Northampton Old Scouts vs Silhilians u14s 12 January 2020
By Ian Hilton
This promised to be a close game following a 20 points to 15 win for Sils last season and it did not disappoint. Northampton took the ball from the Sils kick off and their big forward line pushed their way into the Sils half and despite a sterling defensive effort Northampton scored a quick converted try to make it 7-0. Sils looked shell shocked but following the restart a number of penalties against Northampton allowed Sils to kick to touch and progress into their half. Third penalty conceded by Northampton for stopping Ross at 9 from playing the ball. Monty kicks to touch. Sils lost the subsequent line out and Northampton kicked out of their own half. Sils couldn’t prevent Northampton scoring again, unconverted to make it 12-0. Ref blows 1st third to a close.
2nd third saw Northampton kicking to Sils who with a great forward effort were eventually rewarded with a hard fought try for full back George Hastings, converted by Monty making it 12-7. Northampton re start given straight back by Sils allowed a committed Northampton in again for their third try, unconverted to make it 17-7. Not 2 mins later a strong Sils defensive line put Northampton in all sorts of trouble only for Northampton to break against the run of play and score under the posts, unconverted again to make it 22-7. Sils making uncharacteristic handling mistakes and Northampton scored again to make it 29-7 at the end of the 2nd rd 3.
Ollie Wilkins in at 9 saw Sils kick the restart. Lots of hard tackling from James Kennedy and Ciaran Sullivan saw Sils slowly making yards when Tom Masterson bludgeoned his way over the try line, 29- 12, missed conversion in tough windy conditions. Restart saw Sils right back at it and despite a Northampton clearing kick Sils worked hard to eventually find the fleet footed Brendan Colley to score in the corner, conversion missed 29-17. Ref blew for the end of the match, Northampton win 29-17, 5 tries to 3.
Disappointment for Silhilians but take nothing away from Northampton great opposition and a brilliant game of rugby played in the right spirit.