Under Strength U13/14 Side could not tame the Stags

Rugby Union is a 15 player game. If the u13/14 ever manage to get 15 players to turn up and start the game, they have the beating of any team in their league. However with only 12 players turning up to make the 30 odd mile journey to Old Guildfordian’s Ground and play Cranfordian Stags, it was always going to be a hard game. But the Streatham-Croydon Players had a good go at beating the odds showing Great Spirit to play and showed great courage in going down 66-21.
Streatham-Croydon were given 2 Cranfordian Stags as a kind gesture to ensure a fair competition so that the team were only 1 player down at the start.
In winning the toss, the Stags elected to run down the slope from left to right as well as with the wind.
Within 10 mins, they were 2 converted tries to the good having realised that we had no full back.
However in the 11th minute Rimarni Richards, Team Captain broke through their defence and ran 50m swatting players out of the way for the first try which Conor Oresanya converted.
A minute later Jamal Ryan-Coker emerged from a maul on the 10m line and ran 40m to score under the posts. Conor slotted the extras and suddenly the game was tied at 14-14. Had the boys been able to hold that score until half-time, an upset would have been on the cards.
Then disaster struck. First Rimarni, then Jamal were injured within a space of 2 two minutes and we were back to 12 again. They played no further part in the game (Conor took over the captaincy) and with no substitutes, running uphill into a strong headwind, with a 3 man disadvantage, the writing was on the wall.
Cranfordian’s numerical advantage showed as they spread the ball wide and ran in 5 unanswered tries to lead 45-14 at half time.
In the second half Streatham-Croydon rallied and held Cranfordians for the first 10 mins. Then 3 more converted tries and the score was 66-14.
However, the boys rallied and with a never say die attitude and 2 minutes left on the clock, Romeo Brown picked up the ball on his 22, side stepped two players and ran 60m for what should have been a fantastic solo try – only to be caught on the line. However, the support players managed to get the ball back and after a few more passages of play, John Olloh managed to score with an outstretched arm.
Despite being high tackled, Conor - in the passage of play leading to the try, managed to compose himself and converted for the 3rd time maintaining a 100% kicking record off the tee.
The match ended after the next passage of play. THough beaten, the boys were congratulated on putting in a brave and courageous performance.
Well done to the team!
Brayner Anrade,
Conor Oresanya,
Enis Sasmaz,
Ethan Morris,
Jamal Ryan-Coker,
John Olloh,
Kabilay Sasmaz,
Kamal Monfries,
Kofi Oppong,
Remaro Williams,
Rimarni Richards (c),
Romeo Brown