Hornsea U15s entertained Bridlington RUFC in the Yorkshire Cup.
The teams have met many times over recent years, and the matches are always closely contested. As expected, the initial phases by both teams created a real arm-wrestle, with the ball moving from one end to the other. Strong carries from the Hornsea forwards, with Ben T, Logan P and Oliver K leading the way.
Hornsea opened the scoring with a well-worked move from their own 20. Quick ball out from Reuben to William H, who set Max T on a galloping run that saw him scorch a full 50 yards, leaving the defenders in his wake and scoring between the posts. Harry B converted to give Hornsea a 7-0 lead. Five minutes later, Bridlington played some quick ball and offloads through their forwards to stretch the Hornsea defence and cross the line to the left-hand side of the post. The conversion was missed.
Hornsea’s kicking game through William H repeatedly kept Bridlington on the back foot and the game down in the opposition’s half. It was also good to see their set plays working well, with good jumping and collection from Jayden N and Jacob W.
The game was tense at 7-5 with only 30 seconds left before the half-time break. Bridlington had repeated sets on the line, all well defended by Hornsea, with Jacob W, Freddy R and Will B putting in repeated big hits. However, in the end, the eagerness to make the tackle gave away a penalty and a subsequent penalty try. Half-time: 7-12 to Bridlington.
The second half started as the first finished, with the ball being moved well by both teams. The big Bridlington forwards were creating real issues for the Hornsea side, but again there was some great tackling from the flanks on both sides, with Tom S, Harry B, Freddy R and Jacob H making solid tackles. It was Hornsea to score next from a real pressure situation.
Bridlington had pressured the Hornsea line for the opening five minutes, but again, from the back of a scrum, quick ball out to Max T from William H created a gap in the Bridlington defence. That was enough for Max to use his pace and power to shrug off several tackles and go in again from 50 yards out. Harry B added the two points: 14-12 to Hornsea.
Bridlington were next to score after pushing Hornsea downfield and forcing a lineout in the Hornsea 20. The Bridlington lineout was well worked, with a subsequent maul that gave them enough momentum to push over from 15 metres out. The conversion was added to take the score to 14-19 to Bridlington.
Within two minutes, Hornsea had scored again to bring the scores level. A strong defensive line from Hornsea captured a charge-down, gathered, and Harry B was able to make his way over from 20 metres out. Harry B added the conversion to bring the scores to 19-19.
Hornsea were playing some good rugby by this point, the forwards completing the phases well with great rucking from Jacob W, Jayden N and Cohen T, and the backs using the width and creating space. With time running out, it was obvious whoever could score next would take the victory.
The match-winning try was straight out of the top drawer. Hornsea were moving the ball from their own half with strong carries from the forwards through Logan P and Cohen K, when the Hornsea fly-half William H saw a gap in front of him and chipped the ball over the defence to collect and take the ball over the line from 35 metres out. Harry B converted to make it 26-19.
Feeling the win was within reach, the Hornsea team played clever rugby and kept the ball deep in the Bridlington quarter for the final three minutes of the game. Hornsea’s Man of the Match went to Max T for his two tries and some great defensive work from his full-back position.
It was a great game played by both teams in the true spirit of the game. However, Hornsea just had enough to take the spoils in this local seaside derby.
