CLYDEBANK R.F.C. COLTS

39^th SEASON 2007 - 08

25th November 2007

U15 XV Clydebank vs East Kilbride (10-15)

Report by Gordon McCombe

A Missed Opportunity

The U15 team welcomed East Kilbride to Whitecrook this week and both teams looked to be evenly matched in contrast to more recent matches.

With both teams of a similar size and ability the opening exchanges of the match showed no team to be in overall control.  Clydebank defended well and attacked in equal measure.  Clydebank had a number of penetrating runs from Liam Conlin and Fraser Campbell but the East Kilbride defence held strong.  Several times Jack McCombe kicked intelligently to touch as the Clydebank team marched up the park.  However, after good possession from Clydebank it was to prove to no avail as after twenty minutes East Kilbride made a break that went unchecked by the Clydebank defence.  This allowed them to cross the line without much resistance and definitely against the run of play.

The first half ended 0-5 to East Kilbride with no more scoring and still no team dominating any aspect of the game.

The second half proved to be similar to the first although scoring ended even in this half with two tries a piece.  East Kilbride opened the scoring in this half after five minutes when once again they broke through the Clydebank defence to cross the line but failed to convert.  Clydebank responded with several good attacks.

Robert Stevenson proved to be a thorn in East Kilbride’s side as he ran straight and true and battered the opposition defenders as they tackled.  One attack from a scrum was passed along the line to Robert who took the ball 30 metres down the park.  A ruck from the tackle was recycled with Fraser Campbell going blind and off loading to the supporting Jack McCombe who passed to Loyd McCord, who was eventually stopped metres from the East Kilbride line.  From a subsequent line out Fraser Campbell crossed the line but the score was disallowed for an earlier infringement.  The unforgiving pressure eventually told when Fraser picked from the base of a scrum fifteen metres out and crossed the East Kilbride line for the first Clydebank try.

East Kilbride scored quickly from the restart to restore the gap to 5-15 and put Clydebank on the back foot once more.

The game settled back to an even contest until late into the half when Clydebank stepped up their game once more.  Several more attacking runs took Clydebank beyond the East Kilbride 22metre line.  A penalty to Clydebank was fed to Fraser Campbell who dipped the shoulder and penetrated to within five metres of the try line.  As Fraser went to ground he passed to James Drummond who was in close support and with his momentum he crossed the line for the final score of the day.

The U15’s have come to the end of their current league campaign and future games are yet to be confirmed.

Clydebank U15:        R.Murray, Draz, Conlin, Anderson, Woodcock, Drummond, Mersey, Campbell, D.Kirkwood (Jnr), J.McCombe, J.Kirkwood, Vallance-Nairn, Stevenson, McCord, Baxter, McNeil, J.Fraser, Walsh.

18th November 2007

U15 XV Clydebank vs Hamilton (0-43)

Report by Gordon McCombe

Hamilton Too Strong

The U15 team welcomed Hamilton to Whitecrook and succumbed to a very good and well drilled Hamilton team.

The match started well for Clydebank who tackled ferociously for the first ten minutes putting the Hamilton players on the back foot.  However, the Hamilton team soon made their experience count when they scored after ten minutes.  Clydebank went on to the back foot and from that point onward general defended by waiting for the Hamilton attacks rather than pushing up and pressurising the Hamilton players.  The first half ended with Hamilton scoring four tries and leading 0-24.

The second half saw Hamilton run in a quick try but they too settled back and allowed Clydebank to come back into the game.  Several excellent attacks from Clydebank saw them come close but were held out.  A late flourish from Hamilton secured the victory with three late tries that ended the match 0-43.

After last weeks win the Clydebank players had been full of confidence.  Their performance today was still a marked improvement and they should continue to play with a high level of self belief.

The U15’s are at home to East Kilbride for their next league match on Sunday 25^th November.

Clydebank U15:        R.Murray, Conlin, Mersey, Anderson, Woodcock, J.Fraser, Campbell, Draz, D.Kirkwood (Jnr), J.McCombe, J.Kirkwood, Vallance-Nairn, C.Campbell, Stevenson, Drummond, Crawford, McNeil.

11th November 2007

U15 XV Clydebank vs Cumbernauld (27-20)

Report by Gordon McCombe

Cumbernauld Dumped by Every Improving Bankies

The U15 team welcomed Cumbernauld to Whitecrook and notched up their first proper win when they ran in five tries to record a score of 27-20.

Cumbernauld arrived with a host of players and it looked liked Clydebank may be overwhelmed again but their spirit showed through and all the hard work at training clicked in place.  Within minutes Clydebank were in the lead when No8 Fraser Campbell picked up from the back of the scrum on the half way and crossed the try line with no resistance from the Cumbernauld defence.  After several poor starts in recent matches now a distant memory the Clydebank team were settling early and were looking to add to their tally.

It wasn’t long before a replay of the first try unfolded with Fraser Campbell once again breaking away and crossing the line without resistance.  The conversion was added by Jack Fraser and Clydebank were in the lead 12-0.

Cumbernauld were obviously dazed at the score line and replied soon after when they crossed the line to bring the score back to 12-5.  Clydebank were not sitting back and were soon to cross the line once more.  An attack started up the left wing by Robert Stevenson soon switched to the right.  A long speculative kick, which Robert chased, put the Cumbernauld full back under pressure.  As the full back scrambled for the ball, Robert was on top of him and stole the ball and crossed the line to take the score to 17-5.

Again Cumbernauld were on the back foot but came back strongly when they crossed the line shortly before half time to bring the score back to 17-10.

The see-saw nature of the first half was to be repeated with more tries delighting the support.  Soon after kick off Cumbernauld closed the gap to 17-15 with another powerful forwards try.  Although the score was close the Clydebank players kept up the work rate and kept taking the game to the strong Cumbernauld team.

