U 11 Match report written by Edward Cardozo

An early start on Saturday 17th October as a mixed ability squad of twelve players from the Dragons played in the Saracens hosted Land Rover cup.

The squad was captained by Sol Moody with Stuart Adam, Ben Perry, William Berry, Seb Brindley, William Cardozo, Hallam de Cort, Jacob Denwood, Matthew Donald, Leon Eden, Freddie Rose and Harry Roderick.

The first game, against a well drilled and organised Saracens squad, was drawn one all. The Dragons took a little time to get going, but produced a great team effort to put three phases of play together with twelve passes. Stuart Adam reading the game well and keeping the ball moving out wide to Hallam de Cort and Freddie Rose to work Seb Brindley into a one on one situation. The outcome was never in doubt with a try in the corner.

The second match against Datchworth was won four nil. This was a much improved team effort with a better tempo and higher work rate from all the squad. Good hard rucking from Ben Perry and quick accurate passing away from the break down by William Cardozo helping Bury to keep the ball alive and the team moving forward. Sol Moody went over twice, the best being a well worked switch move with Mathew Donald. Another passage of play with good, quick recycled ball saw William Berry receive the ball with a three man overlap and score his first try for a Bury side this season. The game was rounded off with another score from Seb Brindley.

This left the Dragons needing to win their last match in the pool against Barnet with a superior try difference to ensure their place in the semi finals. The team duly delivered with a six nil win. Barnet never recovered from the sensation that Jacob Denwood produced to score a hat trick of tries in a just a few minutes. The best being a solo effort from the kick off from his first try. Some determined rucking from Leon Eden and tenacious tackling from Harry Roderick helped the team produce a really great result. Both Sol Moody and Seb Brindley scored to put Bury in the semi finals of the Saracens Land Rover Cup.

The semi finals were played against Westcliffe 1 who had scored sixteen tries in the pool stages against Bury’s eleven, meaning Bury had to win to get to the finals. Without doubt the Westcliffe side were the best tacking team we played and despite taking a one nil lead through a mazy run from Seb Brindley the team just couldn’t break through again. It was a hard game, but time and again the Bury team defended – never taking a backwards step. Although they kept moving the ball around the pitch the Westcliffe tackling and counter rucking was of a high quality. Tragically Westcliffe equalised and put themselves in the final (which they eventually won).

With a record of two draws and two wins, twelve tries scored and only two conceded this was a squad effort of the highest order and every member of the squad can be proud of the part they played. Thank you for being such a great bunch to train and bringing such helpful friendly parents.