MATCH REPORT BOYS CLUB OF WALES

Hopefully I won't crash the blog with this post...

On a (unusual) sunny day in South Wales, the Lambs lost a game they ought to have won. Whilst we can feel rather hard done-by, we also have ourselves to blame for letting our collective feet off the gas during an exceptionally flat start to the second half, one devoid of tempo, creativity and momentum.

Indeed, to start the game, the Lambs scored with the first play of the game. The Boys club took a clean take from the kick-off, before punting the ball back. Rather than catching the ball, the Lamb's receiver volleyed it forward, resulting in a fumble by a member of the Welsh side allowing the Lambs to regain possession and sweep the ball left whereupon our fabulous winger beat 3 players to dive over in the corner. Doe made the conversion.

The Lambs increased their lead shortly afterwards with a penalty in front of the posts to make it 10-0. 10 minutes later, the Lambs scored again. Playing to the game plan, the forwards repeatedly crashed into the sort side, creating space so that when the ball was passed the width of the pitch an inside pass sent the Lamb's 13 through. Doe missed the conversion, but even so a quarter of the way throughm the Lambs found themselves 15 points to the good and sitting comfortably.

It was then it all began to fell apart. The Welsh openside, who had a great game, came into the game strongly forcing a succession of (somewhat dubious) penalties. With the last play of the half, the Lambs found themselves on the wrong side of the referee's repetitive whistle allowing the Welsh field position. A cute chip into the corner secured the Welsh 5 points.

Just after half-time I went to fill the water bottles and came back to find the score 15-12. Hugo informs me that a careless penalty for incorrect binding by the back-row contributed to our downfall. The Welsh were running strongly now, chomping at the bit for a further score. This duly came in the left corner and suddenly the Lambs found themselves facing a 17-15 deficit.

The remainder of the game was hugely competitive. The Lambs scrum, with Hutcherson playing as an emergency hooker, turned the screw sending the hosts into disarray, however a lack of an experienced thrower combined with a clever short-man line-out set-up by the Welsh gave them the ascendency at the line-out. Further penalties gave the Welsh field position in the right hand corner. The Lambs repelled a series of Welsh pick and drives from the base of the ruck and thought they had weathered the storm when it seemed for all the world as if the attacking Welshman was isolated and holding on. The referee saw this differently and further short-range drives eventually led to a Welsh try. This was converted to leave the Lambs trailing by 9.

From here on in, the Lambs appeared to summon up some new energy and attacked with vigour, frustrated only bu turnover when they found themselves isolated. Our number 8, the Lamb's man of the match, used his bulk effectively when marauding forwards. With five minutes to go, Power grounded the ball , only for the referee to rule it a double movement. Still the Lambs attacked, and were rewarded in the final play with a try following a well-worked move. Doe slotted a wonderful conversion to finish the game at 24-22 to the Boys Club.

A good warm-up game for our tour. A shame about the result, but full marks to all who travelled a long way to South Wales for what turned out to be a frustrating but absorbing game against a good side.

All the best,
Poults.