Coalville 22 Burton 5 on   Oct 28th 2007

This weekend, Burton U15 Cougars travelled to Coalville.  In blustery conditions and playing on the host’s first team pitch both sides gave good account of themselves in an entertaining and hard fought game.

Coalville kicked off and held the Cougars deep in their own half.  Burton cougars defended well and remained level headed  whilst holding back the initial surges.  However, without the opportunity to clear their lines, the Cougars eventually gave way and let their host’s in for the first points of the game.   At their restart, Burton Cougars exerted good pressure on Coalville keeping them pressed deep within their own half for a good period of time.  Trying just a little too hard, the Cougars gave away a penalty for holding in the tackle allowing their hosts to kick for position and relieve their situation.  Coalville made good use of their opportunity an d scored once again from a driving maul despite the best efforts of the Burton pack.  Burton Cougars pressed their hosts once more, looking for a gap to exploit.  The game took an unexpected turn when a loose ball was hacked forward by Coalville, the ball crossed the Burton try line and only the explosive speed of Paddy Gaunt saved the Cougars from another score.  The Cougars gathered themselves and worked up the field once again from the 22m drop out.  Their hard work was rewarded shortly before half time when a bullocking run from Matty Davies was aided by a swinging tackle just short of the line, the extra momentum carried him over.  The half finished 12 – 5 in the hosts favour.

 Burton restarted the game and pushed hard to close the points gap, knowing that a converted try could draw them level and give them all to play for.  Unfortunately for the young ‘Crofters it was Coalville who gained the first score of the half.  With the gap widened, a win looked less likely but the Cougars continued to play with great spirit.  Their efforts to narrow the gap were foiled once more by loosing possession through holding in the tackle allowing Coalvile to enter the Burton half once more,  a gap opened for the hosts to run in a try from 40 m out.  The Cougars continued to work hard in attack and defence, but were unable to add to their own tally.  The game closed with a 22 – 5 win for Coalville.

Reflecting on the game, this was a great effort by the Cougars.  The previous meeting between the teams saw Coalville emerge with a crushing win.  The achievement of the players in today’s game is put into clearer perspective when taking into account that the team had several experienced players missing and was fielding a development front row.   

Outstanding players in the game were Paddy Gaunt who tackled well and Will Harrison executing great rucking technique in attack and defence.