Bury made the trip up the A11 to the first ever Eastern Counties u16 youth rugby festival at Wymondham with some self-doubt possibly beginning to creep in after a second defeat to Shelford last week. The response from them was immaculate however, completing a clean sweep with five victories from five matches as the confidence began to flow and more enjoyment came back into their game. Alongside the Bury team, several other members of the squad also played for a mixed ‘Barbarians’ style team, combining forces with Ipswich and acquitting themselves very well. Mason Easton, Lennon Reader-Browne and Rory Simpson in particular stood out on the day.

12-5 win v. North Walsham
From kick-off it was clear Bury were determined to make their mark on this festival, the drop-kick well chased by Callum Wilson and Charlie Feehan to force a turnover which Ali Evans drove toward the line. Quick ball was achieved, and Finlay Blair fed Feehan who stepped through to score under the posts; Billy Reid converted. North Walsham fought back well, earning penalties in the Bury half before scoring a well-worked try in the corner. Before any momentum could build, Bury repeated the trick of a try straight from kick-off. Josh Grigg-Pettitt put in a great tackle on the left wing and good counter-rucking from Will Hudson produced the ball for Nico Marchini to avoid the defence and almost reach the try-line. Finlay Blair was on hand to alertly sneak over at the subsequent ruck. North Walsham were determined to get something out of the game, but great defensive effort and a strong and stable scrum held them at bay.

26-0 win v. Norwich
Seemingly aware that the games were only 15 minutes and so there was little room for error, Bury started strongly once again. A good drive down the middle from Jack Griggs drew the defence in before the ball was passed nicely along the backline for a returning Reuben Sorooshian to sprint away and score despite close attention from a determined Norwich defence. From the restart a superb run from Charlie Chapman made huge territory, before his trademark back of the hand offload almost put Finlay Blair through. Lovely whole squad interplay, with Vincent La Starza and Nico Marchini at the forefront, saw George Howard drive over from short range. Howard then converted his own try to give a 12-0 lead. Chapman was again in the thick of the action in creating the third try, a perfectly timed pass to set Marchini away to score under the posts, Howard converting again. Perhaps the best try was saved for last, slick handling between Josh Grigg-Pettitt, Marchini, Sorooshian, Howard and Neal setting up La Starza to run in strongly from 20 metres out. Howard again converted for a comprehensive victory.

22-0 win v. Ipswich
Despite pre-festival assurances that the Bury side would definitely not be playing the mixed Ipswich/Bury side, this was the third fixture. Bury again started strongly, with early tries for Reuben Sorooshian and Billy Reid. Alisdair Evans was right in the thick of the action, making repeated excellent carries, and Callum Wilson in midfield showed impressive fleet of foot to evade numerous covering defenders. The pressure paid off with Tudor Weyers going over to open his account for the day. There was still time for Charlie Feehan to wrongfoot the Ipswich defence and score under the posts for a try he subsequently converted.

22-0 win v. Beccles
In the fourth game of the day, it was Beccles who started on the front foot, winning repeated penalties at the breakdown and making good territory. Ben Nevison-Grainger was seemingly everywhere in defence, helping keep the ball away from the Bury 22. When Bury did get hold of the ball they once again strung a series of excellent phases together before Nico Marchini scored (despite the close attentions of at least three committed Beccles defenders). Marchini then added a second after good driving runs from Tom Dye and Callum Wilson. From the restart Charlie Burrows took the ball well before feeding Reuben Sorooshian just inside his own half. His pace took him clear and then with an expert feint one way and a sleight dummy the other he sold the covering defenders and scored a brilliant individual try which George Howard duly converted. Beccles were seeing a lot of the ball, but great defensive efforts across the pitch kept them hemmed back in their own half. When a Beccles penalty missed touch, Billy Reid was on hand to jink his way (with a few perfectly executed hand-offs) across and down the park, only to be held up just short. Nico Marchini was on hand to finish the move off and complete his match hat-trick and finish off a spirited Beccles side.

19-0 win v. Wymondham
The top two teams in the festival met in the final match of the day and it did not take long for a confident Bury side to take the lead. Nico Marchini scored his fifth try of the day when he dashed down the middle of the pitch, wrong footing defenders to his left and right. George Howard added the extras to consolidate the early lead. From the restart Charlie Chapman again made great ground before Vincent La Starza also charged his way down the pitch. Howard then received the ball from Finlay Blair and timed his pass well to Billy Reid who sprinted away into the corner to score. Wymondham then spent a few minutes camped deep in Bury territory as they looked to find a way back into the game, but the pressure was regularly relieved by either the skilful boot of Howard or strong running by Tom Dye or Toby Coogan. With the last play of the game Bury scored through Tudor Weyers, who was on hand to touch down when Marchini was again held up just short. Howard added the extras to leave the final score at 19-0.

Overall, it was a highly successful day for the strong Bury side, and a welcome return to winning ways. To only concede one try across five matches was the result of a great defensive effort across the whole squad, but some of the attacking play was a clear sign that they are once again approaching their best form – well done to all involved.