U10 squad 2 v Brooke Priory 4

U10s Copthill 2 Brooke Priory 4

Under the looming grey skies of Copthill top field, the now full strength Copthill Year 5 squad took to the pitch, eagerly awaiting the return of Brooke Priory. With the return of Charlie Plant and Owen James, The Blues were ready for a tough fixture, closely fought only a week before.

Brooke Priory started with vigour and ran hard at the U10s and with failed tackle attempts the visitors scored first. Copthill played the ball wide and passed the ball beautifully down the line but were unable to get through the Reds defensive line. Instead they chose to run sideways and made very little progress up the park.

Brooke bossed the smaller home team in the rucks, the Copthill boys too polite and too kind in giving the opponents the ball. The score at half time, 3-1. The boys came bounding back from half time and with two new players on the park, Freddie Finlan and Fabian Wyer-Roberts, the home team started to move forwards, Will Taylor scoring his second try of the match!

Various other players had storming runs down the wings but failed to place the ball (with downward pressure) over the line, James speared in mid air, costing him a try. Injuries followed but the performance was now better and tackles were coming in low. The Ref was very tough on all boys playing in an offside position and Copthill’s pace clearly confused him and the boys in blue were regularly marching backwards for infringements in the ruck. In the closing minutes, heavy rains flooded the pitch and the ball became slippery and hands became cold so the pace of the game slowed, costing Copthill the momentum they had built. The final score 4 – 2 to Brooke Priory however, the better rugby was played by Copthill with good support play and excellent team spirit throughout. Tackler of the match was William Gardner.