Under 12's bow out of mini rugby with pride and passion

Date: 25-04-2010
Venue: home
Opponents: Stratford
Result: L 5-1, L3-2, W 6-2

Stratford Under 12's bowed out of their final mini rugby tournament with an festival of competitive rugby this Sunday at Pearcecroft.  Their first match against Cheltenham was probably the most intense and competitive match in their seven years of mini rugby.  Cheltenham attacked with great aggression and speed and it was the brave and determined tackling of Parker, Huckerby, Crabtree and Short which kept Cheltenham out for much of the first half.  Stratford certainly had parity in the pack with Sreenivasaprasad, Best, Watts and Tuszynski providing possession but Cheltenham defended doggedly which blocked Stratford's back from getting through,  Cheltenham finally broke through and scored just before half time. Cheltenham quickly ran in a couple of tries from individual breaks close to the line, however, Sreenivasaprasad, Short and Beighton continued to press the Cheltenham defence, Stratford's incredible persistence was eventually rewarded with Ollie Crabtree breaking through by sheer determination.  Final score Cheltenham 5 - Stratford 1.
 
The second match was against Yorkshire tourists Pocklington who again supplied stern opposition with a much bigger pack against which Stratford held their own,  Crabtree was the first to score, ripping the ball and again forcing his was across the line.  Pocklington quickly reorganised and using their size crashed through the Stratford defence to equalise.  Stratford's pack then camped on Pocklington's try line and the pressure was eventually converted into a try for the ever-present Sreenivasaprasad.  Pocklington fought back and the score was suddenly equalised.  Both sides gave their all, however the size difference eventually told and one of the Pocklington forwards powered through the much smaller but brave Stratford defence, Final score Pocklington 3 - Stratford 2.
 
The final match of the day was against old adversaries, Birmingham Solihull and Stratford got off to a cracking start with Beighton quickly touching down.  Jerome Marcel and Daniel Perry quickly followed up with a try each and Stratford were quickly three tries up..Birmingham Solihull got another couple but eventually the concerted pressure from Stratford told.  Will Roberts scored a well deserved try after his all his efforts and Harry Watts scored one for the forwards, using his long legs to power over.  The final score went to who else but Ollie Crabtree.  Final Score Stratford 6 Birmingham Solihull 2.