Warwickian handed a lesson

If there was a blueprint for the type of rugby Warwickian are looking to play, it was provided by Midlands Four South (West) visitors Ledbury, who outscored the home side 11 tries to one to reach the second round of the Junior Vase.

Right from the off the Ledbury pack went through several phases before releasing their well-drilled backs, with only some outstanding last-ditch tackling stopping them from scoring in the first minute.

However, the pressure was unrelenting and Brad Smith crashed over to cap a fine opening ten minutes from the visitors.

To the hosts’ credit they got themselves back in the game and, after some good phases, won a penalty out wide which Nick Cameron slotted over to reduce the deficit to two points.

The remainder of the half was about damage limitation as a clinical Ledbury side added a further 24 unanswered points, with their impressive backs looking to run the ball at every opportunity.

If the first half was all about Ledbury, the second was about Warwickian character, heart, resilience and the belief that they were a better team than the scoreline suggested.

Once again Ledbury started well and they scored a converted try within 60 seconds of the restart.

Warwickian coach Cameron had said at half-time that if his side’s pack could secure clean undisrupted ball at first phase, their backs had a chance of breaking the line.

And it proved to be the case as first Jamie Bearman and then Will Godwin went clean through to create two-on-ones which were spurned by poor handling.

At 44-3 down, Warwickian scored a deserved consolation when Rich Shacklock accepted a quickly taken lineout and jinked his way past two tacklers to score under posts. Cameron slotted over the conversion.

As the match entered the final ten minutes, a tired Warwickian team shipped another three converted tries, but Cameron saw more than enough positives from his emerging side.

“We’re obviously not ready for that level of rugby yet,” said Cameron.

“However, that said I think we played well in patches and feel if not for some poor decisions when we were clean through with only their full-back to beat we could have had two or three more tries.”