Foul weather marred the opening day of the Under-16 Festival at Broadstreet RFC near Coventry today making it difficult for players to impress the watching England selectors.
Driving rain throughout the afternoon coupled with numbing cold made handling difficult but the four sides overcame the difficult conditions to produce two close and entertaining matches.
In the opener the Midlands drew 5-5 with London & South East and the North took advantage of a small window in the weather to score two excellent tries and defeat the South West 10-5.
London's try against the Midlands was scored after six minutes when blindside flanker Jamie Bache (St Peter's HS and Essex) was driven over from a line-out.
The Midlands enjoyed territorial supremacy for long periods of the game but, despite several promising attacks, they found London's defence impenetrable.
Right wing James Trueman (Solihull School and Warwickshire) did cross late in the first half, only to be brought back for a knock-on as he went over.
It looked like Bache's try would decide the game until the Midlands scored a kick-and-rush try late in the second half when centre Jamie Elliott (Bedford School and East Midlands) kept his nerve and his footing to slither through for the equalising try.
England and Saracens centre Andy Farrell was among the shivering spectators in the stand for the opener. Farrell's son Owen (St Georges School, Harpenden and Hertfordshire) captained London and had a steady game in difficult conditions.
Mike Ford, the England defence coach, was in the crowd for both matches but he had particular interest in the second game as his son George (Rishworth School and Yorkshire) was at fly-half for the North.
Although the pitch started to cut up during the second game, the rain relented for a time and the North capitalised by playing some enterprising rugby.
They took an early lead when centre George Elliott (Easingwold School and Yorkshire) cut through the middle and right wing Chris McTurk (St Peter's, York and Yorkshire) finished off the attack.
A second try by left wing Josh Allan (North Halifax GS and Yorkshire) gave the North a 10-0 lead but the weather deteriorated and the South West's big pack began to exert themselves in the second half.
They pulled back a try when lock Mike Normandale (Marlwood School and Bristol) drove over from close range, but the North finished strongly and secured victory.
As usual at this festival no kicks at goal were taken to give the selectors more opportunity to see the players with ball in hand.
The Divisional Festival continues on Sunday January 13 when the North play London at 9.45am and Midlands take on the South West at 11.15 am.
There will be a further Divisional Festival at Broadstreet on January 27 when a combined North & Midlands play London & SE and the South West at 10.30am.
The England selectors will then name a squad for a development session at Cokethorpe School from February 1 to 3 followed by camps at Hartpury College (February 19-23), Solihull School (February 29-March 2), Cokethorpe School (March 7-9) and Solihull School (March 14-16).
England's senior Under-16 side will compete in the Four Nations Tournament in Lyon from March 17 to 27 along with France, Italy and Wales. England Under-16s A will play in the Millfield Festival in Somerset from March 31 to April 6 alongside Canada, France A, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, USA and Wales A. |
