A warm autumn morning greeted parents and players on their arrival at Cheddar Valley RFC, the blue sky framed by the Mendip Hills on one side and the expanse of the reservoir on the other. One or more unnamed coaches were initially oblivious to this, however, as they followed their satnavs towards Chew Valley RFC, for reasons not entirely clear. Once reunited with the Knights at the correct venue, the coaches led a brisk warm-up for the challenge ahead.
The team got off to a strong start in the first period with Reece pouncing on a loose ball and Ellis running in a try as the Cheddar players failed to react. Some pleasing continuity developed as Aster’s run was followed by a quick ruck and the ball was made to do the work. George and Reece worked hard in defence, disrupting the opposition and pressing them backwards. Tomoya tracked and covered tackled.to counter a wide break by the Cheddar centre. However, the opposition were enjoying so much possession in the early stages that a missed tackle left the scores level at 1-1 and then a lack of concentration at the breakdown led to a turnover and an easy run in for the Cheddar playmaker. From 2-1 down, the Knights rallied to their most complete performance of the season. Megan saw a gap from the restart and ran in unopposed to make it 2-2. Aster stole the ball smartly from her opposite number and set up a ruck allowing further carries from Reece.
The second period brought all the facets of the Knights game which the coaches have been working on in recent weeks – offloading, moving the ball along the line into space, quick rucks to recycle possession, and side-steps out wide to find support and avoid running into touch. Five unanswered tries ensued: Aster offloaded to Tomoya who ran from his own half to score. Nicky’s dominant tackle enabled Ellis to steal the ball and catch the Cheddar players on the back foot. Lincoln’s powerful carry led to an offload to Nicky and another try. Aster picked and went after a quick ruck ball won by Zac. Esmie had a series of tackle-breaking runs up the middle. Megan and Tomoya both exploited space out wide to score as the Cheddar players bunched at the breakdown area. 7-2 to the Knights.
The final period was more open, with a few missed tackles allowing the Cheddar playmaker to score two tries, but the Knights attacking play was fast, organised and aggressive, despite the loss of Ollie to a hand injury after a diligent game in the loose. Esmie scored twice, with a combination of power and guile to cancel out the resurgence of the opposition. Ellis showed up all over the pitch, scoring straight from an attacking scrum, making a try-saving tackle on the touchline and rounding off the 11-4 victory with a forceful run for the final try.
Reece was deservedly named player-of-the-match for his muscular performance in attack and defence. Overall, there was a marked improvement in the Knights’ attacking play, with better appreciation of the space available on the pitch, and how to move the ball into it before the opposition could react. Credit the coaches for enabling this progress, and the players for putting it into practice in the game situation. The Knights are ready for tougher challenges ahead.