After what has been a physically demanding and intense pre season the U14 squad of 20 willing bodies headed up the road for the much anticipated first game of the new season against Foyle College.
Foyle had been the proverbial thorn in the side for the ERGS lads last season where ERGS lost 2 tight contests against a well drilled outfit. So with that itch to scratch it was with quiet determination that the boys arrived at Foyle’s incredible new school and facilities to seek their revenge.
After a structured warm up and a few final words from the coaches captain Bothwell and pack leader Smyton were put in charge and given the responsibility to squeeze the best out of their teammates over the next 50-55 minutes.
It has to be noted that the lads had the pleasure of walking out onto a world class surface and one that was to suit their wish to play wide and attacking rugby.
Receiving the kick off, hooker Clarke fielded brilliantly to set up the first tuck of the 2018/9 season. And what a ruck it was. A steaming ERGS pack took instant control, Hamill spun to Love at 10 and before you could say Jack Rabbitt, the ‘machine gun kid’ Carrothers, on the wing, had the ball. With ground made through lovely handling it was clear from the first seconds how ERGS intended to play this game.
After several nice phases of play where every player on the pitch appeared to handle the ball ERGS found themselves in the ascendency and in a try scoring position. Unfortunately a penalty was awarded for offside and Foyle had a moment to catch their breath from a rampant ERGS side.
Foyle last year used their talented No8 to devastating effect and from the penalty it was clear, when he took the ball at pace, that this was the intention yet again. What happened next was a defining moment of the game. Picking out captain Bothwell, the No8 got his dander up, clearly expecting to batter his way up the pitch. What he hadn’t accounted for was a captain who was determined to lead by example. Bothwell giving away a significant weight advantage simply displayed perfect technique to perform a crushing tackle full of commitment and grit, to halt and ultimately silence the Foyle side. From that moment, from those few seconds, from that decision to stand up and be counted, Bothwell laid the marker and expectation for the rest of his team. It was a spine tingling moment.
Quite simply, ERGS then played the best half of rugby that this side has ever produced. A blindside move from a solid scrum allowed Love to release Carrothers, who powered his way over out wide to start the scoreboard ticking. This try showed lovely vision and communication between the half backs who both had a great first half.
The kick was short.
From the restart the ERGS pack continued with the same pace and ferocity that they had shown over the first 10 minutes creating numerous headaches for a scrambling Foyle defence. Bringing play over to the right side of the pitch through some nice passing from Bothwell and Courtney at 12 and 13, the flying Harte was released. Harte who developed superbly last year and had a great pre-season, showed a clean pair of heels to his opposite number. However, he was hauled down by a great last ditch tackle but with the support on hand through the back row of Graham, who was superb all game, and Smyton, another phase was set up. A few short balls sucked in the last few defenders, leaving the blindside exposed, allowing Hamill to pick from the base of the ruck and slip under the final defender to score a nice scrum half try in the corner. The kick was short.
The communication at this point of the game was great to watch with every player taking responsibility for their role from the hits up front by ‘the engine’ Hetherington to the excellent distribution by the back-line. Graham at openside, was on fire and placing the Foyle 10 under huge pressure. Smyton, Kerr and Seaman were all extremely effective in the loose with nothing escaping their grip.
ERGS again made some quick ground from the restart, however, the exuberance in getting off the defensive line saw them being pinged again for offside allowing a somewhat shellshocked Foyle to re group. Kicking the penalty from within their own 22, Foyle failed to make touch and slotted the ball down the throat of the solid Burns at fullback who, just as he should, opened out into space taking a lovely line at pace. A delightful pass to the busy and keen Harte saw him beat 2 opposing defenders with pure speed and agility, before stepping inside and out, to beat the final defender out wide. A try of some class that Harte has the ability to deliver in every game he plays. The kick slipped wide.
The 4th try of the game came from a lineout which was won after what coach Graham described as a ‘hair raising moment’. Following a brief attack by Foyle into the ERGS half, ERGS managed to turn the ball over through the aggression of the impressive pack leader, Smyton. Using his trademark ‘power rip’, he turned defence into attack in the blink of an eye and with a few leg drives, ERGS were storming towards the Foyle 22. This was helped considerably when the ‘machine gun kid’ Carrothers used his considerable strength to ‘aid and abet’ his forwards and drive the maul at such considerable pace forwards that it looked like a tsunami. To their credit Foyle dug in and managed to thwart what looked like a certain try. A lineout was awarded to ERGS at the Foyle 22, where Monaghan, who had a superb game, won the ball and once secured, Hamill spun the ball with a great pass to Love who then simply released Bothwell, who showed his talent for timing a pass, by delaying a lovely pass to the impressive Courtney. Courtney, who had his best game in a ERGS jersey delivered to Burns coming in from fullback and again with lovely timing, released Harte who stepped on the gas, rounded his opposite number and scored a fantastic second try within a 5 min golden spell. Love stepped up and slotted the points.
