Hertford U13 A v Brentwood – Sunday 27th January 2019

The wind at Hoe Lane is strong and bitterly cold for an anticipated competitive game as we entertain our unbeaten visitors from Essex, Brentwood who we've not played for a number of years, except in the bitterly cold of our own Floodlit Festival. It is at this point that Sean Taverner must have his first mention (a contractual agreement).... that he arrived like John Wayne, dressed as a bank robber, ready for a shoot out (or was that his tender gait?).

Brentwood take the KO. Action from the start. Hertford receive the ball well, with some short passes pushing the ball away from the
receiver. Tate Williams takes the ball and drives through the remaining defenders and off-loads to Iwan to score the first try within 3 minutes.
Hertford 5:0 Brentwood

Kick off received by Brentwood very similar in response. Easy simple passes on receiving the KO. Brentwood drive forward slowly to open up Hertford to score their first try of the game. End to end stuff from the off.
Hertford 5:5 Brentwood

Brentwood KO goes to the Hertford forwards. Some great supportive play where ball is popped between the
players, Freddie, Oli H and Tav, with a final pass pushing out to Jack Suddick, who powers through some weak tackles to score
Hertford’s second try.
Hertford 10:5 Brentwood

An almost identical return try again as the strong rapid Brentwood no.8, powers through to gas everyone and level the scores
Hertford 10:10 Brentwood

Play getting tighter from KO. Forwards take the ball and move into ruck position. Drive the ball forward. Hertford forward strength is evident here, but ball lost from a fumble. In Brentwood half so decision is to kick but the ball was charged down and taken by Jack Suddick to drive over the line for Hertford’s try number 3.
Hertford 15:10 Brentwood

Good driving from KO for Hertford. Ball moving between William Rayfield and Archie Taverner well. Finn Bloomer takes the ball from the ruck to drive to score and falls early. Hertford forwards are controlling the rucks. Pushing back the Brentwood forwards well. Lots of looking around
from the Brentwood forwards, scanning for opportunities through the Hertford defence. Scrum called and Brentwood are pushed back. Ball taken well and passed easily down the line to Finn Newton whom takes the ball over the line for try number 4 for Hertford
Hertford 20:10 Brentwood

Unfortunately in appeared that the Brentwood hooker picked up an injury from the retreating scrum, took a knee for a breather and walked off the field of play on the far touchline. Only afterwards with first aiders at hand that the club physio was sought for fears of a neck injury, and as a safety precaution an ambulance was called. We wish the young lad a speedy recovery.

Play continued and a short kick off from Hertford sees Brentwood scrabbling to control the ball. Daniel McKenna jumping on a loose ball for a great steal and drive the ball back up Brentwood half. Solid tackling from the forward maintains Hertford territory advantage with a penalty called following a very close ‘tipping’ call from the ref in favour of Hertford. Scrummage controlled by Hertford and passing successful delivered across each member of the backs with Jack Suddick final pass to Iwan Lewis delivered try number 5 for Hertford.
Hertford 25:10 Brentwood

KO passed to Hertford backs, recycling the ball well then returning to the Forwards. Ball is positioned for some effective rucking. Control is good. Slowing the ball down, passing to the back then taken by Taite Williams to score try number 6.
Hertford 30:10 Brentwood

Brentwood receive the kick off. Some initial passing missing the players but still going backwards. Brentwood centre picks up the ball with conviction and focus and out sprints Hertford for the line for Brentwood to score their third.
Hertford 30:15 Brentwood

KO from Hertford fumbled by Brentwood forwards. This enabled Hertford forwards to be all over the Brentwood defence, making it difficult for them to build a platform to play. Some solid tackling from William Rayfield and Freddie Hickey stops the ball from moving forward. An
interception enables Iwan Lewis to pick up and sprint over to score his ‘Hat Trick’ to bring home number 7 for Hertford to close the half.
Hertford 35:15 Brentwood

End of 1 st Half: Hertford 35:15 Brentwood
At this interlude Sean, needs another mention but his gingerly walk over to the huddle was so slow that Russ and Graeme had said their piece and he had to walk back.

Second half starts just as fast as the first, with Morgan Jackson taking the ball and driving over the line with the try not awarded due to a knock on. Brentwood restarts and is taken down by the Hertford defence. Ball is turned over into a ruck where Morgan Jackson gets retribution for his disallowed try to deliver Hertford’s number 8.
Hertford 40:15 Brentwood

Restart sent high from Brentwood with the ball taken well from the forwards, but then impeded by Brentwood for a Hertford penalty. Hertford forwards line up for a set play focusing Brentwood’s attention away from the backs, opening up the line for Iwan Lewis and Hertford’s 9 th try.
Hertford 45:15 Brentwood

A quick kick off lands nicely for Iwan Lewis to drive up the line to push over Hertford’s number 10 and his fifth.
Hertford 50:15 Brentwood

Scrummage back at the centre spot from the KO for Hertford opens up the Brentwood backs. The forwards strength in the scrummages and rucks is very apparent with Brentwood looking at alternatives to break through the Hertford defence. Hertford’s confidence is showing but a few stray passes means the ball is fumbled and given to Brentwood for their backs to step on the gas and score a full pitch run to score. Hertford 50:20 Brentwood

Scrummages from Hertford still solid. Pushing back Brentwood well. Brentwood recycle the ball well, drive around the forwards, with good back support, to deliver another try for the visitors. They would not give in, an admirable amount of determination and committment on display.
Hertford 50:25 Brentwood.

Team confidence is still strong with forwards drives from Archie Taverner, Taite Williams and William Rayfield and with great support by Peter Troll and Iwan Lewis. Ball pushed out for Jack Suddick to deliver try number 11 and his hat-trick.
Hertford 55:25 Brentwood.

The oppostion call for a drop in player numbers as they were out of subs which was agreed. Brentwood are looking tired and passing flat from the ruck, led to a positive interception from Jack Suddick again enables delivery of try number 12.
Hertford 60:25 Brentwood.

Late in the game now but the energy is still there. With a series of short sprints from Kick offs from Hertford, offloading through gaps put Taite Williams through for one, then the ball was moved wide for both wingers Morgan and Iwan to put th gas down and score in the corners, and leave Brentwood 15 tries to 5.
Hertford 70:25 Brentwood.

Final minutes of the game, Hertford are trying to shut Brentwood out of the game with some excellent tackling from Iwan Lewis and Peter Troll. Ball secured by Hertford and passed out to Finn Newton to make a sprint for the line while selling a beautiful side step to deliver try number 15 for Hertford and the final whistle brings the game to an end.
Hertford 80:25 Brentwood.

Hertford 80:25 Brentwood.
Iwan Lewis (6); Jack Suddick (4); Morgan (2); Taite Williams (2); Finn Newton (2)

At this point, the reporter Mr Hickey, would like to air a word of caution to the inaccuracies of the report, as he was impersonating Sean's carnie approach of dictating match moments into his WhatsApp recording, however on replay the sound of whistling windy made it inaudible, much like Sean. Thank you Paul for the report. Many thanks also to George for shirt washing (or Mrs Locke) and to Ed Nicklin and Tania Lewis for food service.

All much appreciated
Kind regards
Gareth