Old Cats U15 vs Sidcup

Match report from the observations of our head coach Nick. Learn from this team - always valuable lessons in defeat.

Old Cats venture into Kent for our first fixture against an unknown quantity in Sidcup

1) From the start Old Cats are still in the cars and fast asleep, failing to get hold of the kick, they gift Sidcup 5 points straight from the kick off. Old Cats are 5 points down inside the first minute.

2) Kick off and Sidcup recycle the ball are aggressive at the breakdown, Old Cats unfortunately are just too slow to react to the challenge and after several phases of play Sidcup are over for the try, a great kick from the Sidcup kicker and Old Cats are down 12 points with it all to do.

3) Old Cats at last start to apply some pressure and Sidcup knock on, Will pounces and makes some hard yards and off loads to Charlie in support and he’s over for Cats first try with a great finish. – Old Cats trail 5 – 12

4) Some lazy defence from Old Cats, with 5 missed tackles on the trot gives Sidcup too much ground and the try is inevitable - - Old Cats are down 5 – 17

5) Sidcup continue to win the contact area and Old Cats are living off scraps, but are competing well at the scum and lineout, Sidcup adopt a clever tactic and the scrum and get an early hit and Old Cats loose one against the head, Sidcup pick up the ball on the blind side and some clever interplay and quick reactions and they are over under the posts for their 4th try and they extra points are just a formality – Old Cats are down 5 to 24.

6) Sidcup continue to win the breakdown area, with quick reactions, going beyond the ball and with good body, Old Cats can only watch and learn, and Sidcup turn the ball over again and are under the post for their 6th try - 5 to 31.

7) The penny seems to have finally dropped with Old Cats and the team as a whole start to hit tackles and breakdowns, a bit of bad luck sees Old Cats hold Sidcup up in the tackle midway into Old Cats 22 and a maul that seems to go on for longer than usual, see Sidcup break out and cross the line in the corner for their 7th try, But Cats are starting to work it out but its 5 – 36 in Sidcup’s favour.

8) At last Cats are putting it together and its Sidcup who are struggling at the breakdown and their coaches know it, Cats win a penalty, fast thinking from Harrison and he’s through, unfortunately the Ref fails to play enough advantage and blows up. Not allowed to take a quick one the forwards set up right and Ross takes it and a wide pass left to Will and will punches through for Cats second try. Final score Old Cats Lose 10 – 36

Despite the frustration of the result this offers Cats a great learning opportunity, missing a few key players, Cats were slow to get the measure of the opposition and given a great lesson in how to win at the breakdown, that being said, there were some great performances.

The whole pack showed they can scrummage against any team.
Will made some great runs and tackles chopping the oppositions biggest players down.
Drew, Toby and Callum, did some great work coming in off their wings to help secure ball
Ephraim built on his work of the previous week and Jesse put in some great tackles for his first outing in and Old Cats shirt
Josh and Seb put some big hits in in the centre and completely nullified Sidcup’s back line
Ross had one of his best games in an Old Cats shirt with some crunching tackles.
But todays MOM was Chris with tackles that not only stopped they opposition in their tracks but almost cup them in half and he never stopped at times tackling one player after another.

Sidcup were great hosts and we look forward to a rematch next year

Result 10 – 36 Loss
Tries – Charlie and Will
MOM – Chris