Under 14 Match Reports for 2010
Co-Coaches:-
Manager:-
Trainer:-
| Round 1 | | Round 2 | | Round 3 | | Round 4 | | Round 5 | | Round 6 | | Round 7 |
| Round 8 | | Round 9 | | Round 10 | | Round 11 | | Round 12 | | Round 13 | | Round 14 |
| Round 15 | | Round 16 | | Round 17 | | Round 18 |
Warnervale Wildcats vs Woy Woy (Away Game)
Loss 26 - 42
With the loss of a number of regular team players being offset by 8 new boys joining the team and a new coaching / management group the U14s had eagerly awaited the start of the 2010 season after going down in last year's grand final. We started slowly against a Woy Woy team who played a strong forward orientated game actively contesting the breakdown and catching our boys by surprise. This allowed Woy Woy to get off to a great start and whilst they posted 3 converted tries our boys worked their way back into the game through tries to our new running fullback Sione Afu and our new inside centre Lachlan Sbrugnera. With a lone conversion we had worked our way back to 12 - 21 at half time.
While we continued to lift our game in the second half we posted a similar result to the first half on the scoreboard with Woy Woy putting on another 3 converted tries to our 2 converted tries through No8 Matt Winslow and outside centre Connor Wanstall. Positives were that our forwards lifted their performance as the game went on and our backs defence was rock solid. This provided the coaching staff with areas that required improvement and with 8 new players and only one pre-season trial match we know combinations will only get stronger.
Strong performances from Sione, Brock, Connor and Lachlan in the backs and Jonah, Matt, Jayden and Jamie in the forwards were a positive and something for the team to build on.
Warnervale Wildcats vs Ourimbah (Home game)
Win 27-10
The boys were looking forward to this game with Matty Buchanan moving from our team to Ourimbah in the off season and the Ourimbah boys were talking themselves up to our boys at school. The hard work our forwards had put in tidying up our breakdown work and ruck defence paid dividends from the kick off as we were more physical in those areas of play and did not turn over possession as easily. We established a good lead at half time and continued on with the job in the second half running out deserved winners 5 tries to 2 with tries to Sione, Matt W, Connor and a double to Jack Cogger saw the boys run out comfortable winners.
A highlight of the game was Ourimbah taking a tap penalty and running it up only for their ball runner met by prop Jamie Uebel in a great front on tackle, he was then joined by our other prop Harry Bailey and they drove their ball runner backwards 20 metres past where they took the tap, that play really lifted our forwards and showed the coaching staff that the boys are fair dinkum about what they want to achieve this year.
On a unfortunate note Matty B, who had moved to Ourimbah, suffered a fractured wrist early in the game in a strong tackle. Having started with Warnervale in the U8s to U13s Matty is still great mates with all the Warnervale boys and everyone at the club were disappointed and knew this would have an impact on his upcoming rep duties. A number of players/parents contacted Matt that night to check on him in true Warnervale spirit.
Whilst all the boys stood up in this game there were particularly strong performances from Harry, Jamie, Jayden and Matt W up front and Lachlan, Brock, Sione and Jack Cogger in the backs.Warnervale Wildcats vs Terrigal (Home Game - Sunday)
Loss 5-19
Terrigal requested this game be postponed due to rep player commitments. The new date saw us play Terrigal on consecutive days (Sat & Sun) at our new 6 million dollar fields at Woongarrah.
After an intense 12 all draw on the prior day (Sat 19th June) which showcased both team's quality and tenacity, we fell short of the mark on this occasion. Positively this was not due to lack of effort or commitment on our boys behalf. What was to be a telling moment in the game we had a player red carded after 10 minutes for striking, unfortunately as is often the case he retaliated after being punched whilst on the ground and his indiscretion was what was noticed. Whilst the touch judge supported our player being struck first he was not badged and therefore the ref was unable to accept his report.
The first 20 minutes play reflected the day before's tight game, dour, with strong scrambling defence by both teams. Against the odds we scored first, being one man down, with Connor making a great run to score in the corner to put us up 5 - 0 after 20 mins. Terrigal replied right on half time with a converted try to lead 7 - 5.
The boys lifted in the second half and defended against the odds being one down. Terrigal scored 10 minutes into the half to lead 12 - 5, however the boys rallied again and looked like evening the score a number of times. Terrigal were only able to put the game out of our grasp just before full time (35 minutes after our player was sent off) scoring a converted try against our exhausted defence to take the game 5 - 19.
We took a stack of positives out of this game, both individually and as a team. To hold the premiers to a draw (Sat) and then to play a man down for almost the whole game and only have the result be decided in the last 5 minutes spoke volumes for our commitment and the new found resolve of this team. We were proud of all the boys on the day however particular mention goes to the efforts of Lachlan, Brock, Dom and Nick on the day.