As the first half came to a close a tired looking Foyle side were starting to drop their heads. ERGS however, were in the mood for more. Rucking beautifully up the centre of the pitch the pack were producing great ball for Hamill at 9 to feed Love, who welcomed the opportunity to continue his dominant performance. After several phases where Love had used the width to gain ground from his strong running backline it was the forwards who were baying for a score. From a ruck within the Foyle 22, Hamill fed the hungry Monaghan who with his brute power, hit the ball at speed and with his golden locks flowing, sidestepped and barged his way under the posts for a very well deserved score. Hamill added the points.
With the half time whistle blowing, ERGS found themselves 27-0 up having had 3 out of their 5 tries scored out wide, being totally dominant up front and sitting in a very strong position. Coach Clarke was almost speechless and Coach Graham was still sorting out the hairs on the back of his neck!!
The second half started with the same enthusiasm and a wish to continue keeping the scoreboard ticking on. From the kick-off however, it was clear that Foyle had flicked a switch and had made a decision not to go down without a fight. From some quick rucking and powerful running from their No 8 and 12, they made good ground after ERGS had missed a few tackles and seemed to have just turned the dial down a notch. Quite quickly ERGS found themselves under the first bit of real pressure they had faced all game. Foyle again came at ERGS who by now were on the back foot and through their very impressive 8, Foyle broke the line and scored under the posts. This was a try with some conviction that had caught the ERGS boys sleeping a little.
ERGS made some changes at this stage with Elliott, Magee and Nelson all coming on for their well deserved chance to make a mark on the game. However, this coupled with a disappointing and distinct change in refereeing ‘attitude’ unnerved the ERGS boys somewhat and the game then entered into a period of frustrating penalties and stoppages. With the pattern of the game so disrupted and ERGS being penalised for one issue after another, frustration started to seep in and discipline just started to slip.
Foyle were enjoying having the rub of the green and with their confidence growing, they began to create some problems for what had been a well marshalled and organised ERGS defence. A strong run by Foyle was stopped in its tracks by a superb tackle by Smyton within our own 22. He had to cover a lot of ground to make the tackle and it represented clearly the benefits of all the fitness training over the summer. Not only was the attack halted but the scrambling ERGS defence, who were there in numbers, turned the ball over and through Magee in at 9, Love called for the ball and spun it wide, through the hands to the ever present and dangerous Carrothers on the wing. Taking the ball on his own 22 and with a lot.
‘Sam the man’, put the pedal to the metal and blasted, weaved and flew up the pitch to score the try of the game under the posts. It really was a brilliant score. Hamill slotted the points.
However, Foyle were not done yet. Through penalty after frustrating penalty dished out by the referee, they pushed ERGS back onto their own line, 10m by 10m. With ERGS backs up against the wall they defended admirably thwarting the powerful Foyle 8 on 2 occasions with some stout defence. However, Foyle eventually managed to get the ball wide and score what was a well worked try.
Entering into the last 10 minutes it was clear that ERGS were feeling that it was time to put the last 20 mins of frustration behind them and get on to finish the game out. Further switch arounds were made and with Love grabbing hold of the game again things started to change. The pack who had been playing a blinder, stepped it up a gear, utilising all the gains they had made from pre-season and went back at Foyle with the fire back in the belly. With better, more secure ball, Hamill, back at 9 was able to regain forward momentum through the short runners of Clarke, Smyton, Hetherington and Aiken. Love and the excellent Bothwell made sure that things continued moving well down the centre of the pitch and within a few minutes, ERGS were back in total control.
After a barnstorming smash and grab by Aiken up the middle, the ball was nicely recycled to the blindside and the ever present and inspiring figure of Love powered over for a very well deserved score. The difficult conversion was narrowly missed.
As the game entered its dying minutes, the ERGS boys looked full of life once again and through some lovely hands, off loads and direct running, it was ‘the engine’ Hetherington who got the space out wide to outpace the tired Foyle defence and run in a try that warmly represented his efforts in the game. Again the difficult conversion went wide.
Its hard to pick out individual performances in such a game where so many lads had their best match in an ERGS jersey. The commitment, physicality, execution of the game plan and the collective spirt shown today was probably the highlight of the trip
Overall, this was a wonderful performance, that each and every boy should be incredibly proud of. Everyone in the squad played their role, took responsibility and put their body on the line. As the season develops there is no doubt that it is the squad, not the team, that will make the difference.
This is such a great bunch of lads and from the coaches this evening, we are so happy for them all to have scratched the Foyle itch!! This was a real squad performance and despite the small blip in the second half it was a dominating performance by a group of lads who showed that teamwork can make good things happen. Even the water was delivered with a smile, commitment and team spirit!!! Good job BT.
