Essex Cup opener

Upminster RFC U16 v Thurrock RFC U16 (R1 Essex Cup) 25.09.16

As runners up last year Ts were looking for a good start in the Cup competition and travelled to a much improved Upminster who gained promotion to League 1, unbeaten along with Brentwood. Ts had a late withdrawal with 1 of the squad coming down with man-flu, so travelled with a squad of 21, but had a fantastic number of followers who had made the journey to support their team.

Ts started confidently and were playing rugby through the phases much to the delight and surprise of the coaches…and it paid off. “Phase 1”, (forwards)…bang; “Phase 2”, (fwds)…bang; “Phase 4”, (backs)…hands all the way, fullback H in for a try in the corner, which H was unable to convert. Now you would have thought that would have settled them down and realise that the phases work… unfortunately Upminster had different ideas…as they worked hard, Ts defence switched off momentarily and Upminster waltzed in for an unconverted try. Buoyed by this, Upminster were forcing Ts hand, making them rush their passing, and from one such pass intercepted and ran in under the posts for a converted try to lead 12-5.
An error, yes, but this spurred Ts on and they regained composure and rattled through phases again, and several plays later the phases paid off again as the ball found its way to Jake on the wing who raced in for another unconverted try. Ts were back on form and purring…straight from the restart Cowman caught it, recycled it and it was popped out to Blake who rampaged up the field beating several players, and with only the fullback to beat popped it across to the supporting Mark to touch down under the posts which was gratefully converted by H.
Although Upminster regrouped Ts remained on top form and their defence became rock solid. Their attacking flair kept getting better and better with their sky high confidence, and with the forwards cracking on and doing the phases, it wasn’t long before Ts struck again, this time, pretty similar to before, the backs flung it through the hands, and this time Jordan was left with a trot over the line for a converted try just before half time, to lead comfortably 24-12.

Ts started the second half where they left off, dominant, confident and playing good flowing rugby.
An attacking scrum on the Upminster 5m gave Ts a lovely set piece…Blake picked up from the base and popped it to S/H Charlie for a try under the posts for H to convert. Another set piece, sort of, from a penalty saw a quick tap & go, through the hands and H darting in for his second try in the corner which he was unable to convert. Despite countless attacks, a bit of try line fever kept Ts score down a bit as Upminster resorted to full time defence and kicking clear. One such clearance was caught well by Mark and despite a sore ankle ran straight back, a couple of steps and in for another try, which H converted.
Ts tiredness was creeping in as they gave away countless penalties at the breakdown, despite a 100% improvement in that area, but they kept Upminster out for the remainder of the game.

A fantastic game of rugby, despite the errors leading to Upminster’s 2 tries, Ts were impeccable, and certainly this coach could easily tell the boys, (although for a change somewhat speechless), that the game was one of the best he had seen from them for a long time, and as one of the boys said in their group huddle, that is the standard they should be playing at week in week out…

For his leadership and setting up of several tries, Blake was man of the match today.

Result;
Upminster RFC U16s 12 - 43 Thurrock U16s
Tries: 2 x Try Harry Edmunds x 2
Jake Martin
Mark Ikhifa x 2
Jordan Steward
Charlie Chitty

Cons: 1 x Con Harry Edmunds (4)

Ts are at home next week for development game against Chingford