Salts despite a valiant effort from Birmingham Solihull, sees the Salts away at Sutton Coldfield in the quarter finals on 24^th February. Man of the match: Adam Pyzer	69-0
Sunday 9^th December 2007 Worcester (Home)	Score
On a cold and damp morning Old Salts welcomed Worcester to Watton Lane. Salts went in to the game reeling from a heavy defeat the week before and were determined to put things right this week. Starting play against the conditions Salts took the game to Worcester and were camped inside their half for long periods during the early stages. However, Worcester relieved the pressure when, after a series of penalties, they found themselves in the Salts 22 where they created an overlap to score. Almost immediately they split the Salts defence a second time and scored in the corner. Neither conversion was scored. Worcester looked to turn the screw but the Salts defence held firm to prevent a further score and started to build the pressure again. They were rewarded in the last play of the half, as winger, Hall collected a well timed pass from Ward and showed good strength scoring in the corner. Salts started the second half in confident mood, using the conditions to put more pressure on Worcester. Almost immediately Beaty capitalised on an error in the Worcester backs to nudge the ball forwards and touch down over the line for a try converted by Biddle. Salts continued to push and were rewarded when Ward collected a loose clearance and attacked blind before offloading to Lines to score in the corner under pressure; Biddle hit the post with the conversion. Worcester redoubled their efforts and attacked Salts out wide from a series of quick penalties from which they scored in the corner before attacking through the middle of the park to score under the posts. Both scores were converted. Salts had several good opportunities but poor decision making prevented further scores. Worcester scored a final, unconverted try to make the game safe. However Salts were not done, with the last attack of the game, Beaty took a quick penalty and, once again, nudged the ball through the Worcester back line before showing great control to dribble the ball over the try line and score. A fantastic game for both teams, which defied the poor conditions and showed the quality that exists within both squads. Final score: Old Salts 22 - 29 Worcester Man of the match: Tom Jeanes	22-29
Sunday 25th November 07 Birmingham & Solihull (Home)	Score
Old Salts, buoyed by two very good results in recent weeks, welcomed B&S to Watton Lane for a pre-run of the North Midlands Plate round one encounter. B&S brought with them a large physical team but the crowd’s expectations were high. From the kick off both teams struggled to dominate up front. The larger B&S pack were struggling to match the fitness and agility of Salts who, in turn, were being penalised for encroaching at the rucks and mauls. As the game settled down Jobson pounced on a B&S mistake in the backs to kick on and score under the posts. B&S put pressure on Salts after the restart; following a turnover in their own 22 the Salts backs fancied a run and Biddle collected a loose pass before powering around the winger and cutting back inside the fullback to score under the posts. Biddle converted both tries. Beatty then saw space behind the back line and nudged the ball in to the corner for winger Cartwright to touchdown for his second. Salts were now looking comfortable and pushed for more before half time. Cartwright and Minton both scored further tries with Biddle converting both. Half-time: Old Salts 33 - 0 Birmingham Solihull Salts new the game was won but never relaxed in either attack or defence during the second half. Good counter rucking from the pack turned over loose ball and the pack out-scrummaged a much bigger pack. Cartwright completed his hat-trick and kept a cool head to angle towards the posts to allow an easy conversion by Biddle. B&S had some good pressure in the Salts half and looked set to score when their pack set up a maul in mid-field. Salts held their own and prevented the push over before turning the maul over to relieve the pressure. Beatty scored the next; after chasing a kick-on Beatty was pulled back and the penalty awarded by the referee. Before B&S had time to reorganise he tapped the penalty himself and scored unopposed. Pyzer scored his first try for the club after a good break by Biddle in the centres who unselfishly offloaded when he could have scored himself. The final try saw good interplay between forwards and backs as hooker Jeanes fed Minton from a lineout who crashed over through the centres. Biddle converted both scores. A fantastic result for Salts who continue to impress this season with their third convincing victory in the last 3 weeks. Final score: Old Salts 59 - 0 Birmingham & Solihull Man of the match: Aaron Jobson	59-0
Sunday 11th November 07 Willenhall (Away)	Score
Salts went into this game unaware of the opposition and fielding possibly their strongest team of the season. Things were working well from the whistle and Salts were immediately camped inside the Willenhall half. Some good defence prevented an early Salts score, despite some half breaks; it wasn’t until the 15^th minute that the deadlock was broken when Court managed to roll off a maul and cross the line. Salts continued to pressurise and were rewarded with a second try when Mordue straightened his line of running and danced past the full-back to score under the posts. Both conversions were missed as Biddle struggled with a groin injury. Willenhall finished the half on the up by breaking away in the mid-field and out pacing the Salts defence to score in the corner. Half time: Willenhall 5 - 10 Old Salts Salts began the second half confidently, immediately showed their worth. A long restart found its way to Biddle who attacked the open space before being dragged down inside the Willenhall half. The forwards charged on for a second phase before the backs spun the ball wide for Lines to join the line from full-back to score in the corner. This was the catalyst needed and Salts began to run riot. Mordue broke from his own half and offloaded out of the tackle to allow Biddle to cross the line. Beatty spotted space behind and chipped through allowing