Under 11's Match report 9/01/11 v Sefton and Liverpool St Helens

After many weeks of no Rugby due to the weather and the Christmas break Bolton under 11’s travelled to Liverpool St Helens for their first match in 2011.
Surprise visitors also at their ground were Sefton under 11’s who were an unknown quantity and who were involved in this round robin fixture.
With nine players available to both Sefton and ourselves Liverpool St Helens were happy to lend two players to each team so that the full team of 11 a side could play.
The first match was between Sefton and Bolton and it was difficult to assess how both teams would perform after the long break. Would they remember what they had been coached all those weeks ago?
With a wide pitch which would normally be in our favour the game started with two well matched teams. Both team used the open spaces on the wing and they were both very evenly matched until the tenth minute when Milo Holmes scored a try after a powerful run.
Several kicks went astray instead of using the open spaces on the wings but this will come in time.
Unfortunately Zak Grundy was unable to convert the try. He blamed the referee for telling him not to kick it over the fence behind the goal posts so he didn’t put enough power behind it.
At half time it was 7=5 to Sefton who replied with a try and a conversion.
The second half started very much the same as the first with Bolton controlling the rucks and keeping plenty of possession.
On 7 minutes into the 2nd half James Preston collected the ball just inside the opposition half and drove his way all the way to the line to score a brilliant 2nd rows try.
This was converted by Zak this time who had decided not to pay any attention to the referee,
The score was now 12=7 to Bolton.
4 minutes later Sefton scored an unconverted try to level the score 12-12.
Alex Ramwell dominated the mauls with Milo Holmes working well at the base of the mauls and rucks. Matthew Moore and James Preston started to make inroads into the Sefton defence.
Ben Turner and Oliver Crompton put in some great tackles and had some jinking runs.
In the 14th minute of the second half Bolton made use of the pressure and scored a converted try to win the game 19=12. You wouldn’t have thought they had not played for so many weeks.
A great game between two evenly matched teams.
A brilliant performance by the whole team. James Preston was the pick of the players for ‘player of the game’ award.
The second match saw Bolton pitted against the host club Liverpool St Helens. Again thanks to the away team for lending players.
Bolton had 5 minutes to collect their thoughts and it seemed to work because they started the stronger team. On 2 minutes Matthew Moore took a leaf out of James book and stormed over the line for a great individual try. This was duly converted by Zak. A full day at Sale Sharks Kicking School seemed to have paid off. Bolton 7=0 Liverpool St Helens.
On 8 minutes Liverpool replied with a converted try and then 2 minutes later a wayward kick from Ben Turner dropped into the hands of their fastest player who sprinted down the line to score.
Liverpool St Helens 14-7 Bolton. In the final minute of the first half Ben made up for his mistake and stole the ball in open play close to the opposition line and dived over to score. At halftime the scores were level 14-14 after Zak converted it.
In the second half Liverpool St Helens scored on the 8th minute which was unconverted to take the lead 14-19.
James Entwistle worked hard in the mauls to retain the ball for Bolton
Bolton rallied around and started to apply all the pressure. Josh Grundy’s defence was strong and after a great run by Ben up the left wing towards the opposition try line gave Alex Ramwell the opportunity to score a try after all his hard work during both games. The try was converted which meant that Bolton had won the game 21-19.
Another great game between two well matched teams. Well done to both Liverpool st Helens and Sefton for some great matches after such a long layoff.
Alex Ramwell won the ‘Player of the Match’ award.