Junior reports

Date	Age	Team	Score	Report
28/09/2008	U12's	Burntwood	W 31-0	See individual junior pages
28/09/2008	U16's	Rugeley	W 62-0	See individial junior pages
21/09/2008	U16	Handsworth	L 17-18	Late summer sunshine greeted the first game of the new campaign for the Eccleshall All Blacks and with it came the excitement and expectation that only a new rugby season can bring. The kick off was eagerly anticipated by all concerned. The squad and the coaching staff have trained together through summer and are keen to build on the success that came in the second half of last season. A number of the regular first choice players were unavailable so there were several changes in positions and personnel forced upon the team with fresh faces in the half back pairing and a new look front row. The strength in depth of the squad showed as from the kick off Ecc gelled together and made their intentions clear. They rarely left the Handsworth 22 and after seven minutes the first points were on the board - but no one scored. A series of good moves from the centre sent Josh Lewis in on the right but he was denied on the line by a deliberate knock-on. The result was a penalty try to Ecc and an unusual way to open the scoring for the season. For most of the first half the visitors rarely saw the ball and it was only in the last three minutes that they managed to break the Ecc stranglehold. A swift run led to a penalty being awarded and an excellent kick from some thirty five metres gave the visitors their first three points. Handsworth took the lead three minutes after the restart with another gifted penalty, this time only 10 metres out and in front of the posts. But it did not last for long as Ecc ran in two tries inside ten minutes. Both were scored by captain Alex Hunter and both were the result of very good team work with quick thinking and passing along the line. The pack worked hard and won the ball, supported each other and created the opportunities for the backs to use the space. The handling was swift and sure, and Hunter supplied the finishing touches with two determined weaving runs each from about 15 metres out. Ryan Beech converted one of tries and at 17-6 the All Blacks were looking good. Both teams lost a man to the sin bin for what seemed to be minor infractions, but it hurt the All Blacks most as the front row had to be reshuffled again to avoid uncontested scrums. Handsworth then came back into the game with a good converted try on the left. Ecc players claimed they were unlucky to concede it but a number of missed tackles made it easier for the visitors. But it was the last five minutes of the match where the game was lost. Handsworth at last started to work as a unit as Ecc had to defend for their lives. A solid onslaught by the beefy Handsworth pack piled pressure on the Ecc defence and tested the strength and mauling skills of all concerned. Aware of giving away penalties the boys held on by their fingertips until the referee indicated that time would be called at the next dead ball. But that next time was in a melee of players straddling the Ecc try line. A hand briefly applied the necessary downward pressure on the ball and the referee was perfectly position to declare that it was a Handsworth hand. The final whistle went as the conversion was missed and the boys lost by one point in the last second. So disappointment with an opening defeat, but it was a moral victory for the All Blacks. The increased fitness levels showed and the tackles were hard and true. There is always room for improvement and next weeks match against Rugeley, at the new 'home' venue of Gnosall, will be a chance for the boys to showcase that improvement