ERGS U14s vs RBAI

RBAI opted to kick off the game against an Enniskillen team looking to claim its first major Belfast school scalp of the season. David Stinson caught well and the forwards kept possession as Enniskillen rucked their way up the field urged on by scum half Matthew Bothwell. RBAI turned the ball over inside their own 22 but were quickly tackled into touch, conceding the first lineout of the game.
Despite Hooker Ryan Phair’s increasingly accurate throws and the best efforts of Callum Smyton and Justin White to conceal calls, RBAI’s tall lock forwards were going to make set plays from line outs uncertain all game and this was the first of a number of steals. RBAI opted to kick with their possession but Sam Milligan, who along with Jason Bothwell covered ground and caught balls brilliantly all morning, did not allow RBAI to gain any real advantage from these tactics.
Enniskillen won the first scrum against the head and props Matthew Graham and Ben Davis should take pride in the fact that they dominated this area of the play for the entire game. The Enniskillen scrummaging provided a secure base for Eddie Keys and the back line to work off and this time quick offloading amongst the forwards played winger Sam Balfour in to score.
Through the running of centre pairing Stephen Balfour and Taine Haire and the precise kicking of Eddie Keys Enniskillen pressurized the RBAI try line for much of the rest of the first half. However they were unable to convert pressure to points and the half finished 5-0.
The second half began well for Enniskillen when Justin White recognized the RBAI out half lining up a kick and charged it down. After some powerful rucking led by Henry Keys and Zak Havers, Ryan Phair was able to twist through two tacklers and ground the ball. Eddie Keys converted well from just off the touch line to make it 12 – 0.
With Matthew Beatty and Adam Sanderson relieving tired legs Sam Balfour picked up and ran in loose ball for the third try and Stephen Balfour ran straight through the holes in RBAI’s defence for the fourth. Matthew Wilson, John Elliot and Andrew Patton played well when given their opportunity and John Elliot was unfortunate not to be awarded a try after grounding the ball in the last moments of the game. The score finished 28-0.