Under 13

News

Have a great Summer!!

Watch this space for pre-season fitness training news

Stourbridge Rugby would like to thank all the teams that entered their Under 13s Invitation Tournament and made the competition a great success through some excellent competitive rugby. The outright winners were Bromsgrove, beating Walsall 21 - 7 in the James Allport Final. Trophies were also won by Bromyard, Ledbury and Shrewsbury.

For those of you who bought a quiz sheet, and want to know the answers follow this link - Quiz Answers. The winner was Vanessa Williams with 36/50 correct answers. The raffle prizes were won by Jackie Gunther of Worcester RFC (Golf Clubs) and the Sony TV was won by John Edwards of Stourbridge RFC.

Under 13s Fixtures Season 2007-2008

Directions to away matches can be found by clicking on the oppositions name in the fixture list, this will take you to their web site. Once the match has been played click on the oppositions name for match reports.

Match Reports

Sunday 3rd February v Old Hales (won 19-14)

A good performance from the team, showed that the fitness work we are doing midweek is beginning to pay off, but there is still a way to go. Tries from Tom Mitchell, Joe and Toby plus 2 conversions gave Stourbridge a commanding lead in the first half. In the second half playing up hill and against the wind Stourbridge did well to restrict Old Hales to 2 converted tries. The England team could do well to note how we dug in and held out when the game was not going our way, for a deserved victory.

Sunday 25th November v Walsall (lost 0-38)

We were facing Walsall for the second time this season, having lost to them in the Lexus competition at Derby which they went on to win quite comfortably. Consequently, we knew this would be a difficult game in which we would face some very big powerful players.

Sunday 18th November v Malvern (won 36-14)

Malvern kicked off and the early exchanges were even, but Stourbridge gradually pushed forward and looked the most likely to score. Eventually Will Powell forced his way over the line to give Stourbridge a 5-0 lead. Stourbridge forwards continued to dominate, always being first to the loose ball and driving very well and it was no surprise when Harry Tombs powered clear of the Malvern defence to score the second try to give Stourbridge a 10-0 lead at the end of the first third.

The second third started with the usual Stourbridge changes but it made very little difference to the fluidity of the Stourbridge play. They continued to dominate possession playing most of the game in the Malvern half. Rhys Williams then hit a purple patch of form, for his first try he burst through the Malvern defence to score under the posts, is second try was a superb piece of individual skill as he swerved and jinked through the Malvern defence to again score under the posts, he converted both tries himself. From the restart Malvern came straight back at Stourbridge and scored a very good try as Stourbridge were caught sleeping as the cold and wet was beginning to show on both sides. The second third ended 24-7.

Both sides made more changes for the final period which began with another try by Malvern under the posts as a number of tackles were missed, mainly due to very cold hands. This made the score 24-14. Stourbridge again started to build up pressure on Malvern with the forwards working very well to give good positions in the Malvern half. Eventually, the pressure paid off as Sam Hodgson was rewarded for his hard work around the pitch with a try under the posts which was converted by Rhys Williams. Stourbridge continued to dominate as a number of passes were dropped due to the cold but in the final minute Stourbridge forwards worked into another good position in the Malvern half and from the resulting scrum Christian Smith reacted quickly to the space in front of him and sprinted to the line for a very good try in the corner.

The game finished 36-14 to Stourbridge which was well deserved and a much needed boost after an unusually poor run of results.

Sunday 28th October v Dudley Kingswinford (lost 19-36)

When the sides took up their positions ready to kick off, the disparity in size between the forwards was very obvious and it proved to be the deciding factor in the game as Stourbridge struggled to contain the driving physicality of the DK pack.

The first third of the match started with constant pressure by DK as they pressed towards the Stourbridge line. The Stourbridge players worked hard but were always on the back foot and eventually conceded the try which DK deserved. Stourbridge ended the first period strongly as they endeavoured to move the ball through the backs but ended the period 5-0 down.

Stourbridge made a large number of changes for the start of the second period continuing with the squad rotation policy. DK continued in the same vein and soon scored a second try under the posts which was duly converted. This seemed to spur Stourbridge into action and were soon pressing towards the DK line, this lead to a superb break by Harry Tombs who rode several tackles to score a very good try in the corner. The game now seemed more even but the greater threat was coming from DK, eventually another try was scored as they broke through the middle of the Stourbridge defence to score a converted try, ending the period leading by 19-5.

The final period started with more DK pressure which lead to a 5 metre scrum from which they scored a well worked try down the blind side, this was soon followed by another DK try as one of their larger forwards broke several Stourbridge tackles to score a very good try. Stourbridge continued to show plenty of spirit and this was epitomised by Lex Allen who had been moved from scrum half to the wing, he had too much speed for the DK backs as he scored a very good try in the corner. Unfortunately, DK scored another try in a similar fashion to the previous one as their forwards were proving far too strong for the tiring Stourbridge players. However, Stourbridge did have the final say as Luke Hopkin took a quick tap penalty in front of the posts and fed the ball along the line for Lex Allen to score his second try of the match which was well converted by Tom Mitchell.

Sunday 6th October v Droitwich

Stourbridge started the game exceptionally well, gaining a massive territorial advantage, playing the early part of the game in the Droitwich 22. This pressure was rewarded with a very good try by Rhys Williams in the corner. From the kick off the Stourbridge forwards continued to exert pressure on the much larger Droitwich pack, with good rucking and mauling leading to a second score when Dominic Thompson dived over the line. Stourbridge continued to dominate until a Droitwich breakaway by their very quick centre, who ran almost the full length of the pitch, to score. This was repeated within two minute by the same Droitwich player to give them the lead, both tries being converted. Stourbridge finished the first third strongly with Tom Mitchell scoring a penalty, to make the score 13 - 14.

Stourbridge started the second third with a number of personnel changes following the squad rotation system being used this season. This did not seem to affect Stourbridge as they continued to have the upper hand, but twice again the same Droitwich back repeated his first third exploits. Despite these setbacks, Stourbridge were not disheartened and continued to push forward, a fine steal by Tom Mitchell, lead to a well taken try by Ryan Harris. The second third ended with the score at 18 - 26.

The final third began with more Stourbridge changes (and thankfully the Droitwich try scorer). A period of sustained pressure from Droitwich lead to a more conventional try as Stourbridge were forced back, with a sixth Droitwich try quickly following. Stourbridge continued to battle and were rewarded with a late try by Danny Kalloglian.

Overall the Stourbridge teamwork proved more than a match for a good side, but were undone by a very good athlete who would be a handful for any team.

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