Bream vs BYR at Bream U8s

In stark contrast to the home leg of this tie the day dawned sunny and dry albeit a little breezy. Thankfully this extended to the West side of the bridge.

Three games were played this time, firstly against Bream U7, then Bream U8 and a “mix-and-match” where a few Bream players joined our rank (just for the match though!). The latter two games allowed our two U10s to have a run about who travelled with the U8s because, due to age restriction, they were ineligible to play in the tournament at St. Brendan's. Bream matched this by adding a couple of “over-agers” as well.

On to the first match.

KO 11:00 sharp. BYR continued where they left off from the second match of the home tie, with some improved accuracy passing. With surging runs to follow BYR were the first to strike with a try after two minutes. From that point on the honours ebbed and flowed in BYR's direction with more or less a minute between each try. Bream were next to score, then BYR and so on until the eighth minute when the tries dried up. Two minutes later was half time, with BYR ahead 4-3 having taken final dibs. Phew, time to draw breath for a few minutes. The second half started with the weather, you guessed it, a little cloudier... well we are “over the bridge”. BYR scored three more tries coming after about 2, 5 and 10 minutes, punctuated by tries from Bream after 7 and 11 minutes, the latter being the last of the match. The final whistle trilled and the score was 7-5 to BYR. Some sublime cover tagging throughout from BYR showed not only do we have the ability to breach the opposition try line, but also to defend our own. Great display.

Following approximately 15 minutes break to prepare, the next match was upon us. The weather by now had stabilised, bright but with forbearing clouds that thankfully skirted around us.

With 9-a-side and the pitch the same size the field became a little more packed and the tries were not come by so easily. The first half opened, and closed scoreless. Enough said! Bream opened the scoring in the second half after a minute followed by a second two minutes later and a third another two minutes on from that. But what's this, an immediate reply by BYR and its 3 tries to 1. Alas, it didn't continue and Bream scored twice more to finish the match victors by 5 tries to 1. Perhaps the ball could have been passed more quickly and further out wide, but well done to the team, not once did they start arguing or let their heads drop and it wasn't for the want of trying. I believe at times our U10s felt as if they might break some of the smaller children so perhaps hindered rather than added to the overall U8s play.

Now to the “mix-and-match” following another 15 minute break.

Difficult to comment too much on whether the score was in favour of any particular club as tries were scored by Bream players for and against their own club. Suffice to say Bream have a couple of great running stars in the making. That said, BYR also scored a couple of their own tries, with BYR again showing extremely determined defensive play. Three tries were scored under the guise of BYR before Bream proper troubled the scorer twice. Half time and it's 3-2 in favour of the BYR/Bream pact. The second half started in the same manner with Bream leaking three more tries before posting one of their own. Final whistle and the score's 6-3 to BYR/Bream.

Focussing on the first match it was great to see a continuity emerging from BYR between matches. Great running in attack and defence ensures both of those areas of play are becoming stronger. It was interesting to see a lack of concentration during the pre match one warm-up turn to complete focus just prior to the opening whistle, it was as if someone flicked a switch. The result speaks for itself however!

Thanks to Bream's coach for taking up the refereeing duty, Tom Woodford for stepping up to the plate as lead coach in James' absence and also to Adam for standing in as second coach. Last, but by no means least, many thanks to the parents for taking the journey across the bridge and supporting BYR's cause.

U8 Match Report – 3^rd April 2011, Bream v Bristol Youth Rugby

[Venue: Bream RFC, Bream, Lydney]