Palmer to out-sprint everyone to collect the ball and set up a ruck only metres from the try line; quick thinking from Woodcock to finish off the try from the base of the ruck. Hall, a replacement winger, scored with his first touch of the ball showing real speed and a winger’s eye for a try. Feeling the game was safe Salts started to try things. Deep inside our own half the forwards called a long line out giving the space for Lloyd to collect with no-one near him and outpace the entire team to score from 60 yards. Hall then added a second to his tally before Salts finished off with some smart play. Beatty took a quick tap penalty yards from the Willenhall line and, instead of offloading to a forward runner, spun it wide for Jobson to cross unopposed. Beatty scored 2 conversions. A fantastic team performance and some smart play really demonstrated the team’s potential. Forwards man-of-the-match: Sam Court Backs man-of-the-match: Ryan Mordue	5-49
Sunday 28^th October Spartans (Away)	Score
On a breezy autumn morning Old Salts made the short trip up the A38 to play locals Spartans. Two well matched teams enjoyed a game that was threatened to be disrupted by the wet and windy conditions. A slow start to the game prevented either team enforcing their dominance. Several times the Salts midfield broke the gain line but the Spartans defence recovered. The stalemate was only broken when Spartans breached the Salts defence to score under the posts. The try was easily converted. Salts were spurred on by this and immediately turned the kick off over. As Spartans rushed to reorganise prop Loffman broke free of the maul and drew the winger before offloading to openside Lloyd to race behind the covering defence and score under the posts. Salts continued to dominate the first half and scored again when, once again, Loffman broke out of a maul and offloaded out of the tackle to Jobson to score unopposed. Both conversions were missed, however, as the windy conditions blew the ball around. Spartans made 4 substitutions at half time and started the second half stronger. As the conditions improved a much wider, more expansive game began to be played and Spartans capitalised on this. Both teams had the chances to break but poor defence by Salts allowed a try to be scored out wide. This was the catalyst Spartan needed and they scored again by breaking through the midfield while several missed tackles allowed the score under the posts to be easily converted. The final try went to Spartans when, once again, Salts midfield defence went to sleep; they were punished as Spartans ran wide around the back line. A great game by both teams was much closer than they have been in the past. I’m sure both teams look forward to the return fixture. Final score: Spartans 24 - 10 Old Salts Man of the match - Zac Loffman Player of the month - Matt Lines	24-10
Sunday 14^th October Redditch (Home)
Salts welcomed Redditch for their first home game of the season in front of a large Sunday morning crowd. Salts started well from the off and immediately put Redditch on the back foot. Salts were first on the score board. Ward put the Redditch second row under pressure deep in his own half forcing the knock on. From the resulting scrum the ball was spun out to the backs allowing Minton to straighten and power over from 5 yards out. Redditch put Salts under pressure from the kick off and were soon camped inside the Salts 22. However, with the defence holding strong the Redditch fly half opted for an opportunistic drop goal. Salts extended their lead after great footwork from Beatty split the Redditch backline before he unselfishly drew the fullback and offloaded to Minton for his second. Evans then crossed for a further unconverted score. Salts were on the scoreboard once more before half time as flanker Lloyd pounced on turnover ball and accelerated through the space to score under the sticks. Half time: Salts 26 - 3 Redditch. The second half was much tighter with every 50-50 decisions going in favour of the away team. Salts failed to capitalise on possession or territory. Lloyd crossed for his second of the game after turning over a maul and racing home from 60m out. Beatty added his forth conversion of the game. Injuries lead to Salts rearranging with several players now out of position. With the last play of the game Redditch capitalised on a dangerous scrum position and crossed the line for an unconverted try. Final score: Old Salts 33 - 8 Redditch Man of the match: Ward	33-8
30th September 2007 Rugby Lions (Away)	Score
Salts started the season away to Rugby Lions in what promised to be a great game of fast open rugby. The game started with Salts putting Lions under pressure from the kick off but the slippery conditions made it difficult for either team to establish control of the game. After missing an early penalty at goal Salts fell behind as the Lions full-back evaded several tackles to score under the posts. Lions continued to kick possession away and allowing the Salts back three to counter attack from deep. However, spirited defence by Lions prevented Salts from scoring. Lions scored a second break away just before half time to lead 12-0 at the break. Salts put Lions under great pressure at the start of the second half but poor refereeing started to spoil the game with errors creeping in to both teams. Salts were next on the score sheet when fly-half Beatty noticed the full-back out of position and chipped over the back line. The fortunate bounce of the ball allowed him to cross unopposed. Lions extended their lead by capitalising on some poor Salts defence to score in the corner. The referee then cost Salts a further try by allowing Lions to take a quick tap penalty whilst he distracted our pack by explaining why he had penalised them at a scrum. Salts rallied after this and piled on the pressure before Lions were penalised for coming in at the side. Biddle converted the long range penalty. However, Lions were to finish the game off in style as they once again avoided the Salts defence to score their fifth try. A promising start to the season, but some shocking refereeing decisions for both sides spoiled what promised to be a great game. Man of the match was full-back Lines. Final score Rugby Lions 27 - Old Salts 10.	27-10