Rugby Union: Littleborough U11s 3 - 5 Old Brodelians U11s

Littleborough Rugby Union Under 11s

A late thrust by visiting Old Brodleians Under 11s gave them a narrow 3-5 victory against Littleborough Under 11s at Rakewood on Sunday 20 January 2019.

Going into the game as huge favourites, Old Brodelians thought that they would have everything going their way, but this Sunday was not the case.

According to the visitors' coach, they really had to step up their game because Littleborough's defence was outstanding.

In an attempt to make Rakewood a fortress, Littleborough's young warriors stopped the visitors from scoring try after try after try on their line. By breaking and collapsing Old Brodelians attacking game through pushing them out of touch, meeting them head on in tackles and getting stuck in hard into the rucks, Littleborough disrupted perfectly.

After the first two quarters Old Brodleians held a narrow 2-1 advantage. Littleborough's first try was scored by Max Rawlinson, who brushed his way through three players to dot down over the line which was a justified reward for the great effort he put in all morning.

Being down on the score did not perturb the home side at all, in fact, it did the opposite. It fired them up. Their lines of defence continually bounced the Old Brodelians outfit back, while in attack they carried a threat.

Lexi Hartley, one of Littleborough's future Pink Warriors yet again broke through their line of defence and held off two Old Brodleian players to lay the ball down for Littleborough's second. At the end of the third quarter both teams were level at 2-2.

As the game entered the final quarter the visitors came out and were firing on all cylinders, taking the lead again with their third try.

Littleborough's very own little firecracker, Harrison Dickinson, soon delivered a response of his own with the third try to making it three apiece with seven minutes to go.

In a very physical encounter, one side would be hit by tiredness and fatigue towards the end of the game. Unfortunately for the home side support and stand in coach Richard Rawlinson it during the last few minutes that Littleborough conceded two tries.

There was true sportsmanship, enjoyment and respect shown throughout the game by both sides in an even contest, some of that continued afterwards by players taking a leaf out of Manu Tuilagi's book and cleaning up the changing room without direction.