Rugby Union: Wales rocked by Littleborough storm

Littleborough took their Welsh Rugby Rocks Tour by storm as the Minis and Juniors made club history.

The club took over 250 to North Wales in a first for the Rakewood-based outfit and while they endured horrendous conditions last Saturday, they dazzled in the spring sunshine the following Sunday to take home three trophy wins.

The U8s, under the tutelage of Adam Bracegirdle and Neil Makinson, had made the most out of Saturday's mudbath with some energetic performances; Cody Bush amongst those to rise to the challenge. They finished the opening day with two victories and one defeat.

On the Sunday, they played some very good sides, Mold in particular caught the eye. In a cracker, the Welsh side edged Littleborough despite tries from Jack Ashworth, Lewis Bracegirdle, Henry Tweddle and two for James Magee.

Littleborough U9s positive performances on the Saturday set them up nicely for a Sunday against tough opposition in Chester and Mold.

After succumbing to defeat in both games, Jason Clegg and Mark Cryer's team finished off their tour in spectacular style outscoring their opponents five tries to one. Great hands and deep running lines saw first Ryan Baxendale and Finlay Cannon (2) score before Kane Mills got his second try of the day by blasting around the defence to dive over. There was even time for Matthew Jurg to add gloss to the scoreline with a try in the corner.

The U10s had to endure a constant deluge of heavy rain on extremely muddy pitches throughout Saturday, which made matches difficult at best. As a result all of the U10 opponents decided against featuring on finals day. It was a real shame for a quality side who were finding some of their best form in this festival.

In the final action of the Minis Tour, the Littleborough U11s enjoyed a mixed bag of results on finals day after a fantastic first day performance. Emily Sutcliffe, Tom Deacon and Zak Brady amongst those to put in high quality performances for the young side.

Unfortunate to lose in controversial fashion to Irish side County Cavern, they turned a disappointing loss in the second game to produce their performance of the weekend in the final. With pace, tenacity and intensity, they swarmed the opposition and got the deserved winner through playmaker Joe Mills. Using his pace and quick step he jinked his way around and through the defence to score down the right hand side.

The under 12s put themselves in a good position of second in the table to Irish side County Cavern who had won all three games.

However, come finals day last Sunday, they turned it up a notch by dispatching all before them including that of County Cavern by four tries to one.

In a perfectly executed performance, the U12s led by Paul Deacon and Gary Keegan scored first through Harrison Buckley as good build up from Harvey Johnson and Riley Keegan gave the strong runner space to dot down.

A reply from Cavern saw the scores level at half time, on the other hand this would not stop Littleborough showing their superior ability to utilise quick ball and the full width of the pitch to great effect.

Littleborough scored their third try of the game as Adam Gibson on the outside arc cut his way through to the line, before a quick-fire double from Harrison Buckley completed his own personal hat-trick.

The under 13s enjoyed a positive first day winning one match and drawing another. First London side Beccehamians were toppled by awesome defence and a long range stunner from Bradley Chrimes.

Then in a  local derby against Bury RUFC, the Under 13s drew one try each by scoring a dramatic equaliser in the last play of the game through Ben Crabtree.

Their finals day was marred by a nasty dislocated hip to captain Jacob Mitchell. 

Clearly concerned for their team mate, the U13s were not able to focus and went on to lose against Hinckley. In their final game, they drew 3-3 against Wexford Wanderers RFC.

Taking the lead through Ruben Warburton Fox, Littleborough went down 3-1 at the half time break.

In the second half Littleborough’s U13s levelled proceedings from a second try of the day for Ben Crabtree and one from Olly Mills.

Littleborough U14s carried their good form into the festival; Saturday saw them win two and lose just one. Sunday however saw them win three games to take them through to the finals.

The final against a strong Wirral team was a epic encounter as the lead switched hands on numerous occasions since Nyall Hensby had put Littleborough ahead early one.

A vociferous crowd of Littleborough green cheered their young stars on as they recovered from conceding two quick tries to strike back with a try from Jack Bennetta.

An injury at the end of the first half to Christian Brookes in Littleborough 's saw Wirral take advantage by regaining the lead.

 Jack Bennetta scored his second try as a flowing move engineered a gap in the Cheshire-based club's defence to slide right through.

Two tries in quick succession from Littleborough wingers Ben Russon and Charlie Frost saw great hand work in particular from Nyall Hensby for the first and Tom Howard and Sam Bennetta for the second.

Wirral however had the last laugh with two late tries to seal the trophy win. 

The Under 16s sought to overcome a Porths side that they had  lost to on the first day of tour action. A nail biting contest between two evenly matched teams saw Porths crash over from close range in the last play of the match to take the victory.