Burton v Sandbach on November 11th 2007

Game 1: Burton Falcons 10 Sandbach 5

It is fair to say that the Falcons got off to a slow start conceding the only try of the day early on in the first half of their game against strong opposition from Sandbach.  If it wasn’t for some fantastic defending work from Falcons the score could have been very different.  Josh Wright and his magical boots were to feature strongly but is was Luke Greenhill and James North who gave chase to Sandbach’s winger who had sneaked through the Falcon’s defence and was finally and unceremoniously dumped to the ground by a try saving tackle from James North.  At half time a few words of encouragement seemed to have refocused the minds of the players!!

The ever strong John Robson got his first try of the day and was quickly followed by man of the match Josh Wright who got his first of four tries.  Burton started to show some lovely running rugby with both Dominic Phillips and Nadan Cox featuring strongly with some great passes.  It just a shame the touch line was not a metre further out!!

Try Scorers:-John Robson, Josh Wright

Man of the Match: Josh Wright

Game 2:Burton Falcons 30 Sandbach 0

The second game for the Falcons was a different game altogether.  This was a Burton side that had woken up, boots had been warmed and people were hungry for success.

Tackle after tackle went in and Sandbach could be excused if they dreaded receiving the ball.  James North was flying in as if his life depended on it. John Robson and Cameron Scobie were both in the thick of it letting them know just who was boss.

Dominic Phillips scored the only try in the first half with a lovely hard worked try.

Falcons went in at half time 5 nil up.  The flood gates opened in the 2nd half.  Josh Suddaby marshalled his defensive line up letting no one past.  Lewis Kenny and Charlie Newcombe getting into the pack when needed and Emily Jackson, thrown into the middle of the park for the first time, showed that she is starting to enjoy Rugby

But the important thing was scoring.  Falcons scored a further 5 tries in the 2nd half.  A great run from James North weaving in and out of the Sandbach pack was rewarded with his only try of the day.  Some great team work from the Falcons provided Josh Wright with his first try - a well worked ball coming out from Dominic Phillips to Josh who then slipped past two Sandbach players to score.  John Robson picked up a stray ball inside the Falcons half and ran the entire length of the pitch to score his 2nd of the day.  Finally it was again left to those magical boots of Josh Wright who, like John Robson, ran the entire length of the pitch to score his 3rd try. 

Try Scorers:-James North, Dominic Phillips, John Robson, Josh Wright (3)

Man of the Match:  James North

Falcons Man of the Series:  Josh Wright.

Game 3: Burton Eagles 35  Sandbach 0

Burton Eagles were again slow to start but unlike the Falcons they were able to keep a clean sheet!!  Some fantastic defensive work in the first half allowed Burton to move forward and dominate the game.  Alex Dutoy picked the ball up from well inside his own half flew down the right hand side of the pitch to slip in just before the corner flag and bag his first try of the day.  Then came the best try of the day for me. ‘Snake hips’ Grimsdell picked the ball up and did everything he could.  He showed true determination in first going left then right and then simply forward running home his first of 3 tries in the match.

Burton went in at half time 15 -v- 0 up.  A subtle change at half time brought on the not so subtle Josh Hart.  Fire was burning in his heart and Josh looked as if he had been fed raw meat.  Crunching tackle after crunching tackle no player was spared. From the first whistle of the 2nd half Josh flew down the left hand side to score his first of three tries – it was if he was wearing the boots of Hermes (aka Josh Wright) – so fast was the try he even found time to say good morning to one of his players before putting the ball down for a try – what a gentlemen!

Again good defensive work from Charlie Quarterman, Sam Willetts and Connor Wood pinned the Sandbach players well into their own half.  Jonathan Kingston, back from illness, again showed what Farmers are made of and was taking no prisoners.

Jacob Buxton and Alex Dutoy again made some very penetrating moves but it was the surprise of the day, Callum Launchbury, who showed his coaches just how far he has come in the last few weeks.  Perhaps it was the fact that his dad choose to go and watch a different shaped ball in England’s 2nd city rather than the Under 9’s focused his mind.  He was every where but sadly he was going to have to wait until the 2nd game to get his rewards for a great day of Rugby

Try Scorers:- Alex Dutoy, Josh Hart (3), Daniel Grimsdell (3)

Man of the Match – Daniel Grimsdell

Game 4: Burton Eagles 50 Sandbach 0

The 2nd Eagles game was again to prove interesting.  Again Hermes was there. 2 wonderful tries and some crunching tackles again set Burton up for another great victory.  Sadly it was one of these tackles that proved to be the down fall of Josh and he limped off shortly before the end of the first half.

Sam Willetts was everywhere getting stuck into the action.  Both Sam Willetts and Euan Johnson made some telling runs one of which resulted in William Hulbert forcing his way over the try line for his first try of the day. Tommy Collingwood again got his name on the score sheet with a wonderful try.

Charlie Quarterman made 2 fantastic runs which left everyone standing and both resulted in excellent tries.  ‘Snake hips’ was again on the score sheet and Burton went in at half time 25-v-0 up.

It was a fantastic pass from William Hulbert that set up Jacob Buxton for his first try of the series and he would have got another if he hadn’t been so surprised to find himself standing on the try line with the ball!!  Charlie would have scored his hat trick but for a very unfortunate slip and it was left to Callum Launchbury to finish off the scoring with two wonderful tries.  The first came from some champagne rugby with the final ball coming from Jacob Buxton and left Callum with a great run to put down his first try of the game.  Would Burton ever get to double figures?  Of course they would and it was again left to Callum to make a searching run turning this way and that and then to make a dive for the line just before the final whistle.

Try Scorers: Jacob Buxton, Tommy Collingwood, Josh Hart (2), William Hulbert, Callum Launchbury (2), Charlie Quarterman (2), Daniel Grimsdel

Man of the Match: Callum Launchbury

Eagles Man of the Series: Callum Launchbury

Burton again turned in a good team performance with a lot of players now showing that they too can score tries.

Burton scored 25 tries and conceded only one – well blinking done!