Salisbury U11B

Salisbury Festival, 16 October 2011

The only B Team in an A Team festival, with the season barely underway and the team's combinations untried, this was never going to be anything but a tough gig.
The autumn mist rose, the sun came out over the alpine Hudson's Field landscape, and Andover hove into to view. After some sound early defending in the first half, Salisbury used the slope to good effect, with Bobby going over to score in the thick of a powerful rolling maul. After half time, however, the tables were turned.

Andover thundered back down the hill, their pack having a big weight advantage and able to win set pieces against the head. We somehow held them near our line, and then fought our way back up the slope. But Andover kicked themselves out of trouble and soon had us pinned down again, before scoring, through a weak defensive screen with too many holes in it. They were soon back again, too. More hard defensive work close to the line was just enough to keep them at bay for the duration; a rather desperate mis-kick from behind the try-line area nearly gifted them the win. Salisbury 1; Andover 1.

Bridgend were a wonderful team (and in due course finalists). They weren't big, but they were immaculately drilled, and played a lovely, focussed, fluid, running game. It was something of a mismatch. By half time they were 4 nil up and it looked like turning into an exhibition match. However, to their credit Salisbury fought back and managed to contain them in the second half, despite having the slope against them. Bridgend didn't score on the wing again, managing only a try from the pack, plus and a final maddening interception try. Full marks to Salisbury for keeping up the fight. Salisbury 0; Bridgend 6.

Bournemouth next, and with the slope Salisbury had the game more or less under control for the first half; the scorer stayed untroubled. But immediately after the break Bournemouth broke out. In no time, they'd run a try straight through our bemused middle. Salisbury kept up the fight until another had been conceded, then, sadly, gave Bournemouth their third with a tackling collapse. This was, however, a respectable performance overall, given that Salisbury A's would go on to defeat Bournemouth by only 1try to nil in a hard fought Plate final. Salisbury 0; Bournemouth 3.

Finally, Wimborne. Using the slope in the first half, Wimborne managed to steal an early try. But Salisbury were straight back at them, fought their way up the hill, and came close to scoring. Wimborne kicked out to recover, forced their way back down the pitch, and scored down the line in the face of some weak tackling. Come half time, Salisbury had the slope and the spirit to get back on the offensive, launching Freddie to break through from the back and run in a nice try. Wimborne were nettled and fought their way back up the pitch, but they were held, and as the whistle went it was Salisbury on the offensive again. Salisbury 1: Wimborne 2.

An encouraging end to a tough day. Communication, courage and commitment. What we lacked in finesse and a convincing attacking shape we compensated for in many respects with dogged defending. There is plenty to build on. There were a number of impressive individual performances, but today's stand-out player was undoubtedly Charlie Smith who, in tough circumstances, was rock solid at scrum half, both offensively and defensively. He was never off the pitch, always in the thick of it, leading by example.