Rugby Union: Littleborough U14s 15 - 24 Blackburn U14s

Littleborough under 14s entertained Blackburn in the latest round of group games in the Lancashire Waterfall tournament. Both teams had faired evenly thus far in the competition, both having won one and lost one.

Prior to the game the lads, impeccably one would add, observed a two-minute silence for Armistice Day, and to remember all those who have served and paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

In the first half the lads found themselves in their own half for large periods of time, but for the most part the defence was good. For whatever reason the lads just couldn’t get any momentum and were always on the back foot.  

They eventually paid the price from a 22 drop out, which went straight to the Blackburn winger, and who burst through the Littleborough tacklers to score the first try of the game. A second try followed closely thereafter. Both tries were converted meaning Blackburn led at half time by a score of 0-14.

Whatever was said at half time certainly did the trick as the Littleborough lads started to get good ball and were able to make territorial gains and get in the Blackburn half. The pressure eventually told when Ben Crabtree burst through the Blackburn defence to reduce the deficit, conversion missed. The deficit was further reduced following a good line out move which allowed Ruben Warburton to break free of the Blackburn defenders. The score line was now 10-14. The next score would prove to be crucial.

Littleborough had their chances as they again set up camp in the Blackburn half, but they were made to pay for wasted opportunities, notably a failure to convert a penalty on the Blackburn line. The attackers were held up in the tackle and from the resulting scrum, Blackburn were able to clear their lines.

Blackburn thereafter ran in two tries, both unconverted, to increase their lead to 10-24. 

The game was surely up, but to their credit Littleborough continued to push forward, and they did have the last laugh when they scored with the last play of the game. Ben Crabtree scoring from an attacking five metre scrum, conversion missed. 

The final score was 15-24 to Blackburn, putting an end to the recent Littleborough winning streak. The boys can hopefully return to winning ways next week in the fourth round of Lancashire cup games, when they entertain Southport at Rakewood.

Our clubman of the week award went to Ben Williams for his positive attitude and for encouraging his team mates in the face of the Blackburn pressure in the first half.

Squad:

Charlie Bell, Jacob Brady, Bradley Chrimes, Jake Coupe, Ben Crabtreee, Harry Crabtree, James Devine, Ethan Dewhurst, Tom Fenton, James Furnell, Cayan Harris, Luke Jones, Thomas Kelly, Olly Mills, Will Rawlinson, Max Risby, Ruben Warburton, Ben Williams, Ben Williamson.

The Littleborough scorers were:

Ben Crabtree: 2 tries
Ruben Warburton: 1 try