U14 Match Report - Sunday 12/11/17 - Perth 35 v Ellon 3

Ellon U14s headed down to Perth for this weekend's game. Kick off started after a one minute silence for Armistice Sunday. Ellon got straight into the attack with the forwards using the pods and breaking towards the Perth try line. This resulted in Jamie Brooks scoring after two minutes. This early score lifted the Ellon boys spirits and we thought we were in for a chance today and for a moment the opposition knew they had a game on their hands.
The Perth pack were strong and countered and opened their scoring in the 6th minute to level one try each. The following 10 minutes was a tough battle with no real advantage to either team however Perth started to win most of the rucks and scrums which was a setback for Ellon, however the lads kept up the pressure in the middle of the park and it was a fairly even game up until the 15th minute when Perth took advantage of their backs excellent passing, running in three tries in the 15th, 18th and 20th minutes. The first period ends Perth 13 v Ellon 3.

Second period opened with Ellon making a strong attack into the Perth half constant attacking and defending. Fin Ritchie managed to break through two tackles and was heading for a score when the Perth full back made a try saving tackle to deny Ellon a try. Both teams fought hard with great effort and Felix, Sam, Ryan Hanton and Ryan Dickie making loads of tackles right up until the 10th minute when once again the Perth backs ran round our wing to score. Ellon winger Ross Davidson made every tackle however Perth always seemed to have that extra man.
Unfortunately Ellon then lost their way a bit and lost their shape and just could not really defend well which resulted in Perth running in four more tries in the 12th 14th 18th and 20th minutes as their backs chip kicked the ball over the Ellon backs and collected lucky bounces to score their tries. Second period ends Perth 32 v Ellon 3.

The final period saw the Ellon lads start strongly however unfortunately they lost the ball in a ruck and a Perth forward ran through the pack to score under the posts. Perth 35 v Ellon 3, game over due to over 30 points difference.

The remaining 18 minutes was played as a development game where the Ellon lads were determined to show that they could fight hard and with great spirit took the game to Perth. Ellon then put in their best performance of the game! Ellon defended well in their own 22 and shipped the ball wide for Fin R to run 80 metres down the left wing to score with a load of Perth lads giving chase. Perth then fought back, 1 try each however Ellon exerted more pressure driving through the middle using the forward pods which resulted in a try for Sam Douglas. In the last minute Perth regained their composure and again their backs ran in the final try. The development game ended 2 tries each - if only we had managed to play like that throughout the game. The Perth coaches were full of praise for the Ellon lads and said that Ellon had just given them their toughest game this season. So although a disappointing initial result, Ellon proved they can play good rugby, we just need to be more focuses and disciplined from the start. Keep the hard work going lads.