On Saturday, it was a scrappy first win of 2019 for the BSN Cubs against Utrecht Rugby Club. The weather was maritime and far from welcoming after the comfort of the Christmas break. The match was played under a blanket of grey low cloud and through horizontal cold rain. URC were physically on top in the first half and dominated possession, but at half time BSN were leading 14-10 and URC were showing signs of tiredness. With the wind behind them, BSN scored two decisive tries at the start of the second half and stretched out to a 35-15 home win.

The match started well for BSN. From the starting kick, URC managed to break out of their half, but the ball was turned over by BSN and Lachlan broke through to score under the posts. With strong wind, it mattered where the ball was grounded and William made the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

For the next ten minutes, URC had possession in the BSN half. BSN were unable to turn over the ball and URC gradually edged towards the BSN line. Under pressure, BSN managed to bundle a URC player into touch on the left side. But, BSN fluffed their chance to clear by kicking against the wind and the ball sliced into touch five metres out from the try line. It looked like BSN had escaped, when they stole ball at the line out, but with the wind against them, they could not clear their lines. Under pressure from URC, they lost the ball and Utrecht’s big forward came through to score from close range. The try was out on the wing and URC were unable to add the conversion.

BSN threatened in the URC half for a while, but did not make a break through. URC were tackling better and winning possession. A break from one of their runners led to their second try, near to the posts. The strong wind was causing problems for the kickers and the conversion hit the posts leaving the score at 7-10 to URC.

From the restart, BSN put pressure on URC, which led to a couple of penalties. From the first, Daniel made the initial run before the ball came out to Jacob on the left wing, until he was bundled into touch deep in the URC half. Jacob stole the ball at the line out and URC had conceded a penalty within five metres of the line, but BSN played the advantage and Lachlan dived over to score. William converted, kicking against the wind to put BSN back into the lead at 14-10.

There was little time for URC. From the restart, they won the ball and carried it into the BSN half, but a knock on ended the half 14-10 to BSN. It had been tight between the two sides and the conversions were the difference.

BSN started the second half strongly. The ball was deep in the URC half. BSN conceded a penalty, but URC knocked on and BSN turned over possession. The ball went left to the wing, where Lachlan was waiting to run through and score under the posts. William made the conversion.

From the restart, URC kicked the ball high, but BSN collected and again moved the ball left to Lachlan on the wing to score under the posts from a run from the halfway line. The game had quickly moved away from URC. With the conversion the score was now 28-10.

BSN were causing all sorts of trouble and nearly scored a third try in a five minute spell, but URC managed to clear. Their winger was flying dow the wing and looked certain to score until a great covering tackle by Louis. Lachlan called the ball and brought the play back up to the half way line.

After that, the game ebbed and flowed until Lachlan broke down the left wing after a period of good possession from URC. And, with the last play of the match, URC managed a consolation try. The game ended 35-15 to BSN.

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