On Sunday 18th February the Lambs travelled to Merthyr RFC for a Double Header fixture against the Boys Club of Wales (BCoW) with both the U16s and U18s.
It proved a tough one for the Lambs, with the U16s falling to a 48-5 defeat, while the U18s lost a tight one 27-21.
The U16s, coming together for the first time, started the day with a short shirt presentation before getting to know each other and work through the ‘Fast and Free’ philosophy.
The first half was a very evenly balanced affair, with the score at 5-7 to the BCoW just minutes before the half time whistle, but 5-12 at half time as the Lambs conceded a classic BCoW pick and go try.
Earlier on in the half Louis Aylwin (Haileybury) showed his class as he responded to the opening BCoW try with a fantastic solo try down the left corner.
The second half then swung the way of the BCoW, a side playing their 5th game of a so far unbeaten season, and this showed as they faced a group coming together for the first time.
Despite some impressive individual performances, with captain Harvey Graham (Berkhamsted) and Man of the Match Kodie Holloway (Framlingham) standing out for the LAMBS, it was not to be their day and a they fell to a flattering 5-48 scoreline with a number of late scores for the BCoW.
The U18s then took to the field, playing their 4th game of the season and looking to open up a well organised BCoW side. In a game that was stop-start the players on both sides impressed when the ball was on the field as they attempted to play a high tempo and wide game; but unfortunately that wasn’t the case for large spells of the game.
The scoreline went back and forth, the BCoW opened the scoring through their 12 before Matt Hackney (Rugby) scored a fine solo try as he sped away through a half gap to put the LAMBS ahead.
The BCoW 12 scored again, before Hackney responded once more in a very similar fashion on the stroke of half time. The LAMBS went in 14-12 up. The second half was well balanced once again, but a direct game plan from the BCoW tied the LAMBS up and eventually the 12 completed a hatrick to take the score to 14-19.
A further penalty stretched the lead to 14-22, before Charlie Hudson (St Peter’s, York) and the BCoW traded late scores as the game ended 21-27 to the BCoW.
Speaking after the two games, ISRFC Lambs National Director, Alex Laybourne, said:
“The Lambs programme is about giving the players experiences and memories, and the players in both the 16s and 18s will have learnt a lot from this game; and I am sure they wont forget it anytime soon.”
“The Boys Club of Wales showed a massive amount of physicality and executed a clever game plan, making it tough for us in both fixtures. However, the players stuck to the ‘Fast and Free’ philosophy in challenging conditions and stretched the BCoW on a number of occasions, we just lacked accuracy across both games to finish off our chances. The players now need to show this learning as they approach Northampton Saints (U18s) and Worcester (U16s) in the coming week.”
Final Scores:
ISRFC Lambs U18 21-27 Boys Club of Wales
ISRFC Lambs U16 5-48 Boys Club of Wales
Images via Jim Laybourne
