No Ball – No Game

Cambridge U15s were soundly beaten by a well drilled Old Northamptonians side that were quicker in thought and deed. It is the widest margin of loss for a number of years – ON’s winning by 0-41 and in the process scoring 7 tries without reply.

The rain had stopped and conditions perfect at Billing Road. Cambridge elected to play with the slight slope in the first half. Receiving the kick off, Cambridge committed their all too regular sin of letting the ball bounce. The speed with which ON’s pounced was a warning. As we know, you cannot play the game of rugby without the ball and a statistician would have had possession during the game as 80:20 in favour of ON’s.

From the start the loose forwards harried Cambridge and all too often hard won possession was lost in the contact area. ON’s always there in numbers – 2 or 3 players to steal the ball – Cambridge often isolated.

It was from turnover ball just outside the Cambridge 22 that ON’s attacked the blind side and squeezed over in the corner. Cambridge were also guilty of allowing the ball carrier to break too many tackles and to maintain momentum when tackled – giving support players an easy target to hit. With superior possession ON’s were able to vary their game occasionally kicking, using their centres up the middle or spinning the ball wide. ON’s ran in a further three tries before half time to lead 0-24.

Cambridge stuck at the task with Jack Wade kept busy at full back, collecting the high ball, tackling and showing a change of pace to lead Cambridge’s best attacking move of the half. Sam Miller sniped from scrum half; Theo McKibbin tackled with great commitment as did our newest recruit, George Grimmet.

Playing for pride Cambridge competed with more vigour in the second half but still came a poor second in ball retention at the breakdown and, without our regular front row struggled at the set piece – Harry Mills, Dominic Kite and Christian Jones all playing out of position but putting in a huge effort.

ON’s ran in a further three trys to see them win comfortably 0-41.

Disappointed Cambridge players that knew they had been beaten by a better side on the day – well played Old Northamptonians.

The boys will regroup and learn from the game – speed of thought and deed on the pitch in numbers!!