The U-14’s travelled to Datchworth for the last match of the season and a pre-tour warm-up. The home side started strongly and camped themselves in the OIG’s half for the opening period. But OG’s defended stoutly and it took 15 minutes before Datchworth finally opened the scoring. A series of phases crossed the pitch a couple of times before they were able to draw in the OG defence to open space up out wide. The ball was fed along, and despite some last ditch tackling, they crossed the line. The conversation made the score 7:0.

OG’s fought back and pushed their way up the pitch. A scrum in midfield was won and a series of phases followed. Jack took the ball into contact, and BenM hit the ruck hard to secure the ball. It was fed to BenU who beat his man to break through the line and score. 7:5.

Datchworth put the pressure on from the restart to gain territory and did not give OG’s much opportunity to release the pressure. It ultimately paid off as the ball was lost by OG’s in contact inside our own 5m line, for Datchworth to collect and score. 12:5 at Half Time.

The coaches raised a perceived lacklustre first half in the break, and OG’s came out fighting in the 2nd half. From the restart, the ball was fed to CJ who tore through the defence to make great ground along the wing. The full-back came across to cover, but only half stopped him. Possession swapped hands a few times while Datchworth were camped well inside their own half before OG’s recovered the ball.

OG’s put a series of phases together with the ball well protected and recycled. All the forwards did their part in turn to take into contact and secure possession. A maul was set-up from close to the line but Fred was held up over the try-line. From the 5m scrum, Datchworth stopped the potential try with a high tackle. Will acted quickly, took the tap and fed BenU to dive over from close and level the score. 12:12

Datchworth picked up the pressure again and their scrum took the ascendancy, winning a series against the head. Each time the OG’s defence scrambled well and forced a knock-on, Datchworth recovered the ball from the scrum. Finally, the forwards got it together on a defensive scrum well inside our own half. The ball was secured, passed along the line and given to Dante. He traversed the defensive line until he saw a gap, shot through it along the wing whilst breaking tackles and cruised in under the posts to bring his 70m run to a close. OG’s took the lead for the first time – 12:19.

The team continued to battle as energy and aggression was high and the match came to a close with a great defensive play from the OG’s. Conceding a penalty at a line-out close to our try-line, the OG’s lined up ready to defend the inevitable charge from 5m. The Datchworth forward made very little ground before our forwards stopped him and counter-rucked aggressively. The offense was pushed back and forced into a knock-on allowing the final whistle to be blown

The match was hard and competitive with both sides putting in big tackles and a strong defence. OG’s ultimately won by lifting themselves massively in the second half to keep Datchworth scoreless. Let’s take it on tour!