All tour fixtures

Burton under 17’s Italy Tour October 2010

First Match Day: Benetton Treviso, Saturday 23rd October

In their opening tour matches, Burton under 17’s travelled from their base at Jesolo, (taking in other local grounds en route), to the impressive Benetton Treviso training facilities. The two simultaneous late afternoon matches were to be played in overcast conditions, watched by their venetian blind drunk parent supporters. As the sides warmed up the size of the local under 18 opponents appeared daunting from the touchline. If this occurred to the players they were not to show it.

v Casale Sul Sile Rugby

The Burton players kicked off against the Casale team and were to see the extent of the task ahead of them at the first scrum, well won by the opposition. The local side sent the ball down the back line for a try which was converted, the touring side 7:0 down after 3 minutes.

The Burton restart was well taken by Ashley Allum but the Italians came back and only Will Turner’s tackle prevented another try. The line out was well taken by Sam Wardega and Burton cleared their lines. Nevertheless their opponents were able to score another converted try after 10 minutes.

Burton began to play better as the forwards rose to the challenge and held the scrum. Notable efforts were made by Nick Cuffley and Alex Cooke, with Michael Cooke at full back and Chris Brown linking well to deal with their opponents deep kicks. However the Casale full back made a break and was able to go through for a try, again converted and the travellers were 21 points down with half an hour played.

Burton pressed forward with Owen Farringdon driving well and Chris Sammons at scrum half successfully harrying his opposite number. Half time came with Burton threatening to score.

In the second half Burton began mixing the play with a mixture of inside passes and kicking to the winger by Henry Whitifeld at fly half, in an effort to prise open the strong Italian defence. Alex Cooke on the wing was excellent in dealing with both deep kicks and the strong attacking runs. The Burton centres made a strong run out of defence and a resultant penalty was quickly taken by the fly half, passing to Will Turner, now playing at centre, linking to Brown who took the ball at pace to go through for a try, converted by Sam Jordan-Turner .

The Casale re start was collected by Allum, combining with Farringdon to gain ground. A penalty was awarded to Burton and Sam Halton revved up his forwards for the drive. As Burton’s biggest players prepared themselves it was winger Lewis Slack, the lightest player on the pitch, who was to pop up and take it on the run. Unfortunately the big Italian pack, seeing all their Christmas’s come at once, sent him back whence he came. Burton were holding their own and it looked like the second half would end with no further score. Rather against the run of play Casale were able to score again to leave the final score 28:7.

Despite the score Burton could congratulate themselves, after a shaky start, on holding their own against a large and generally older team in a match played competitively but in good spirit.

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v Benetton Rugby

The second of the two matches began with the coaches instructions to keep the game “tight and hard” ringing in the players ears. Burton kicked off. Sandemann took the ball through the Benetton backs, and drew the first penalty which gave Armitage the chance to take clean line out ball. From a second line out the ball was spilled by Benetton and Armitage charged through and dropped onto the ball to score a well deserved try just 5 minutes into the game, the visiting side leading 5:0.

After 18 minutes of sustained Benetton pressure and a series of infringements, Burton were unable to prevent a try in the corner which was beautifully converted and the home side took the lead. The excellent Benetton rolling maul was an unstoppable juggernaut creating a platform from which their expansive backs scored another unconverted try in the corner after 22 minutes.

An excellent take by Runagle saw Burton apply pressure deep into the corner. Terrific line out work drove Burton towards the Benetton try line but the defending side held firm. At half time the home side were leading 12:5.

The second half began with Burton raising the tempo and enthusiastic play by Eddie Runagle resulted in a yellow card. Despite this Burton defended like heroes under sustained Benetton pressure and gradually gained ground in what has become a titanic struggle. The referee seemed oblivious to repeated knock-on’s by the home-side which went unpunished.

After 25 minutes the Benetton fly half was yellow carded for stamping. Unfortunately Burton were by now under siege and a series of penalties conceded allowed Benetton to score another converted try under the posts. Good pace by Burton winger Tom Hunt opened up the left wing and again Burton looked as though they might capitalise but it was not to be.

