5 Star Jake seals the semi final for u12s
Conditions in Cowbridge were perfect on Sunday morning for the Bowl quarter final of the Cardiff Rugby Defender Cup. The home side would have been confident of progressing having only missed out on the plate on points difference having battled to a draw with Llandaff North in the group and having beaten the Illts comfortably in the last meeting of the sides at U11s. However, the Illts coaching team were confident that the kids would be very competitive due to the improvements the side has made in particular since the turn of the year.
It was the home side who were quickest out of the blocks, moving the ball nicely and using the full width of the pitch, threatening to get round the outside of the Illts defence on several occasions, but wingers Aaron and Max produced some great cover defence to keep the home side at bay. The Illts started forwards started to come into the game, with barrelling charges by Sammie, Gethin and Captain Jack making big inroads into the Cowbridge defence, but this work was undone by either support being too slow to arrive at the ruck or knock ons when the Illts sought to use the space created.
A nice break down the left by the Cowbridge winger was ended by a great cover tackle from Jacob covering across from no 8, but from the resultant lineout the Illts shot themselves in the foot with a loose pass just metres from there own line which was pounced on by the Cowbridge forwards, who powered over the line a few phases later for a converted try.
The Illts came straight back with powerful second row Wallat taking up the charge and breaking deep into Cowbridge territory, although Cowbridge managed to turn the ball over a knock on gave the Illts a 5m scrum, a great snipe from Tommy saw him offload at the right time for centre Jake to score the Illts first try out wide, the kick was missed so Cowbridge led 7-5.
The game was back and forth at this point, flankers Charlie C and JJ working hard to secure possession and outside half Charlie H looking to get the ball wide whenever he had the chance. A great catch and counter attack by full back Oliver led to another break by Jake who was eventually hauled down but again the Illts couldn’t captalise. Cowbridge came back with a powerful blindside break by the no 8, but both sides cover defences were in good working order. With a squad of 23, the Illts rotated some forwards before half time, with Jaiden straight into the fray winning an important turnover and Henry getting stuck into some carrying. It was Cowbridge who scored next though gaining possession from another knock on, carrying strongly in midfield to suck in the Illts defenders before spinning the ball to the right. A great cover tackle from Oscar saved the try but it was brief respite as Cowbridge drove over 2 phases later for a converted try, making the half time score 14-5.
The half time message from the coaches was that the Illts could win the game if they cut out the handling errors and tightened up there ball retention. The Illts were straight onto the attack after half time, with Jacob carrying like a man possessed taking 3 or 4 Cowbridge defenders to drag him down every time he had the ball. After some strong forward drives set up the position, Millie released the Illts outside backs and it was Jake again who narrowed the gap to 14-10. The Illts defence was now on top, with second row Zac D chopping down the Cowbridge runners, and the Illts took the lead soon after that. A huge counter ruck from Jake took about 4 Cowbridge players out, Jack drove onto the line and when the ball was recycled quickly it was Jake on hand to complete his hattrick.
Devyn and Zac R had entered the fray at half time on the wings and both had excellent breaks which were well supported by half backs Tommy and Millie. After another big set of forward carries Jake powered through his opposite number and rounded the home full back for his 4th try, expertly converted by Oliver to stretch the Illts lead to 22-14. The Illts had emptied there bench with Liam, Harley and Eric also coming into the fray and getting stuck straight into the action. Cowbridge continued to move the ball wide in an effort to get back into the game, but a great tackle by outside centre Oscar shut down the attack, and the Illts seized on the loose ball and it was that man Jake again who profited strolling under the posts for his fifth try converted by Zac R.
The last 5 minutes typified the Illts second half performance with crunching tackles in midfield from Zac D and Jake stopping Cowbridge in there tracks, and the Illts effort summed up by an amazing cover tackle by Charlie H in the left hand corner. Cowbridge never gave up and eventually created the space to crash over in the corner, the try was unconverted and a few moments later the referee blew his whistle with the Illts having won 29-19 and moving on to the semi finals.
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