Match report v.s. Woodford RFC

OBRFC U17s Academy Vs WOODFORD U17s

OBs Academy were playing away for the first time this year against a club that can be difficult to play against and are renowned for their power and physicality in attack and defence, but with the confidence, unity and bond that the OBs U17s Academy currently have, they were excited to get the game started....

As predicted, from the kick off Woodford started strongly and camped OBs in their 22 for the first 10mins, but with some outstanding, resilient and blitz defensive work from the whole team along with OBs lineout functioning well and with a number of steals, the lads where able to clear their lines with a great exit kick.

With the weather conditions slowly becoming wetter and the wind slightly picking up, it started to make the ball handing trickier and handling errors from both teams were starting to creep in. Woodford won a scrum just outside their 22 and decided to kick down the centre of the pitch, with the tricky conditions and ball moving about in the air, as the ball was coming down to the arms of the ever reliant OBs Full Back H, he the opened the play with a run and pass the the OBs winger who took the ball on full flight, handed off his opposite number and then stepping in and taking the tackle, OBs quick 3sec ruck allowed the scrum half to pick up, go blind and have a untouched 25yds run in under the posts - Try converted 0-7 to OBs....

With OBs taking there foot off the pedal since there try, Woodford came back strongly and came back at OBs with vengeance and power but again OBs defence showed resilience and with a great turn over allowed the OBs winger to clear the lines but with some confusion between the ref and linesman, the ref gave Woodford a free kick 5mtrs out, they opted to kick out for the lineout. We a good catch and drive and they caught OBs of their guard and  Woodford drove over to score a try - try converted 7-7....

After a few words under the post from the coaches, OBs restarted the game, pushed on the pedal again and took control of the game with a well trained and run backs move allowed the OBs inside centre to score under post - try converted making the score 7-14 and with the last play of the 1sr half came probably OBs best try of the game, OBs were awarded a scrum on the Woodford 22 and again with a well trained move of 8, 9, 14 move and executed to perfection, the OBs winger slid in - try converted 7-21

Half time score 7 - 21 to OBs...

OBs started brightly but the weather conditions worsened and handing errors from both sides crept in, so with a change of game plan OBs went on the hunt and piled further pressure on the Woodford defence, with Woodford being down to 14 men for an earlier yellow card and with a weak sliced clearance kick, OBs on fire winger, caught the ball on the 10mtr line in their half and decided to have a go, with more silky hips than Patrick Swayze he danced his way to the line and dotted down under the posts - try converted 7-28

Woodford again restarted and now back to 15men, the scrummaging was coming thick and fast with the handling errors and with the OBs prop being warned on a numerous occasions to stay straight unfortunately saw yellow and was off, OBs down to 14 and only 2min later and with a controversial and very arguable late tackle from OBs own Maddog no7, he was shown the yellow too, meaning  in quick procession OBs were down to 13 men...

Now at this stage of the game, tiredness, wet, down to 13men the game could of slipped away in the favour of Woodford but as shown and displayed throughout the game, the OBs defensive resilience, their line speed and their desire to work together as a unit and kept Woodford out of there 22 and concede no points in that time.

OBs back now to a full 15 men again piled on the pressure and wanted to finish the game on a high with a final try but with some great defence work from Woodford again they manged to clear their lines, with OBs number 10 running the show and find space all day with his kicking, he went for an outrageous 50-22 only to find the OBs on fire winger catching the ball on the full but with an outstanding last ditch tackle from the full back, the ref deemed the ball was knocked on over the line and the OBs winger was denied his hatrick....

From the goal line drop out OBs caught the ball and came back at Woodford again with vengeance, pressing for that last try and with some quick ball retention, the scrum half passing the ball blind to OBs no7 who  manage to find a gap and went through to score - try converted 7 - 35....

With the weather conditions like a monsoon at times and the ground like a swimming pool both teams played a very entaining game and deserve great credit in the way the game was played.

Full time score - 7-35 to OBs Academy...

Scorers -
Josh Byran
Ochenehi Daudu
Barney Cassity x 2
Will Ellis