Sun. 2nd Feb. Dorset and Wilts U15s Plate semi-final Yeovil 12 Frome 19
FROME RFC’s U15s team has reached the final of the Dorset and Wilts U15s Plate after a ‘close fought’ semi-final against Yeovil.
Frome RFC U15’s captain, Harry Stamp reports, “The game was a close- fought and entertaining contest between two evenly-matched teams, with Frome holding out Yeovil in the final ten minutes to preserve their converted try advantage.
“Frome struck first through Joe Stockley’s poacher’s finish to a move that started with a clean break from Finnan Doyle from Yeovil’s kick off. A strong supporting line from Owen Jones took the ball up to the opposition’s 22 and after a couple of phases, Joe found the gap through the Yeovil defence to score under the posts. A relatively easy conversion for Harry Stamp made it 0–7 to the visitors after five minutes. Yeovil struck back tremendously. Frome struggled to cope with their high intensity attack, conceding a series of penalties that led to two tries (and one conversion) by the home team. At the break, Frome trailed by 12 points to 7.
“The visitors needed a strong second half and they started it well, keeping possession and pressure in the opposition’s half of the pitch. This didn’t add up to anything in the early exchanges as Yeovil fought back and it was Frome’s turn to defend. After 10 minutes of back-and-forth, Frome managed to gain some field position, and this time capitalised from Alfie Murden’s half break in the middle of the pitch. An offload to Stockley and a basketball pass to Stamp gave the captain space to dummy, get past the Yeovil defence and score under the posts, with another easy conversion, putting Frome back in the lead 12–14.
“This was a confidence boost to Frome, who gained field position through Yeovil’s ill-disciplined defence, and this time it was the forwards’ pack that capitalised, with Beau Rumming dotting down the ball after a powerful pick and go, stretching the lead to 12–19. This try proved to be the final score of the match, with the conversion going a little wide. Frome saw out the final 10 minutes of pressure from the home side, putting in the grittiest defensive set of their season so far.
“For the captain, this was a great character-proving performance from the Frome lads; made all the sweeter for such a strong challenge from Yeovil and their great hospitality after the game.
“Thank you, Yeovil, and on to the final! C’mon boys!”
The provisional date for the final has been set as the first weekend in April.
