Sensational start to Manchester's Season at Sedgeley Park

Game 1: Sedgeley Park 14v21 MRC

From a coaching perspective, it was in trepidation that this first match kicked off. A new season, new positions, new team size and lots to take in around the pitch. Four man line outs, five man scrums with a new set of instructions, kicking from the start, kicking out of hands in open play and kicking those crucial conversions to keep the points ticking over. With all this going on, how would the boys step up to the mark?

With MRC winning the toss and electing to kick from the start, Josh took command of his team and organised his formation. Myles took ownership of the marauding forward and first point of contact in the tackle zone and the format was set for the day in this strategy. Josh's first drop kick of the season pushed Sedgeley right back from the start and Myles' powerful chasing of the kick saw Sedgeley pinned back in their 15 for the opening forays of the game. Good tackling kept the pressure on a Sedgely doggedly pushed forward with the ball, retaining possession at the breakdown and building up a head of steam through their much bigger pack. MRC kept bringing them down though and with Fin sniping at the back of our pack , urging the players to drive on over and through the Sedgeley team, it was not too long before we managed the first turnover and game on for MRC. Fin spun a good pass out to Josh, who, with the backs in perfect formation, inexplicably through a pass the full width of the pitch, resulting in a line out to Sedgely at halfway. Instinctively, Josh saw the error of his ways and from then onwards he passed through the back line and the change was instantaneous with great handling all day long.

With Sedgeley's superior size, MRC were up against it in the line out, but both Bill and Olly made up for height with good disruption that allowed MRC to win the first line out and Ethan got the ball back to Fin who again fed Josh, who unleashed Eddie to run diagonally across the field. Eddie was brought down by Sedgeley's star tackler, Charlotte, and set the ball back with good rucking over from MRC. Josh again was on hand to get the ball moving with it travelling out to Louis on the wing and Sedgeley were only just able to push him into touch within 3 metres of their try line. This gave Sedgeley a breather and having secured their line out, they again drove forward through their pack, taking MRC a little by surprise by travelling all the way up field and into MRC's 15metre zone. With MRC on the back foot, but stemming the Burgundy and Gold flow of Sedgeley forwards, Myles fly hacked at the loose ball and a penalty was awarded to Sedgeley. In the dying seconds of the first half MRC's defence finally succumbed to the weight and size of the Sedgeley players and they scored in the corner. With the conversion successfully made, Sedgeley went in at the break 7v0 up.

The second half saw MRC coming out with Nathan and Joe replacing Olly and Matthew in the pack, and with all cylinders firing. Sedgeley kicked off and good hands from Harrison saw many metres gained before he was felled by a great cover tackle. Again and again, Josh and Fin passed well with Hanuf joining the line to dash forward from his position at fullback. MRC were getting closer and closer, Myles was within inches from securing a brace of tries, but Sedgeley's defence held firm. Will cut in from outside centre to take up the running and he too was repelled just feet from the line. The try had to come though and swift passing saw Harrison travelling over in the corner to bring MRC right back into contention. Josh stepped up for kicking duties and levelled with a sublime display of place kicking that had the kicking coach, Mike, crowing with pride in the clubhouse later.

Josh again set his players for the restart, a great catch from Hanuf saw him travel forward and good recycling unleashed the MRC backs once more. Myles took up the running from the subsequent breakdown and rumbled up through the field. Fin let Louis off the leash down the touchline but he was bowled out once more just short of the line. The next few phases of play were spent turning over the line out but being pushed out into touch by the Sedgeley defence. Finally clean ball came back to Fin who flung the ball out to Josh, who, seeing a space between their scrum and fly halves sidestepped his way through to increase the MRC lead and with another successful conversion things were looking good for MRC as the minutes ticked away towards full time.

From the restart, MRC let the ball bounce and Sedgeley seized their opportunity as indecision led to turnover close to the MRC line. This was Sedgeley's best part of the game and they put wave after wave of pressure on the thin red line of the Manchester outfit. Something had to give eventually and Sedgeley found themselves driving through to level the try count. With another of their female players stepping up to take the conversion, Sedgeley were again level with only minutes left to play. Josh dropped a sublime restart kick and Myles' follow up, supported by Will, panicked the Sedgeley forwards into coughing up the ball. Good rucking from Nathan and Joe saw Fin working hard at the back of the pack to get the ball out wide. Josh offloaded to Eddie at inside centre and he was off. The first Sedgeley defender nearly took Eddie's head of with a high tackle and as Eddie was surrounded by the Sedgeley pack the ref bought his whistle up to blow for the penalty as surely no advantage was coming for MRC. But yes, out of the malay came Eddie, ball still in hand and a maniacal look on his face that said most definitely, 'don't mess with the Edster'. Two or three Sedgeley players were bounced or shrank away in fear as Eddie pumped his legs onwards towards the try line. It was Charlotte who finally took Eddie down, but alas, too late as he was in the try zone and MRC were ahead again. Josh's third successful conversion took the fight out of Sedgeley and left MRC to run down the clock comfortably secure of the win, 14v21 at the whistle.

Game 2: Sedgeley Park 7v14 MRC

The second game saw a forwards dominated first half with Sedgeley pushing through MRC only to be repelled within the MRC 15 and the same for MRC. Josh led the backs up the field only to stumble at the final hurdle time after time. Myles thought he had again scored, touching down over the cones, but unfortunately short of the try area. From the subsequent scrum, Sedgeley relieved the pressure on their try line and broke down field. Excellent cover tackles from Hanuf and Will kept the game in the middle of the field and no amount of forward pressure or light footed backs could break the deadlock and the sides went in at half time 0v0.

Ethan and Bill sat out the final half with Matthew and Olly coming on to bolster the MRC forward division. MRC restarted the match and the the game continued on in the same vein. MRC forgot how to pass the ball out wide and played the close quarters game that suited the more powerful Sedgeley pack. This did show that the smaller, more agile MRC players were holding their own at the breakdown and good mauling and rucking secured plenty of turnover for the MRC backs to use. Narrow channels gave Sedgeley the opportunities they needed and they secured the turnover mid way inside the MRC half. From the breakdown, they threw a pass out wide and tired MRC legs could only watch in horror as Sedgeley went over in the corner to take the lead with only 3 minutes remaining.

Josh's restart caused confusion in the Sedgeley ranks as Myles launched himself at the catcher. Though he didn't make contact it led to Sedgeley kicking from hand and gifting the ball to Harrison who caught it superbly and was off. He jinxed one way and then the other as he galloped towards the opposition try line. Sedgeley couldn't grip him as he skilfully side footed the defence to score his second of the day. Josh stroked the conversion over and it was all to play for with 90 seconds remaining.

MRC again took the catch well and made good inroads into the Sedgeley half from the restart. The forwards drove ever onwards and it was only fitting that Myles should pop up in the Sedgeley 15 to power his way over for the try he deserved for his tenacity throughout the day. There was just enough time for the restart and with MRC conceding a line out, last play was called. Josh, forever thinking ahead ran the ball into touch to secure the result and victory was Manchester's for the second match of the day.

Today's totally awesome Tigers were (tries in brackets): Bill, Eddie(1), Ethan, Fin, Hanuf, Harrison(2) Josh(1), Joe, Louis, Matthew, Myles, Nathan, Olly and Will.

No.1 Defender: Josh
Tackle of the Week: Josh
Player of the Week: Myles

Next week finds us training at home and building on the drill work we have been doing in previous weeks. Great handling like that shown at Sedgeley is the key to our success in the backs and superb teamwork around the contact areas for us to keep possession will put us in good stead in the pack.

Crouch, bind, set! Ian