Leamington RFC vs Silhilians u14s – Warwickshire Cup 15th March 2020
By Ian Hilton
Well where do I begin with this one? Weeks of unpleasantness disguised as “banter" fooled no one and the mighty Sils were going to do their talking on the pitch, not hiding behind a keyboard. Arriving early for a quick team talk then outside for an intense warm up session. 10 mins before kick off big Tom Masterson rallying the troops like Maximus Decimus Meridius before crushing the barbarians in Germania. First half saw a very fired up Leamington kick the game into action. In dreadful conditions both teams cancelled each other out for long periods. Leamington camped in the Sils half but some fantastic defensive work from the whole team saw Leamington repelled time and time again culminating in a smash of a try saving tackle from big Will Conduit. That was as close to scoring a try as it got for Leamington. Another penalty to Leamington saw them opt for a kick at goal from a tight angle but they pulled it right of the posts. Some great Sils play saw George Hastings and George Maddy combine to make metres.
Leamington looking tired, Sils just warming to the task in hand. Some fantastic scrummaging saw Leamington under all sorts of pressure yards from their own line. With a dominate scrum and the try line begging Sils had the penalty but referee blew for half time. No score but Sils doing the hard work softening Leamington up.
Second half underway with Sils up at Leamington again. The constant Sils pressure was taking its toll and after a great rucking and scrummaging display Leamington were going backwards. With the try line in sight George Maddy bludgeoned his way in to make it 0-5 to Sils. Conversion just short from Monty. Leamington restart saw Sils run it right back at them. Josh, Tom and Will making hard meter after hard meter supported by Matty, Alex, Ollie, Josh B and the impossible to tire Harry Pemberton. Leamington looked spent but they stuck to the task in hand however, with Sils starting to dominate it was not long before some classic Sils quick ball saw Krish open the throttle wide to eventually speed in right under the posts. He kicked the conversion into orbit making it 0-12 Sils. Leamington were now chasing the game and Sils were in top gear. Some crunching tackles saw another penalty to Sils which Krish kicked wide left despite a great connection. Leamington opted to play their way out after catching Krish’s kick but Sils were all over them like a rash. Leamington fumbled the ball under pressure and a quick thinking Ben Leach dropped on the loose ball. 0-17 to Sils after a missed conversion. Leamington kick off caught by Krish saw Sils smash their way back into the Leamington half. Wide left saw Ross at 9 hit Monty at 10 to Will Conduit at speed and in space. Will with a beautiful side step left his defender for dead going on to plough a straight furrow over the try line making the final score 0-22 to Sils.
Fantastic to a man performance in horrible conditions saw Sils at their best, letting the rugby do the talking. I could have picked any of the Sils players as man of the match they were all superb.
Next up Warwickshire Cup Final