Plate Final Bedford Ath V Kettering U16's

Due to the boys hard work in training & dedication in games they got themselves into the final of the plate again. We were one of eight teams in the East Midlands to be playing in a final which extended our season by a week. We were one of the top four sides in the competition. A fantastic achievement. We had a superb training session on Thursday on the first team pitch which set us up nicely for the final. Two 35 minute halves, here's how it played out.
First half:
A nervy start to the game on both sides, balls being dropped & basic errors on both sides, we are on the back foot a bit but at 15 minutes there is no score. There is a huge crowd, must be one hundred people watching, no wonder there are nerves. Beds centre chips over the top & tries to regather, it looks like a knock on but it's given, try Bedford & they convert. We are making our way into Beds half now. Lots of scrums again. Charlie Dix pick & go, out to Milo Chisholm to Oran McCabe & he's over to score, no conversion. We score at about 24 minutes so it's close as expected. Beds on the attack, good cross field kick but they pass forward, we concede a penalty for something. Beds with an easy run in to score, no conversion. We come back with some great attack. Bit of continuity now, lovely off loads, some running into brick walls but we move forward. Alex Neeson chips over the top of the defence, catches his own kick & scores, superb skills from the 10, Tom Herbert converts. Its all square on the board. Bedford attacking & we concede penalty after penalty & put ourselves under pressure, Bedford score on the death of half time, no conversion. End of the half.
Second Half:
We attack well, Tom Reynolds kicking the ball up field & pinning Beds on their 10m line, they get a scrum & make a break & score at the other end & convert. The boys dig deep & we we turn the screw, Tom Reynolds kick chase, Beds knock the ball over the dead ball line, scrum 5m & we work round, great forwards play working in pods & sucking in the defence, ball out to Toby Ireland on the wing & he cuts back in to score, no conversion. Beds kick off, not 10m so scrum in the middle, from the scrum we kick it straight out, beds line out, they get pinged for not throwing straight so its kettering scum, a catalogue of errors with the pressure & nerves showing. Lots of scum penalties for both sides now. We attack & kick the ball over their try line, they dab it down quick, kick & collect & sprint while we are sleeping to score at the other end & convert. Good knowledge of the laws by Bedford as we are all still trying to work out if it's legal, which it is. It's getting hard out there & it looks like the games getting away from us, the boys just will not give up though, they are working harder than ever. Beds get a player sent off for a late tackle, we kick but Beds collect, run & chip over. Tye Walker looking to collect the ball but is tackled off the ball before he gets there, Beds collect & score, no conversion. The boys dig deeper & play some beautiful rugby in attack, ball out through the backs at about 5m out we have a 2v1 & it's a certain score, last beds player rushes out & slaps the ball down, must be a penalty try, but no it isn't. We get a penalty but that doesn't work for us. The boys go again & ball through the hands & Sam Grant over in the corner, superb. We go again, the boys want this & ball to Oran McCabe who runs it in under the posts, Alex Neeson Converts. We go again & whatever the outcome our offloading game has gone to another level. Forwards & backs combing, players looping around, it's what dreams are made of. Bedford player down with an injury so games been stopped unfortunately. Bedford get the ball & kick it out to end the game.
Tries: Oran McCabe 2, Alex Neeson, Toby Ireland, Sam Grant. Conversions: Tom Herbert, Alex Neeson
I've been told that Oran has a spreadsheet for his tries, thats 30 tries in 20 games, what a stat.
At times it seemed like there were some injustices & i'm sure many will feel hard done by. It's a bitter pill to swallow for sure. For myself all i have is pride, pride for a group of boys who gave everything, they left nothing out there. When i thought the game had run away from us they just kept going & kept scoring. The last five minutes of rugby they played was the best i have seen all season. We have the best set piece line out of any team we have played, the best captain who rallies the boys in every game we play, the best team spirit & never say die attitude.
As coaches we haven't concentrated on building a team to win games, we have built a squad of players who can go out & play in any combination of players & positions. We have given them freedom to express themselves on the pitch, to make mistakes, to learn & come back better players. To make their own decisions on the field of play & to work hard for each other. To win with grace & loose with humility. Thank you boys for everything you have given to this squad.