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U14's - Match Report (20/09/09)
Barnstaple - Home (Won 17-7)

Exeter Saracens U14's playing in their black strip to avoid the colour clash with the visitors from North Devon , acquitted themselves well on the field in the physical and flowing encounter which saw the home side finish the victors in a close fought match. The heat of the late September morning was joyous for the spectators but took its toll throughout the match on players from both sides, sapping the energy from the legs and draining the strength in the confrontational areas of rucks, mauls and scrummages.

Sarries started well and immediately took control of the possession and territory but Barnstaple were determined in defence both on the crash ball up the centre from Sarries or against the whipped out balls to the flying wingers. Sarries probed well and put together some well structured rugby full of improvisation and presence of mind when things broke down. Good forward work managed to secure many balls with Tom Griffiths, Jake Hurford and Laurence Parker all in the tick of it making their presence felt.
The loose forwards were menacing both in defence and attack with Jack Hamlyn, Steven Gill and Hallum Curran all working well as a unit to close any attacks down and take any opportunity to turn the play over and turn defence into attack. Jack Hamlyn was back to his normal self with huge tackles being executed with devastating effect. The big Barnstaple loose forwards, scrum half and fly half found it challenging to make any breaks with these three terriers on the rampage joined in the tight with Dom Ditchburn, Matt Bound and Man of the Match Owen Mugford closing things down before any momentum could be built up.
Barnstaple enjoyed a few breaks into the Saracens half but well disciplined defence from the home side including David Kittow being superb under the high ball at full back and good tackling from Joe Street and Joe Parker meant that any play in the half was short lived as Sarries bought the pressure back to bear with ease.
Sarries were patient and controlled in their build up to their first try with a few scrums with practised moves off of the base, the backs making the yardage with darting runs from Tom Pugsley making the most of the space afforded to take the play further up the field. From a 5M attacking penalty the ball was popped to a charging Joe Embery who tried to stretch to the line but was grounded short. From the ensuing ruck Steven Gill picked up and peeled around to go over for a well deserved team try. With Hamlyn slotting the conversion the maximum was taken from the scoring opportunity.
The support play that Sarries thrive upon was now to pay dividends again with players running in support to accept the off load out of contact. Embery secured the second score after the ball was kept alive along the line out of the tackle. Showing a great turn of speed, the determined second row lock was on the end of the move on the wing to beat the covering tacklers to touch down for a try that was so very satisfying for all the players on the park.
With the kick unsuccessful, the half time turn around came along to enable the players to grab some breath and take on some much needed fluid.
(Half Time - 12-0)

With a few enforced changes to the squad in and around the half time break saw the squad take on a slightly different feel. Still on the attack though, Sarries forced their will upon the visitors but after the half time break the Barnstaple had bought new resolve to their defence. Mugford was all over the field making huge disruptive tackles and instigating fizzing runs in the backs. Joe Parker tried several times to round the last Barnstaple defenders down the wing but couldn't quite pull it off. Building phases Exeter Saracens ensured the pressure was kept up. Adam Tregedeon made it around the field to be involved in the breakdowns one after the other and made his presence felt by utilising his well developed mauling technique expertly ripping the ball free to gain the possession desired.
From a misjudged attacking kick, Sarries found themselves under the cosh with a lightening return break from Barnstaple which enabled the visitors' winger to streak home under the posts for a fortunate but well taken try. With the kick being converted with ease then the pressure was back on the home side to open the lead back out.
Sarries returned to turning the screw on the Barnstaple side. With play switching from one side to the other as Sarries looked for ways through, Mugford, Gill and Hamlyn almost forced a gap but it was to be Curran who drifted across the whole Barnstaple defensive line, handing off as he went, still with Joe Parker on his outside in support, dived over the line towards the corner to restore the comfortable lead. With the conversion not slotted the visitors were still within two scores but time was not on their side.
The game was closed out with Saracens still on the attack and defending when needed but all the time in the oppositions half.
(Full Time - 17-7)