Market Rasen U13 34 - 0 Grimsby U13

NLD Group match, Market Rasen & Louth RUFC U13 v Grimsby U13, Sunday 7th Feb 2010

Rasen U13s travelled to Grimsby for their 3rd encounter of the season against Grimsby and for the 2nd time playing away, looking to make it a hatrick of wins having beaten them 22-00 early in the season and 44-00 just a couple of weeks ago. This time though it was for top spot in the NLD Shield group stage with Grimsby going into the match leading the group on 9 points and Rasen in 2nd place with 6 points from the two previous group matches.

The day was damp and grey, but with no wind and the temperature at a tropical 5 degrees C, so ideal rugby conditions! Rasen set the pace from the off and scored their 1st try within the first few minutes of the game with an excellent run by George Bennett at outside centre. Rasen had one or two players trying out relatively new positions in the pack and backs, but their pack, although heavily outweighed by the much larger Grimsby pack, not only held their own, but stole ball in the scrum on a few occasions and rucked well throughout the 1st half supplying a constant flow of ball to the backs or picking and going themselves.

Grimsby were largely forced into a defensive game, but fought hard to keep Rasen out, however, George Bennett managed to break through for his 2nd try and Oscar Rollings scored a superb try after an excellent team effort set him up for his cutting run over the line to make it 17-00 at half time with only the one try being converted.

At the start of the second half, Grimsby came out fighting and turned the tables in the forward battle for the next ten minutes winning the lion's share of the ruck ball, although Rasen with their pack back to their more regular eight, were dominant in the set. It wasn't until about the 12th minute with the Rasen pack storming forward again, before Max Longdon was delivered a great ball and made his run for the line to open the second half scoring. Unfortunately a knee injury forced him off the pitch for the remainder of the game. Rasen got back into their stride while Grimsby still didn't look like scoring in spite of a couple of good forays deep into the Rasen half when Rasen took their foot off the gas and their tackling let them down for a period, but on the whole the Rasen tackling was constant and effective.

Well into the second half, Rasen were awarded a penalty just outside the Grimsby 22m, which they ran from a well worked move with Etienne Ramsay taking the ball all the way and crashing over for a superb try. George Bennett, who obviously had been 'resting for a while', finished off the scoring with his 3rd try of the day to make the final score 34-00 with again only one try converted in the 2nd half. So the hatrick was achieved and in great style with a jubillant Rasen side convincing winners.

2nd row forward, Etienne Ramsay, who was ever present and in the thick of it throughout the game, was made 'Man of the Match', while the 'Player of the month' trophy for January went to new comer George Bennett, who having only recently taken up rugby has progressed phenomenally and made a great contribution to the team.