Harborough U11s travel to Oadby Wyggs

On a cold but sunny Sunday morning one half of the Under 11 squad travelled to Oadby Wyggs.
Game 1
Oadby looked the business in their warm up and had some very big lads - Harborough looked like they were an age group below, I wasn't confident. Thankfully the lads didn't seem to share my pessimism and they were soon dominating possession and territory. The lads were pressing hard, tackling and rucking their hearts out but Oadby were very well drilled and time and again they repelled our attacks. With some heroic tackles from both teams the first half ended with no score.
2nd hal
Oadby made some changes and it was their turn to pressurise and pin Harborough back in their own half. Oadby began to use their big forwards as battering rams to punch holes then releasing the ball to their backs. Despite some great tackling throughout the team Oadby eventually broke through to score the only try of the game. Harborough got to the line 3 or 4 times but Oadby's last ditch scrambled defence was just good enough. The game ended Harborough loss 1 - 0

Game 2
Harborough knew what Oadby's plan was and again and again they needed to put in the big tackles on some very big lads. Harborough were however the more skilful and again and again they were being held up on the line. Harborough's superior rucking was winning them lots of possession only to lose it in contact. Oadby scored first, despite having knocked on early on in the move, only for Harborough to hit right back with a try from Patrick Grady. Another close half ending 1 - 1
2nd half
Both sides showing some fine skills in defence it seemed that it would take something very special to break the Oadby defence and that is what we got. Bradley Crane, who is quickly making the full back position his own, was again making a fine run into Oadby territory in the centre of the pitch when he spotted Geordan Bedford on the wing demanding the ball, Bradley cool as ice chipped the ball ahead, perfectly weighted for Geordan to run onto to score a fantastic diving try . Harborough where ahead for the first time in the day and with such evenly matched teams and a low scoring game it seemed that the game was theirs only for a lapse in concentration allowed a Oadby player to make a last minute individual try. The game ending with Harborough again hammering away in vain at the Oadby try line. The final score 2 - 2 not doing Harborough justice.
Special mention to little Josh Lake for some awesome tackles on some of the biggest Under 11 lads seen this season. The whole team made us all very proud as parents and coaches.