Ashbourne U14s 50 - 22 Chesterfield Panthers U14s

A brand-new shiny season and an early game away at Ashbourne. Pre-match rain brought the temperature down a little but it was still hot and humid, a test of early season fitness for players and referees. Panthers had to adapt and be resilient even before kick off. We were missing a couple of players. Jack S was suffering from sunstroke but bravely played the whole match. Two new players, Will and Jack, were thrown in at the deep end and did themselves proud. A reshuffled Panthers pack, changes to the back line and a slippery ball in humid conditions. How would we fare?

Chesterfield kicked off and were immediately on the defensive with Ashbourne running hard. Some thumping tackles eventually dislodged the ball for a scrum with Panthers to feed. The pack secured the ball, but it went loose and was hacked on down the left. Despite a brave effort David was just unable to control the bouncing ball, the Ashbourne winger collected and went on to score the opening try under the posts. The conversion made it 7-0 to the home side. From the restart a good Ashbourne attack yielded a second, unconverted try. The home side were dominating possession, but Panthers were defending hard with Sam, Dyfan and Harry all tackling well in the back line. The unsung heroes Ian and Max, and the rest of the pack were getting stuck in up front. Eventually the pressure told and Ashbourne got away down the right wing for their third. The conversion went astray to leave the score 17-0. Another promising Ashbourne attack was repelled with some last-ditch defence, the resulting knock on meant a Chesterfield scrum to clear our lines. That was the final action of the first period before a water break and a change in referee.

Panthers attacked quickly from the kick off, Dyfan got away down the right and scored a fine individual effort. The conversion made it 17-7 and belief started to flow. Unfortunately, despite more valiant Chesterfield defence, Ashbourne scored again. A knock on in goal spared Panthers but a fifth try wasn’t long in coming to leave the score 31-7. Play continued until Ashbourne were penalised for holding on on the floor. Sam took a quick tap, the ball was spun left through the hands and Harry scored in the corner. 31-12 at half time.

The third period started with Panthers attacking down the left. Jack B drove hard, twisted and dotted down on the line for a score confirmed by the touch judge as the referee was unsighted. A fine conversion made it 38-19. From the restart, Panthers again won a scrum in their own half. The ball squirted out and an outrageous kick-chip-pass from Sam got the ball out to the backline. Dyfan attacked down the right wing and was just bundled into touch.

After another water break, Ashbourne kicked off for the final period. A fine strike move off a scrum brought the hosts another score, it was now 45-19. Chesterfield won a penalty in front of the posts duly converted by Harry for 45-22. The boys were blowing but continued to battle in defence. Ben G wrestled an unfortunate Ashbourne player to ground, just avoiding going too high. Unfortunately, the hosts had the last word: a break up the centre with two attackers isolating one defender delivered the final try. The conversion was missed and the final score was 50-22.
The line out went well with Max mastering in the new challenge of throwing in and Ben G securing decent ball at 2. We may need to up our game when it comes to the calls however, the coaches’ cunning secret codes were unpicked by the opposition pretty quickly. Panthers’ scrum was winning their own ball consistently too with Jack hanging on at prop despite illness and the rest of the front row, Max and Ian, staying solid.

There was plenty of grunt from the engine room of Jack B and Dylan. New boys Jack and Will certainly looked the part at the set piece. Dylan and Jack B both got in some trademark charges in the loose and made good ground. Jacob, Josh and David, the speedsters in the back three looked dangerous in attack and battled to contain a pacy Ashbourne backline. Dyfan and Blaine got in some thumping tackles and ran well in attack. The half backs, Sam and Harry organised the game well and were and handful in attack. Sam tackled well and stole plenty of opposition ball at ruck time. The pack got through a mountain of work with locks Jack B and Dylan getting stuck in around the park and functioning well at set piece. The back row of Will, Ben G and new Jack B went well despite everything being very new and Jack B capped his first appearance with a well taken try. Ollie B came on at half back and added energy. A very decent first hit out of the season with lots to work on, well done lads.