SRFC Colts V North Dorest Colts

Match report vs North Dorset (1 Oct 23)

Captain – Sam George

Try Scorers – Ben C-B, Jnr x 2, Solomon, Ben B & Pologa

Conversions - 5 x Will B

Full Time – 40 – 20 (HT – 19-8)

Having underperformed last week, there was a definite sense from the team that they wanted to demonstrate their abilities and put in a better performance, and with a gathering crowd there seemed to be a real sense of anticipation. Having had a good warm-up and final practice the scene was set for a great game.

Unusually for us, when the whistle went and North Dorset kicked off, we were actually ready for the start! We set about our tasks well, looking to play the phases. Alas a moment of indiscretion early on gifted ND a chance to kick 3 pts which they did. From then on, the team galvanised and set themselves to play to the game plan. ND put up a spirited fight and if it wasn’t for a lack of accuracy we would have scored earlier. As it was, Ben C-B crossed the whitewash to conclude a period of pressure from Salisbury. A short while later Junior scored the first of his two tries for the afternoon to make it 14-3. Salisbury didn’t have it all their own way and ND scored a try of their own to make the score 14-8 and keep themselves in the game. Having traded tries, we began to string together some phases although once again the ‘final ball’ or taking the wrong option limited our scoring opportunities. After a couple of probing attacks, Solomon was the finisher for a well-worked try in the left corner to finish the half.

Pleasingly at half time, the coaches said very little, the boys knew exactly what needed to be done and so it proved with two more tries early on in the half, a second from Jnr, and a well-deserved try by Ben B (arguably the player of the match), each of which were well converted by Will who kicked 5 of 6 for the day! The last 20 was a much more even affair although partly aided by our handling error and lack of accuracy but when we did get it right we looked very good and we were a handful for ND to cope with. We traded tries with Pologa opening his account for the season which was just a reward for his hard work for the day. In the final minutes of the game, ND had one last sting in their tail to score in the corner to make the final score 40-20. The game saw a number of Salisbury players epitomise the spirit of rugby and don the ND strip to support our injury-stricken opponents which allowed us to play a full game.

To sum up, a good game to banish the woes of last week when we lost to in a friendly vs Wimborne. Our pods worked well and we recycled the ball from the rucks quickly. It's another step forward and we march on with a well-deserved win!

Thanks to the squad who came to support the on-field team, it is always good to see those who are rested come out and support the team.

On or off the field, #oneteam!