As time ran out and Burton found themselves the subject of an Italian job in which they played a starring role but ultimately they came second best, the final score 19:5 to the visitors.

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The afternoon concluded with a pasta meal provided and served at table by the hosts, and a traditional exchange of gifts. The evening concluded rather later.

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Second Match Day: Padova, Sunday 24th October

The next day the weary and wounded travelled to Padova (with the players) for their second tour fixtures, the players hoping to erase the memory of the previous day’s losses with solid performances and victories. The matches were played during the late morning, on another overcast day.

v Petrarca (Match 1)

Burton kicked off but were quickly put under pressure and conceded a try within 2 minutes, which was converted. After this initial shock, Burton tried to raise their game to compete with the hard tackling Italians, but a flowing move across the pitch saw the Italian full back enter the line with speed and the sudden injection of pace left all in his wake as he touched down in style. Some 5 minutes later the same player ran from his own half and jinked his way through for another text book try, the score 17:0.

The Italians were ferocious in the tackle and Burton were repeatedly knocked backwards in possession. With Burton players dropping like flies as the first half drew to a close, the character of the side shone through as sheer grit and determination made them compete for every inch of ground. Unfortunately the Italians matched Burton’s endeavours and another converted try by the Italian blind side flanker saw Burton fall further behind. With only seconds of the first half remaining the Italians consolidated their lead further with another try, to leave the score line 29:0 at half-time.

The second half was a test of Burton’s resolve. They had given their best during the first half and yet they kept coming back for more. As Tom Hunt left the pitch with a remodelled nose, an Italian joined the Burton ranks to ensure that Burton could field a full side. The game ebbed and flowed with Burton gaining more territorial advantage. Suddenly captain Gibbo took a quick tap penalty and rumbled over the Italian line to the cheers of Burton supporters.

Ramsells fine line out jumping was proving a thorn in the Italians side, both taking his own ball and disrupting the Italian set piece. Will Turners pace opened up the Italian rearguard and from the subsequent move Sandeman’s clever chip set up Alessandro the guesting Italian winger who went over in the corner. Allums wonderful conversion from the touch line gave more reason for Burton Pride, but straight from the kick off Burton conceded another try. Another swift passing move gave the Italians another try in the corner as the final whistle sounded, leaving the score 41:12.

With flagging bodies, broken and battered, the Burton players put on a Churchillian display on that grey Italian morning. Backs against the wall but with chests puffed out with pride Burton had performed magnificently. Having drawn the second half, there was just cause for celebration later in the day.

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v Petrarca (Match 2),

Burton kicked off but lost an early line out and scrum, leading to a Petrarca score in the corner after five minutes which was well converted. Burton came back, pinching a lineout and threatened with a deep kick into their opponents half. The lineout was won by the home side and only a great tackle from Henry Andrew at full back prevented a try. Petrarca were to score again shortly after.

After the re start the Burton players picked up their game winning a scrum against the head, with good work from Alistair Weedon at Number 8, picking up at the back and driving, assisted by the scrum half, Stuart Carter at prop and Matt Prince at full back, following changes due to injury.

After half time the Burton pack came out in fighting mood, but remained under pressure. Owen Farringdon disrupted the Italian maul but they re-circulated the ball and came forward on the break, only to be stopped by Weedon with a last gasp tackle, the ball hacked away by Henry Andrew. Again Burton found themselves deep in their 22, this time with a saving tackle by Prince. This was repeated, this time with Sam Day making the clearance kick. After yet another attempt, Petrarca were able to break through, to make the score 17:0.

Burton had to dig deep on the re start with notable efforts from forward Kieren Hawketts and Stuart Carter. Unfortunately the latter prop was stretchered off with a neck injury and the opposing team were generous in lending one of their squad to make the numbers, as the match moved to uncontested scrums. Petrarca were to score twice more to leave the final score 29:0.

Despite the final score, the Burton players can congratulate themselves on giving their all particularly after hard games the previous evening. All were relieved to hear that Stuart Carter was given the all clear following attendance at hospital, returning by taxi later and accompanied primly assisted by Nurse “shag” Armitage (although said Carter’s later conviction at Tour Court suggests he might have preferred an alternative nurse in attendance).

