Match Report - LI vs Bristol U19

U19 Team
By No Expert
November 18 2002

A top of the table clash with a strong Bristol side saw a resounding 22-0 win for LI U19s which should now put LI top of the U19 league.

The basis for the win was an outstanding performance from the pack who, although struggling at times in the scrum, won almost all their own lineout ball cleanly while persistently disrupting Bristol throws and produced 6 or 7 drives which took 10-20 metres out of their opponents.

Team:
1 Pace
2 Clunis
3 Gregg
4 Buckler
5 Johnson
6 Doran
7 Carruthers
8 Winter
9 Maynard
10 Rudgley
11 Ojo
12 Luff
13 Culligan (capt)
14 O’Rourke
15 Armitage

Subs from: Andersen, Friel, Fisk, Pritchard, Gill, Stone, Hoadley, Owen, Ward, Campbell-Carson, Furr

On a dewy day, LI started the match by exerting strong pressure on Bristol. Keeping Bristol penned in their 22, a good lineout take by Buckler and good drive by the pack resulted in a penalty, which was missed by Armitage. However a few minutes later, a 10 metre lineout resulted in Buckler being driven over by his pack. Delon Armitage converted from the touchline.

The match was not flowing due to an over zealous official. Bristol made incursions into the LI 22 through the mighty boot of their no. 10 but from the lineouts in the LI 22, LI consistently either stole the ball or disrupted the Bristol throw. An indiscretion at a ruck gave Bristol an opportunity from 10 metres inside the LI half but this was spurned.

LI remained on top due to their robust tackling but the few opportunities for either set of backs were lost due to poor handling. More pressure on Bristol on their 22 gave LI a penalty from a ruck which Armitage missed. However LI attacked through the pack from the drop-out resulting in another penalty (handling in ruck) which Armitage slotted from just outside the 22.

There then followed a series of lineouts won by the LI no. 8 Paddy Winter and the best passing move of the match by the backs, involving a loop by Luff, was spoilt by LI being penalised for not releasing. As half time was approaching, an assault on Armitage by the Bristol No 6 led to a mass punch-up but no cards. From the penalty, LI moved into the Bristol 22 and following a good pickup and drive by Winter from a scrum, a penalty attempt by Armitage hit the post and bar.

HT: LI 10 Bristol 0

Gill replaced Maynard at beginning of second half.
As the day turned chilly, good handling by the Bristol backs produced pressure on the LI 22 resulting in a penalty chance - missed. A crunching tackle by a LI forward provoked a minor dustup leading to a player from each side (Clunis for LI) being yellow carded.
A great line kick by Gill gave LI the opportunity to disrupt a Bristol lineout and when the ball was hacked on Carruthers was awarded the try from the ensuing melee. Conversion missed by Armitage.
The game was flowing better this half and Bristol were poor at fielding up-and-unders. From a scrum resulting from such a ploy, Bristol were penalised for breaking early but Armitage missed the kick. This period was characterised by more good tackling by LI, especially their backs, good drives by the pack and more disruption to the Bristol lineout. Good passing by the packs enabled O’Rourke to make a good run down the line but then the backs made a mess of the move inside the Bristol 22.

Bristol now rallied and it needed a great clearance kick by Gill (5 metres from LI line to 10 metres inside Bristol half). With less than ten minutes left, Bristol repeated ran penalties inside the LI 22 and from one Ojo intercepted just outside the LI 22 and broke past a couple of opponents. He moved inside and fed Armitage just outside the Bristol 22 who went over by the posts. Gill converted the try.

There was just time left for one last altercation due to LI (Gill?) not giving Bristol the ball after a penalty had been awarded.

FT: LI 22 Bristol 0

Apart from Gill, there were 3 replacements for LI in the middle of the second half including a blindside flanker and a centre. However I do not know their names.

Overall a splendid performance with most of the honours going to the forwards. If I had to choose a man-of-the-match it would go to Paddy Winters who was imperious in the lineouts and made a number of breaks from the base of the scrum.

Just to round off the day, after watching the big screen in the bar, the pitch was enveloped in a low-lying mist – very atmospheric.