The ever present Fraser Campbell tormented the Cumbernauld team whenever he had the ball in hand.  When he received a long kick from the Cumbernauld backs he set off on another mazy run that Cumbernauld could not stop.  Ending his run in the corner Fraser added his third try of the day and took the score to 22-15.

Once again Cumbernauld rose to the challenge and scored another try to bring the game back to within two points at 22-20.  With the time running out it looked like Clydebank could hold out for a win although Cumbernauld were pushing hard for another score.

Again it was Fraser Campbell who showed the way.  A line out to Clydebank in the Cumbernauld half was taken at the front by Fraser who sped down the wing with Cumbernauld defenders hanging by his coat tails.  Fraser took the ball into contact and laid it off to Liam Conlin who powered through a wall of Cumbernauld defenders to cross the line and complete the scoring and seal the Clydebank win.

This week has demonstrated the potential of the squad and it is hoped they continue to improve.  The team has worked hard in training and this result reflects that.

The U15’s are away to Hamilton for their next league match on Sunday 18^th November.  Hamilton sit top of the league and are another potentially strong team.

4th November 2007

U15 XV Alan Glens vs Clydebank (Glens forfeit, Clydebank win)

Report by Gordon McCombe

Clydebank Notch up First Technical Win

The U15 team travelled to Bishopbriggs to play Alan Glens who couldn’t muster a full U15 squad but bolstered their numbers with some older U16 players to ensure the game went ahead.  With the added older players Alan Glens gracefully conceded the result allowing Clydebank to register their first official victory.

With the game being played as a friendly Clydebank hoped to still win the game.  However, with the bigger and more experienced players Glens soon started to run through the Clydebank defence resulting in a number of tries.  Undaunted, Clydebank continued to attack bravely and were rewarded with two fine tries from Fraser Campbell and a conversion from Jack Fraser.

The squad continue to improve and with them playing teams well above their level they are gaining a lot of experience that will ensure they only get better and when they do start to win they will appreciate it much more.

The U15’s are at home to a potentially strong Cumbernauld team for their next league match on Sunday 11^th November.

Clydebank U15:        R.Goode, Conlin, Mersey, Anderson, Woodcock, Fraser, Campbell, Draz, D.Kirkwood (Jnr), J.McCombe, J.Kirkwood, Vallance-Nairn, C.Campbell, Stevenson.

28th October 2007

U15 XV Clydebank vs Uddingston (10-35)

Report by Gordon McCombe

Uddingston Monsters Stomp Clydebank

The U15 team played Uddingston at home on Sunday 28th and were beaten by a team that look to have been eating an awful lot of Tunnocks caramel wafers as they were a good head and shoulders bigger than the Clydeabank team.  The game finished seven tries to two in Uddingston’s favour although the tries were sporadic as Clydebank played well for long periods losing concentration occasionally and allowing the big quick Uddingston backs to penetrate.

The Clydebank players put into practice a lot of the moves they do at training and were rewarded with two tries from Fraser Campbell.  The first from a No 8 pick up allowed Fraser to attack the corner and batter through the Uddingston stand-off in the process as he crossed the line.  The second from a steal at the front of the line saw Fraser charge down the touch line and score in the corner with support from Liam Conlin and Jack Fraser.

Although Clydebank lost they did so with a good attitude unlike the Uddingston players who took great delight in letting the opposition know they had scored; a trait not welcome at any level in rugby.

The U15’s are away to Alan Glens for their next league match on Sunday 4^th November.

Clydebank 1^st XV: 

Clydebank U15:        Goode, Conlin, Mersey, Anderson, Woodcock, Fraser, F.Campbell, Walsh, D.Kirkwood, J.McCombe, J.Kirkwood, Vallance-Nairn, C.Campbell, Stevenson.

21st October 2007

U15 XV Helensburgh vs Clydebank

Report by Gordon McCombe

Bankies Lose Away to Helensburgh

The U15 team travelled to Helensburgh and were beaten 10 tries to 2 by a much better team who ran straight and played well as a team.  The Clydebank players failed to gel or show any of the promise that is bubbling below the surface.

The U15’s are at home to Uddingston for their next league match on Sunday 28^th October.

7th October 2007

U15 XV Clydebank vs Lenzie

Report by Gordon McCombe

Famous Five in a Row

On Sunday morning the Clydebank U15’s took on Lenzie at Whitecrook in the second of their league games.  The Clydebank team failed to show the same determination they did the previous week with the team and individual performances more patchy.  The large Lenzie backs made the difference with two tries in quick succession at the end of the first half a result of strong runners that Clydebank failed to tackle.  The game ended with Clydebank losing 12-29.  Two well executed tries from Robert Stevenson and a conversion from Jack McCombe gave Clydebank their points.

Clydebank U15 XV:  Fraser, Drummond, Stevenson, Buick, Whitelaw, McCombe, Kirkwood, Campbell, Anderson, Mersey, Walsh, Woodcock, Draz, Conlin, Goode.

30th September 2007

U15 XV Clydebank vs Cambuslang

Report by Gordon McCombe

Bankies Lose at Home to Cambuslang

Clydebank U15’s took on Cambuslang at Whitecrook in the first of their league games.  After a fine team performance with a lot of excellent attacking rugby they unfortunately lost 10-17.  Two well executed tries from Fraser Campbell gave Clydebank their points.

Next week sees the U15’s entertain Lenzie on Sunday 7^th October.

Clydebank U15 XV: Fraser, Drummond, Stevenson, Buick, Whitelaw, McCombe, Kirkwood, Campbell, Anderson, Mersey, Walsh, Woodcock, Draz, Conlin, Goode.