Under Sixteens
Coaches
Simon Tuke
Andy James
Vincent Aniort
James Audsley
Manager
Simon Tuke
First Aid
Biba Hartigan
Herts/Middx League U16s Division 4 Table
25/11/07; 15:30
Match Report: Wasps U16's 14 - 17 London Irish U16's
Wasps surrendered their unbeaten record with a narrow loss on Sunday. Late in the day London Irish switched it from a B to an A fixture, guaranteeing a much tougher challenge, as they are a Surrey League 1 team.
The first half proved to be exceptionally tight, with a missed Wasps penalty kick the only real scoring chance until Marco was stopped agonisingly close right at the end of the period.
In the second half a good bounce from an astute kick ahead allowed Dami to score a well-taken try on his debut. Marco converted from under the posts.
London Irish came back strongly. A cross-kick was knocked on over the line, then they managed three tries, due to some confusion in our midfield defence, only one of which was converted. In previous seasons we might have disintegrated at this point, but we showed great character to get back up the other end for Amine to power over from a quickly taken tap penalty. A superb conversion from Marco made it 17-14 with about three minutes to go.
Wasps won a series of penalties, but were unable to make the crucial score.
This was a very closely-contested game between two quality teams. We suffered from the absence of our line-out mainstays, meaning we didn’t win a single line-out all afternoon. We held our own in the scrums and in the rucks, and as ever looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
Discipline was once again something of an issue, with both sides (and some of the spectators) becoming a little overwrought. Our guys need to realise that getting cross with referees or opponents serves no purpose.
However, this was a performance at a level that would have been unimaginable a year ago, and bodes well for our next League game this Sunday at Harpenden B.
Particular mention should go to the subs who did not get on the pitch, but nonetheless provide a vital element of strength in depth that has been central to our success this season.
Team: Francisco, James, Robert, Cameron, Amine, Matt N, Anthony, Mike, Adrien, Simon, Marco, Edouard, Barnaby, Louis M, Ben, Thomas R, Louis F, Tristan, Maxence, Chaz, Keith, Dami
Simon Tuke
09/10/07; 12:15
Herts Middlesex League Under 16's
Sunday 4 November 2007
Match Report: Wasps U16's 60 - 5 Enfield Ignatians U16's
Wasps Under 16s recorded an eventually emphatic win against Enfield, though not without some alarms and excursions on the way.
Wasps started strongly, carrying the ball well, though not with quite our usual force or fluency. Eventually Mike forced his way over, then Edouard collected a clever cross-kick from Marco. When Louis made a typically mazy run to score, it looked as though we could start to stretch away.
However after 20 minutes or so there was a collective attack of lunacy, which saw us lose our shape and discipline. We were repeatedly penalised, mostly for failing to release after the tackle, offences which were exacerbated by arguing with the referee. To compound these felonies we started running too laterally, and the support began to stroll to the breakdown.
A slightly lucky break saw Enfield score on the left wing, and with our first ever sin-binning we were lucky not to concede a further score before half-time.
Normal service was, thankfully, restored after the break. We upped the pace, our defence was prodigious, and we began to run much more directly. Even with 14 men we looked in control, and were duly rewarded by scores from Louis, Barnaby, Anthony, James, Robert, Matt and Fraser.
It was probably fitting that the majority of the tries came from the forwards, as once again they produced a dominant display, bossing the line-out and the scrums (which were eventually made uncontested) and rucking and mauling powerfully.
Towards the end we produced some dazzling handling moves that involved both backs and forwards, and the final score was by no means unrepresentative of the balance of play. Our defence was outstanding throughout, with our back line preventing the opposition getting into any sort of rhythm.
It may seem odd to carp over such a scoreline, but the loss of discipline in the first half was very worrying, and if nothing else showed some monumental stupidity. The guys really need to learn that getting on the wrong side of the ref and arguing with him is only going to make him less well-disposed towards you. Giving away penalties is also unnecessary when we’re dominating the breakdown.
All in all, however, an excellent win, and it was gratifying to see nine different players scoring tries, showing what a team performance it was. We not sit firmly on top of our division, but with our toughest games still to come.
Team:
Francisco, James, Robert, Fraser, Matt N, Anthony, Mike, Adrien, Ruaidhri, Simon, Marco, Edouard, Barnaby, Louis M, Ben, Thomas R, Louis F, Tristan, Maxence
22/10/07; 19:15
Sunday 21 October 2007
Match Report: London Scottish U16's 0 - 59 Wasps U16's
Wasps took apart London Scottish to record their biggest ever points total and margin of victory. Defeat in this fixture two years ago saw us relegated, so there was unfinished business to be dealt with. It was uncertain how the absence of quite a few players on both sides, due to half-term, would affect matters, with Wasps being forced to play several people out of position.
A Scottish knock-on from the kick-off saw Wasps set up camp in their half, where we remained for most of the first 20 minute period. Our forwards showed a lot of power and commitment at the breakdown, and it was soon apparent that the backs had put their sluggish start of the previous week behind them, putting some real pace on the ball and straightening the line to good effect.
