Combined Match Report from back to back fixtures - Lochaber U14's v Oban Lorne U14's

Lochaber U14s played two back-to-back matches against Oban on Sunday 19th January at Oban, and Saturday 25th January at Banavie. Both games were 60 minutes long, and were played on each club’s main pitch, in perfect weather and underfoot conditions. On both occasions, Lochaber could only muster thirteen players, so the team was supplemented by Oban players (among them James McColl, Daniel Campbell-Hill, Finlay Greene, Duncan Cameron, Robbie Lockhart, Thomas Jackson, Innes Connell, Finlay Brown, James Campbell, and Malcolm McIntyre) to always make the contest fifteen-a-side.

In the first match, a depleted Lochaber team endured a right old drubbing. Right from the kick-off, the fitter, stronger, and in the main older Oban boys exerted severe pressure, and it wasn’t long before they scored their first try. Despite some brave and skilful play from individual Lochaber players, and some passages when the team managed to string together attacking phases, it was generally one-way traffic in Oban’s direction, with the younger Lochaber players in particular being hesitant in the contact area. It wasn’t until late in the match that Lochaber crossed the line, and the final score tells the tale of a hard day - Oban 15 tries, Lochaber 2 tries.

In the second match on their home ground, Lochaber faired much better. Although beaten again, they never gave up, contested well, and towards the end, matched their opponents. Lochaber really regained their confidence at the end of the second quarter, when the team steadily worked their way into their opponents’ 22m through a number of phases by both forwards and backs. Through this they earned a penalty 10m out. The tap, forward charge, and good rucking saw the ball come back, and Lochaber went over under the posts for what appeared to be a great short range try. While unfortunately the try was disallowed, from this point onwards Lochaber began to match their opponents, tackle for tackle and charge for charge. Notwithstanding that, they couldn’t make up the deficit, and the final score was Oban 8 tries, Lochaber 2 tries.

Observations on each of the Lochaber boys over the two matches are as follows:-

Aaron (loose forward) – physically impressive, worked hard in the tackle, the ruck, and at taking the ball up - showed time and again that he has a great future in the game;
Archie P (outside back) - Banavie was his first U14 match, held on well to a difficult pass but forced out, will have learned a lot playing against such older and more skilful opponents;
Arran (utility player) – tried hard and never gave up, while outclassed in these games by older and more skilful opponents will have learned a lot;
Anton (tight forward) – made some good attacking ground and always on hand in ruck support, but found these matches a sober introduction to the hard graft of real rugby;
Brendan (outside back) – always enthusiastic, understandably hesitant in the contact area due to lack of recent match practice, missed the return match at Banavie;
Callan (centre) - missed the Oban match but did well at Banavie, good in attack support and at the ruck, the dependable foil to centre partner Zach;
Cody (tight forward) – showed he has great skills in the tight, will be really effective at this level as his fitness improves;
Gregor (outside back) – made some good runs with the ball in hand, somewhat hesitant in the tackle against older and more skilful opponents, will have learned a lot;
J-J (tight forward) – good attacking charges in Oban, followed this up at Banavie with effective ball presentation and good defensive play in the tight, now at the right level of fitness, has become one of the team’s mainstays;
Jack (outside back) – supported others effectively in attack, did really well for a newcomer at U14 level, missed the return match through injury;
Josh S (outside back) – worked hard, always looking for creativity but lacked support particularly in Oban, some superb runs in open play and some great try-saving covering tackles;
Lee (outside back) – started out well in Oban with a good pick-up, run, and ball presentation, but in general outclassed by older and more skilful opponents, missed the return match at Banavie;
Robert (scrumhalf) – effective distribution as always from the scrum and ruck base, somewhat hesitant in the tackle against older and more skilful opponents, will have learned a lot in these matches;
Ruairidh (loose forward, captain) –the main inspiration behind a good six-phase attack in Oban, made some great runs in open play, effective at the ruck, tried hard to lift the team right to the final whistle in both matches;
Stuie (inside back) – dangerous with the ball in hand, brave in defence and at the loose ball, the only Lochaber player to score a try over both matches, inspirational team player.
Zach (centre) – missed the Oban match but played intelligently and creatively at Banavie, displaying his exemplary attacking and defensive technique without injury against bigger and stronger opposition.

Oban were good but certainly not invincible, as evidenced by Lochaber’s improvement as the Banavie match progressed. All the Lochaber boys, particularly the younger ones, will have learned much from these outings. The team will no doubt be working hard in the coming weeks to rectify individual weaknesses and to develop team cohesion for a programme of potentially difficult upcoming matches.