Opening Day Win for the Cubs

The BSN-Te Werve Cubs started the rugby season, with a home game against HRC. After heavy overnight rains, the sun broke through and BSN played out a well-contested 24-5 win.

With new players coming in from, including those from the last years’ BSN Minis; it was a good performance, where BSN started both halves well, but ran out of steam in the last 10 minutes of the match.

Five minutes into the first half, BSN broke on the right from a scrum. Last ditch tackling by HRC forced one foot into touch. But from the line out, HRC knocked on, giving BSN a scrum five yards out. The ball came to Eddie, who made no mistake, scoring from short range.

BSN were edging the opening. After eleven minutes, a break by Adam released Atlanta at pace on the left wing, but HRC covered the move. HRC broke down the other end of the pitch, using width to isolate Atlanta, but a covering tackle relieved the danger and took the HRC winger into touch.

For the next five minutes, HRC dominated position and territory. The BSN defence held and was relieved by a HRC knock on, after good work by Atlanta pressuring the HRC winger.

With half time approaching, BSN were inside the five yard line, but under intense HRC pressure, a knock on prevented a second BSN try. But, BSN were not to be denied for long. In the last action of the half, Alexander drew the tackle and passed to Atlanta, who beat the last man and showed her pace to make the corner.

Ten nil at half time; BSN had played well, having the physical edge against HRCs passing game, but they were getting sucked in, giving HRC room on the wings.

Blast them in the first five minutes was the parting half time message from coach Darren.

One minute into the second half, a twisting run by William through the middle carried the ball to within five yards of the try line. Alexander went again, but was stopped one yard short, before Eddie got over under the posts. After two difficult kicking positions in the first half, Adam converted the try from in front of the posts.

Four minutes later Eddie stormed through the middle, breaking from halfway to score under the post, with another straight forward conversion by Adam taking the score to 24-0.

The game became leggy, with half breaks by both sides until with nine minutes left; a HRC break led to a penalty five yards from the line for hands in the ruck. BSN, disorganised, were all offside and HRC made an easy score under the posts.

HRC’s tails were up. BSN had stopped playing and had lost some of their physicality in the tackle. A run on the left wing was stopped by Daniel. HRC worked the ball across the pitch and Duncan did just enough the stop a try on the right. That was the last action and the match ended 24-5. A fine opening weekend win for BSN, but with plenty of work to be done in midweek training.

Coaches: Darren, Andy, Scott
Captain: Adam
Team: Alexander, Andrea, Andreas, Atlanta, Daniel, Dario, Duncan, Eddie, Geraint, Jake, Louis, Matthew, Moritz, Olivier, Reece, Thomas, Tim, Wandrille, William