Well the Under 14’s officially started their season on Sunday as the club welcomed back Youth Rugby at Warwick Road for the 2017/18 season! With pitch space at a premium it was a very welcome treat for our squad to be given the opportunity to play on the very well prepared 1st Team pitch! Something that a large number of our squad should be aspiring to every week for the First!

As the mid-September sun shone down on the boys as they arrived at the club, everyone eagerly awaited the start of the new season at the club. Kendal were todays opponents and from first sight they looked like a much changed side from the side we’d played previously! Our Coaches had taken the decision to bring all available players down to allow as many of the squad as possible the chance to play so early in the season, a decision which proved to be very worthwhile as the day moved on.

The structure of the day was to play three twenty minute thirds, so that we could work and develop both our whole squad during the match. With all our First Team players available to play it made selection a very tricky process but after some deliberation the First Team for the new season was ready to go! As kick-off drew nearer there was a nervous touch line as Kendal looked big and able, but all the Coaches nerves where soon quashed as the boys effortlessly switched from practice to game mode!

Just as the game kicked off the sun retreated and made way to the lovely September drizzle! Despite the now challenging conditions the game started at a quick pace with Carlisle dominating in every area of the field! The forwards did their job well with just the right amount of commitment and hanging out on the rucks and mauls, and the backs were provided with just the kind of ball they relish!, but only once they’d realized the passes would go to hand much easier if they all stood a yard or two closer!

Some excellent forward's work provided the Carlisle backs with the space they enjoy to attack, and following some great timing on when to draw your man and off load, saw Carlisle score their first try of the season!

The Carlisle forwards continued to boss the game up front, and when called upon the back line looked equally as devastating with the lads looking likely to score every time they attacked. As the rain continued the ball became increasingly slippery which saw a couple of unforced errors from both side, but on the whole both sides adapted and coped well with the British weather!

Mid-way through the first twenty, the Carlisle team played some excellent pick and goes, and handling from one side of the pitch to the other meant that Kendal where all over the place to try and stop the Carlisle attacks! In the end the pressure told as good work from Luca and Henry saw them gain 15 yards on the far side of the pitch, before some excellent hands from the backs eventually saw Archie feeding the ball to Ozzie on the near side of the pitch for the second try of the day!

After the restart Carlisle were straight back on the attack with a good pick up anda mazy run from Robbie, who was well supported by Harrison, saw the third try of the game come around quickly! The score this time was Ozzie.

As the first twenty drew to an end Carlisle continued to play attacking rugby but Kendal never gave in, and their efforts were rewarded when they were given a scrummage following some excellent defending! Although the might of the Carlisle Pack showed again with a great strike against the head from Harry, Carlisle managed to nick the scrum and were straight back on the attack! After some quick re-positioning and good hands Robbie crashed over in the far corner to make the score at the end of the first third 4 tries to nil.
So after the First Team had produced a great first 20 minutes it was time for the Development Team to take to the pitch. As a mixture of nerves and inexperience where present every player did extremely well, with no one giving up and everyone playing well together and to the best of their ability!

It was obvious from the outset that Kenda had more experience within their team, but without these games our squad will never develop! There was plenty of positives to take from the way the boys played and in particular Finn at scrum-half worked tirelessly to get to every breakdown to ensure the ball came out on our terms!

As our squad becomes stronger and more pitch aware, all the players in the Development team will be pushing for a First Team place and actually we need to remember some lads are only just starting their second full season of rugby! But with their continued commitment, effort and games their skills will be much improved and they’ll be even more prepared for the return fixture later in the season! So much so I believe the 2 tries to nil score will certainly be overturned in the return fixture!

A fantastic team effort and to lose the second third 2-0 against Kendal’s First Team was very impressive.

So it was time for the First Team to play their second half, but where the rain had once fallen the sun now shone! The conditions were only ever going to suit the Carlisle players with them enjoying and continuing to play their expansive rugby!

As the game went on Kendal obviously started to tire as you’d expect but to compound this the Carlisle lads picked up exactly where their they’d left off in the First Third, with them continuing to play with a strong tempo and level of maturity beyond their years!

All their efforts were rewarded with another three well worked tries coming from some decisive backs play, that saw Archie power his way over the line for another good team try; before Will usually a second row forward, found himself in the Number 10 slot decided to give it a go for himself from 15 yards when a backs move had already been called!!! Good job he scored otherwise Scott would’ve been having words! The third scored by Ozzie was a well anticipated interception; as the Kendal’s scrum half passed the ball Ozzie dived full length to pluck the ball out the air whilst landing safely over the try line!

Although Carlisle didn’t have it all their own way during the third period as Kendal did score a consolation try after some untidy defensive work let them cross easily for their third try on the day!

As Carlisle’s dominance continued and the clock ticked towards the final whistle there was still time for Carlisle to cross the line twice more! The first came again from some excellent team rugby which saw the whole side involved in some free following running rugby that went from one side to the pitch to the other with the ball carrier be well supported and passes being given at just right time! A number of players could have crossed the white wash but it was Ozzie again who scored the try!

As the game came to an end, there was just enough time for a final flourish from the Carlisle forwards! With some good clearing out at the contact point the Kendal defence parted like the Red Sea with a gap just big enough for Henry to pick the ball up and launch an unstoppable run, well quick walk to the try line! To complete the scoring for the day!!!

A great squad display from every member of it today. The Coaches strongly believe that the future is bright for all players as long as they continue with their excellent levels of commitment and endeavours in the coming weeks and months in training, and the games we have arranged for them all! A true pleasure to be associated with a great bunch of lads!!!

Report by
David Longworth