What a game. What a performance. In their last competitive match as a single age group, the Marlborough Under 16 Mustangs pulled out a display at a level to match or beat anything from their previous highlights reel but fell agonisingly short in their quest to win the Dorset & Wiltshire Premiership Plate. Marlborough welcomed their opponents Dorchester with a similar 100% record in the competition knowing that to the victor would fall the spoils.
The opening salvos demonstrated why both teams were top of the standings, as they played hard, skilful rugby and tried to work each other out. The early pressure came from Dorchester but the Marlborough line held firm and the boys then started to work up the field, finding touch deep in the opposition 22. The Dorchester throw was not straight and from the resultant scrum, Jake picked up and went blind. He was stopped short but the boys kept plugging away and eventually the ball found its way to Freddie who barrelled over to open the scoring.
Somewhat against the run of play, Dorchester were next to score as they interrupted a Marlborough move out of our own 22, before winning a foot race to dot down a grubber. Crucially, their fly half also managed to slot the resulting conversion to put Dorchester into the lead 5-7. Back came the boys for another sustained period of pressure before one try attempt was held up over the line. From the goal-line drop-out, Ollie T caught a difficult high ball and attacked hard. A number of attempts were made before Ben managed to muscle his way over. 10-7 and it was truly nip and tuck.
Then came Marlborough’s only real lapse of concentration as Dorchester won a penalty on the edge of our 22. They were fastest to react, taking a quick penalty and managing to get over despite some last ditch tackling attempts. Half time came with Dorchester just ahead 10-12.
Despite playing up the hill, Dorchester had their strongest period in the third quarter. They first managed to find a way through our defensive line with a score from their centre, before they then capitalised on our inability to exit from our 22 to score their 4th try and open a sizeable 10-22 lead. As they hit the last 10 minutes it would have been easy for the lads to throw in the towel but that’s just not in their DNA. Roared on by a passionate home crowd, they threw the kitchen sink at it.
Again they were held up over the line, but kept the pressure on and eventually Jack smashed through to put us within a score. As the clock ticked on, it was Ben, so often our saviour through the years, who got his second to put us within touching distance. With 2 minutes left, could the boys pull it off?
Ed – who had an absolutely blistering game – took the kick off and made 30 metres before executing a back of the hand offload to Ben. It looked to be on but some desperate tackling from Dorchester brought the attack to a halt. The boys kept at it but it just wasn’t to be. At the final whistle, they had fallen just short and Dorchester had run out 20-22 winners.
As the game ended, the boys understandably fell to the turf in disappointment. But they then showed what makes them such an impressive group by dragging themselves to their feet to congratulate their opponents and to ensure they were appropriately clapped off the field. This one will hurt for a while but the boys were asked to make sure they left nothing on the pitch including regrets. They could have done no more. Some days these things fall for you and some days they don’t and every single Mustang can hold their head high. Selecting one player from so many brilliant performances was a hell of a challenge, but our selection really did have a superb game. Scrummaging in every position in the front row, tackling, running hard, off-loading, he really did demonstrate an all-court display and therefore Ed was a most worthy Man of the Match.
We would like to congratulate Dorchester on their performance and the way they approached and played the game. Thanks go to our referee Al Tindale who probably received slightly more advice from the touchlines than he needed. Thanks also to Amanda and Ben and the rest of the home team for making it happen, and to our ever supportive parents who have been there through thick and thin. And thanks to all those who supported today – you will have been royally entertained.
Our final thanks go to the lads. With only one more friendly remaining this season, their journey as a single age group is almost at an end, as next year they become Colts and join the year above. Some of the boys have been there from the start, many have joined along the way. It has been a pleasure to watch them grow as both individuals and a team. They have always played rugby the right way – hard and fair and knowing that every single player matters. They never bicker, fight or criticise and they pick each other up when mistakes are made. It is that attitude which lets us know that they will soon get over today’s disappointment and use it as a positive to drive them on to better things. Kipling said that in order to become a man you had to treat the twin imposters of triumph and disaster the same. As a coaching group we couldn’t be prouder of the players, team and – most importantly – fine young men that they have become.
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