U13s Exciting 1st Match in 2010

Date: 07-02-2010
Venue: home
Opponents: Old Sihillians
Result: L 17-24

Stratford Under 13s played their first match of 2010 following an extended gap due to the recent cold weather. This contest against Sihillians, turned out to be an exciting and closely matched affair which could have gone either way but ended with Stratford narrowly losing by a converted try for a final score of 17-24.

From the kick off Stratford put Sihillians under pressure, denying them space to move the ball around and disrupting their play. A knock on by Sihillians gave Stratford the put in at the scrum near the try line; the following phases ended with Oliver Parker driving over to score an early try. This was quickly followed by a second try from Harry Clark and it started to look as if Stratford would run away with the match. Silhilians however pulled themselves together and back into the game. They started attacking deep into Stratford’s half but determined tackling from Luke Hammond, Alex Cox and Aliosha Zaboronski stopped Sihillians in their tracks numerous times.

A long solo run down the wing, jinking past the defenders at speed ended with Stratford’s third and final try for James Hodkinson, converted by Luke Beardsmore. In the final ten minutes Sihillians just pulled ahead being just that bit quicker to the ball in loose play. Stratford responded and came close to levelling the score but were stopped on the try line several times by fierce defending.

Player of the Match was awarded to Oliver Parker.