Connor and Marco both made good breaks to put us ahead 12-0 at the first interval. With the scrums and line-outs evenly balanced, and both teams rucking and mauling well, the result was by no means certain at this stage, though one felt there was a greater hunger and urgency about Wasps. The second period saw further scores from Connor, Ruaidhri and Thomas R, putting matters beyond doubt. Two tries in the first period and three in the second were followed by four in the third, from Mike, Thomas R and Louis (twice). All but one of the scores were converted by Marco.
Wasps were simply more aggressive and more dynamic throughout the team. These "friendly" fixtures are an opportunity for players who may not have much play in the league matches to stake a claim and show what they can do. Everyone certainly did that, and how.
As ever, the win was built on a barnstorming performance from the pack, emulating the efforts of England’s "grumpy old men". Cameron and James were always in the thick of things, turning over ball in the mauls on more than one occasion. Alex tackled ferociously, was good with ball in hand, and his line-out throwing was immaculate. Ruaidhri coped brilliantly with the unfamiliar position of second row, and popped up in support all over the pitch, linking potently with the backs, making breaks and fully deserving his try. He also proved an excellent line-out jumper. Matt N was on rampaging form, tackling fiercely and carrying the ball to great effect, one forty metre dash down the touchline particularly sticking in the memory. I think I heard one of the opposition pack refer to him as "Shrek", which in the circumstances I should take as the highest of compliments. Matt U reverted to his old position of flanker, and acquitted himself extremely well. Thomas B was a pocket dynamo until unfortunately forced off with an ankle injury. And Mike was Mike, which is all one needs to say. I’m glad I don’t have to face him in full flight.
Simon marshalled the back line very well, despite the close attentions of his opposite number, tackled well and mad some good sniping runs. Marco was on imperious form both with ball in hand and with some intelligent kicking. Barnaby made his usual quota of strong breaks, but linked with the support runners far more effectively this week. Louis seems to have slipped into top gear, in both attack and defence, performing outstandingly in both areas.
Thomas R had the confidence to trust his blistering pace, and was duly rewarded with two excellent long-range tries. Tristan continued his rapid development, catching well and standing up strong in the tackle. He coped well with having to play at flanker for the final period. Maxence also played very well, catching well and chasing kicks ahead to good effect. Connor provided a touch of pure class at the back.
This was a win built on commitment and on aggressive defence. London Scottish, who showed admirable effort right to the end, simply could not find a way through, and we then counter-attacked decisively. Every kick-off was caught cleanly and run back at them, generally linking with the backs rather than running down blind alleys. The penalty count was well down on previous weeks as well. Our backs were scoring almost at will by the end.
We are now building up some real momentum, and can look forward with optimism to our next league match in a fortnight.
Team: James, Alex, Cameron, Ruaidhri, Matt N, Thomas B, Matt U, Mike, Simon, Marco, Thomas R, Barnaby, Louis M, Tristan, Maxence, Connor
09/10/07; 12:15
Herts Middlesex League Under 16's
Sunday 23 September 2007
Match Report: Wasps U16's 33 - 7 Stevenage U16's
Wasps Under 16s got their league campaign off to a winning start with an ultimately comfortable victory against a resilient Stevenage side. With the introduction of lifting for the first time, and only a couple of weeks practice under their belts, the promise of what looked like a strong squad was tempered with some uncertainty. As it turned out, all went well once the boys went back to basics.
Conditions were dry and the ground firm, but a brisk diagonal wind had some impact, Wasps having it behind them in the first half. It soon became apparent that the Stevenage lineout was very reliable, whilst Wasps were totally dominating the set scrums.
The first 20 minutes were mostly noticeable for an astonishing number of dropped passes, with Wasps unable to put the pace on the game we had shown in training. But once we realised that our powerful forwards could punch holes in the defence, we began to make progress, and it was appropriate that Mike burst through for the first try, on his Wasps debut.
Wasps were to score thrice more before the break, securing the bonus point, with Marco and Louis getting the backs in on the act, and Robert crossing for the forwards.
It seemed that the floodgates might open after the break, with Wasps running the kick-off back and camping on the Stevenage line. Several forward surges were bravely repelled, and Alex, also making his debut, was unlucky to put a toe in touch when touching down.
Amine finally managed to break through, making the result safe, barring a brainstorm that would have been spectacular even by our standards. However those were to be the last wasps points, as we found ourselves increasingly penalised. The scrums were eventually made uncontested, which gave the Stevenage backs the platform they had been missing for the rest of the game. They started running some good lines, and were rewarded with a try that they probably deserved, as they stuck to their task throughout proceedings.
There was much to encourage us. We clearly have pace and strength, and our rucking and mauling was very powerful. But the woeful passing in the first half was a cause for concern, with players tending to carry the ball too far, instead of drawing the man and releasing earlier. The penalty count also needs to be examined, and the lineout requires further development.
There were many strong performances. But for his power, pace and tackling the Man of the Match Award went to Mike. Very well done to him.
The game was played in excellent spirit, and Wasps did not show their customary failing of going to sleep either at the start or end of proceedings. Onwards to Amersham.
Team: James, Alex, Cameron, Robert, Fraser, Amine, Anthony, Adrien, Mike, Simon, Marco, Thomas R, Louis M, Ben, Louis F, Chaz, Francisco, Ruaidhri, Matt U, Tristan
