Queen?s College, Taunton U17 XV 3

Kelly College U17 XV 27

THE pitch was heavy and it seemed as if it was going to be one of those days when a penalty was awarded to the opposition one minute into the game. It was launched through the posts and Kelly were 3-0 down.

But they rallied well and managed to keep Queen?s from scoring. Michael Yeoman (fly-half) sprained his ankle and was replaced by Tokunbo Oyemade and the ensuing reshuffle saw James Shaw moving to scrum-half and Brad Marsh moving into the fly half position.

Towards the end of the first half, having driven through the defence, Cassidy Williams picked up a pass at pace and drove over the line to score. The conversion was missed.

The second half kicked off with Kelly fired up. The rucking had improved so much that the opposition were immediately on the back foot. Having gone through four phases, the ball eventually popped up to James FitzGerald who scored near the corner flag.

The forwards were really playing well with good solid driving from Halley Porkess, Sam Morton, Robert

Morrish and Jamie Paterson. After a ruck just inside our own half, Chris Lambert received the ball, ran down the blind side and was caught just short of the line. Robert Hall picked up the ball and fed it to James Shaw who took it into the second phase. It reached Ashley Howell who scored a good winger?s try.

The backs were playing well with excellent defence by Alfred Jolly, Ashley Howell and James FitzGerald.

Brad Marsh and James Shaw were linking well and good probing running from Cassidy Williams was worrying the defence.

Cassidy broke free and, with one man to beat, drew the defensive player and passed to Toks who fumbled the ball. The resulting scrummage was won against the head and with another excellent passage of play the ball was seized by Sam Morton who scored the fourth try.

Marsh scored the final try with a grubber kick that bounced nicely for him to flop over the line. This try was converted by Oyemade.

This was a good round off to a short season for the U17s, having only been formed four weeks ago.