Stratford upon Avon Under 12’s        28 points        v          Rugby Under 12’s        14 points

Once again unavailability reduced Rugby’s squad but the remaining players produced proud performances against powerful Stratford.  This match was an evenly contested cracker, but Stratford’s stand out player broke first to score a converted try and with the deadlock broken they attacked continuously until Rugby ran out of tacklers and they eventually crossed for a second converted try.  Things looked ominous but Rugby turned things round and almost inevitably, Kiron Phillips playing out of his skin broke to score and convert his own try.  As the match see-sawed to and fro Stratford’s Centre ran a quick penalty to score just before half time.  The excitement continued unabated and Stratford were rocked by a smartly taken try from the impressive Tom Swindell, once again converted by Kiron Phillips.  The match looked set for a grand stand finish until working hard to equalize, Rugby were hit by an outrageous misfortune - from their own scrum Rugby’s clearance kick ran into touch 2 metres from Stratford’s goal line but the ref inexplicably called play back to re-set the scrum.  This time Stratford disrupted Rugby’s put-in and from the resulting loose ball scored a final heart breaking try.

Stratford upon Avon Under 12’s        7 points          v          Rugby Under 12’s        7 points

Both clubs took the opportunity to play everybody in the second game and Rugby’s new lads Wil Shimwell, Tom Swinford and Jack McGuire all performed creditably.  Rugby scored first via an extravagant Kiron Phillips dive and led comfortably until Stratford forced their way over to tie the match in the final minutes.  Rugby’s supporters correctly voted Kiron Phillips ‘Man of the Match’ and left with memories of a great morning’s work and the feeling of what might have been.

Under 13’s

Rugby Lions 5 v 5 Towcester

Having lost to Tows some weeks ago the Lions had a point to prove. The pitch conditions were very heavy as both teams tried to play expansive rugby. Rugby had the better of the first exchanges as they kept Tows pinned in their own half of the field. Rugby finally broke the deadlock when they were awarded a penalty for offside at the ruck. Jake Wagstaff took the crash ball and was just stopped short of the line. From the resulting maul he managed to turn his body and get the ball to ground and score. Corey Venus just failed with the conversion. Tows upped their work rate and started to put pressure on the lions. Winger Tom Findley worked hard out wide with some great cover tackles as did centre Jack Riley. Tows finally won clean ball from their scrum and their centre crashed over in the corner not before a heroic and brave last ditched tackle by full back Dylan Roberts.
The 2nd half was more open but neither side being able to break down each others defence. Jack Riley should have given Rugby the lead but knocked the ball on as he was going over their try line after fly hacking the ball on from a loose Tows pass. Again the lions should have won the game with a penalty given just outside the Tows 22, but decided to run it instead which came to nothing. Something for the boys need to learn when playing in tight games is to take the points on offer when in field goal range. All in all a much improved performance considering 3 first choice players not available on the morning of the game. Well done to the 18 player’s, especially the forwards who worked very hard against very well drilled opposition.

Under 16’s

This was a good performance against the Welsh touring side, which saw them through to this fine victory. The sides were evenly matched throughout, but it was Lions who showed the most clinical finishing. It was Abercwmboi who scored first though with a well worked try. Lions not playing at their best responded with a try from Matt Brazier. Another try just before halftime from Joe Wheeler, converted by Stuart Houghton gave Lions a halftime lead of 12-5. The 2nd half was a tight affair, but it was Lions who scored the only try of the half. Tom Swift going over in the corner following a good move.

 Final score Lions 17 Abercwmboi 5.