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The afternoon concluded with a pasta meal provided by the hosts, this time self-service, and a traditional exchange of gifts. The evening concluded rather later.

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Third Match Day: Benetton Treviso, Tuesday 23rd October

After a day’s rest the touring party returned to Treviso for their final games on a cold dry night, playing under floodlights. The touring party were feeling confident as news had spread of the senior coaches earnest match planning which went on well into the previous morning, whilst coach Drage was at the top of his game after a good days sleep.

The staggered evening matches suited the sometimes staggering parents, some bolstered by their Prosseco based breakfast at Shangri-la. All were content in the knowledge that they could order beer and propose a toast in fluent Italian. With every fit player expecting a pizza the action at some stage during the game, the coaches instructions were to pasta ball around and enjoy themselves.

v Villorba

Burton kicked off towards the biggest pack thus far faced. A jinking run from Ashley Allum opened the defence after 10 minutes but the Italian cover got across to smother the ball. The Italians counter attacked only to be held up by a crunching tackle from Chesterman. Burton played their way out from the 5 metre line and looked solid and organised as they displayed their ability to counter. From a long kick downfield, Matt Prince showed the speed of a finely tuned racing whippet and his run from deep set up a passage of play from which Champney burst over to open the scoring.

Sammons sniping runs on the blind side gave the Italian full back no time to rest and fine second phase link up play from Bowen and Armitage earned Burton valuable ground. A quickly taken tap penalty saw the Italians gain 60 yards but again Burton stemmed the tide. The Italians persistence was rewarded when their hooker rampaged through the posts for a converted try to take the lead.

Burton were soon to reply. From a scummage, Chesterman ran, kicked over the top and chased down his own kick to score again. The half ended with Burton looking good value for their 10:7 lead.

The second half saw the Italians emerge quicker from the blocks and Burton were on the back foot. Burton’s defence was tested to the limit but came through the onslaught that lasted for fully 10 minutes. As they drove into the Italian half for the first time Armitage called on his back line skills to surge through for another converted try to extend the lead to17:7.

Ill discipline from the Burton players cost them momentum and a period of fractured play ensued that handed back the initiative to the hosts and Burton again were forced to defend deeply. With the Italians awarded penalty after penalty it was only a matter of time before the inevitable try was conceded to leave the score 12:17 and set up a nail biting finale. A handing error by Burton added more pressure and with 5 minutes to go a slick interchange between fly half and centre bamboozled the Burton defence and the player streaked in to level the scores 17:17

With little time left, a penalty gave Sam Jordan-Turner a chance to open a 3 point gap which he duly took to re-take the lead, but there was still time for the game to re start. Unfortunately Burton were reduced to 14 men and the infringement gifted the hosts a try they barely deserved to win the match 22:20.

v Marca 15

The Italian side commenced the game, although their early attack was thwarted by the solid Burton defence, pressurising the attacking side into errors. They looked certain to break through on the Burton right, only for Tom Hunt to make a superbly timed tackle on the tough line. Despite being the lighter pack, the Burton forwards competed solidly and the ball was successfully run out of defence on numerous occasions. Nevertheless the home side were able to score a try. Sam Day kicked a well taken penalty and the half finished marginally ahead.

Some harsh decisions left Burton with a man in the sin bin, and it was all hands to the pumps as the physical Italian forwards took their toll on the smaller Burton lads and the last subs were committed. The tourists were soon to be down to 14 men for the duration of the match and this became the turning point. Despite massive efforts from the depleted team, the Italians were able to eventually overwhelm Burton, the final score being 27:3.

The whole team put in a magnificent performance and gave their all against a strong squad of predominantly older and bigger players. As the players gathered as one in the cool of the Italian evening, there were many players, coaches and parents with tears in their eyes as coach Pete Weedon complimented them on their total commitment and heroic efforts which saw the end of their involvement in junior rugby and their transition from a team of boys to one of young men.

No pasta was taken. The evening concluded rather later.

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All clichés copyright of Andy Nicholls and Ian Whitfield

THE END