Warnervale Wildcats vs Woy Woy (Home Game)
Loss 10-15
Having played Woy Woy in the first round we knew we would have to lift our performance in this game particularly with Brock, Austen, Jamie, Nick and Jack unavailable. Unfortunately again we let our opponents get an early lead scoring 2 early tries to go 0 - 10 up, before we replied with tries to Sione and Harry to level the score 10 all at half time.
Our boys really stood up in the second half - our reshuffled backline with Owen at half, Lachie at 5/8 and James D at inside centre defended soundly and our forwards started to rumble and stamp some authority at the breakdown. Woy Woy scored early in the second half to go 10 - 15 up, but we replied building pressure and containing Woy Woy in their own half for the rest of the game. Three times we drove our maul over their line in the last 15 minutes with the boys saying they grounded the ball twice only to be denied by the referee being unsighted.
The final score remained 10 - 15 but again we had stood up and showed a new found steel against a side that has improved significantly like ourselves this season. Whilst all the boys stood up and performed in this game special mention goes to Harry, Dom and Matt in the forwards and Owen, James and Lachlan in the backs.
Warnervale Wildcats vs Avoca (Away Game)
Postponed ground closed - replay date Sun 15th Aug
Warnervale Wildcats vs Terrigal (Home Game)
Washed out - Game cancelled
Warnervale Wildcats vs Avoca (Home Game)
Washed out - Game cancelled
Warnervale Wildcats vs Terrigal (Home Game)
Draw 12-12
This was a big game for the boys, the replay of last years U13 grand final which we had convincingly lost, and a game where we had been building for to benchmark our progress this season. It was also our first game on our new 6 million dollar fields at Woongarrah. The game wasn't a disappointment - it was a classic tussle between two quality teams with the game sweeping from end to end with great attack from both teams and equally great defence.
The feature was the extended periods of play without score - Terrigal took the lead after 12 minutes with a converted try, however we replied just before half time with a great forwards try scored by Matt Winslow to go in at half time down 5 - 7.
Again the second half featured ten minutes of great attack and defence from both teams until Terrigal broke the drought and scored their second try to extend their lead to 5 - 12. The game became an arm wrestle for the next ten minutes with Matt Winslow capping off a fine game scoring a converted try locking the score up at 12 all prior to departing on NSW Country U14 duties to NZ. Despite desperate attack by both sides this remained the final score.
Both teams should be commended on the quality rugby played during the game. For our boys they showed their coaches and parents that they have stepped up / hardened up this year, instead of folding when the pressure is on they now believe in themselves, and each other, and contest a game to the last whistle. While all the boys deserve a wrap for their efforts special mention goes to Jonah, Connor and James D for great games.
Warnervale Wildcats vs Ourimbah (Away Game)
Win 22-15
With most of boys in these two teams going to school with each other there is a pleasant rivalry between them.
Due to wash out rounds, team byes and the fact we've played both Woy Woy and Terrigal twice (in a 5 team comp we still haven't played Avoca after Rd 11) this was an important game for us, albeit we have, hopefully, a solid run of 5 games without interruption leading into the semi's after next weeks bye. As can be seen above we have rarely been able to play on consecutive weekends and in one period had four consecutive weekends off without a game - this doesn't help any teams rhythm.
Accordingly, after yet another weekend bye last week which has seen the team play only 5 games after 10 rounds, we started off hesitantly. Ourimbah had again been talking themselves up at school to our boys and they made the most of our tardy start to lead 10 nil after 10 minutes. We then 'woke up' and scored good tries in reply through Connor and Jonah to go into half time equal at 10 all.
Ourimbah scored in the first 5 minutes of the second half from a kick chase to Matty B to move ahead 10 - 15 however this again spurred the boys on and our forwards really stepped up and dominated their opponents for the last 20 minutes of the half. We scored strong forward tries through Harry and Matt to finish with a solid 22 - 15 victory. During the last 20 minutes, apart from scoring twice, our forwards were ruled to be 'held up' over the try line on another 4-5 occasions with the boys convinced they grounded the ball on 3 of those times - a lesson learnt is that if the ref doesn't award it, it didn't happen.
This was a very satisfying win as once we got into the game we always looked threatening. Brock showed great leadership and was well supported by Dom. Our backs defence through Brock, Lachlan, Connor and Sione saw our opponents regularly kicking the ball through instead of taking our backs on. Whilst all our forwards stamped their authority special mention goes to Harry, Jamie, Clark, Jonah, Dom, Tom and Matt in particular as they really took it to their opposites and in the last 20 minutes paved the way for our win.
Sadly we have a general bye, then another team bye before we again get on the paddock on 24th July, we could really do without these punctuated interruptions!!!
Warnervale Wildcats vs Woy Woy
Score and match report to come.
