Warlingham U16 Match Report
WARLINGHAM 53 - 0 WORTHING Seven days before Warlingham’s under-16s’ first league match in the Surrey second division, and coach Neil Farmer has a set of difficult decisions to make: who do you leave out after seeing your squad rack up more than 100 points in two friendly matches without conceding a single score?
Farmer’s delight at his squad’s performance in the 53-0 demolition of Worthing was clear on Sunday. In truth, Warlingham might have scored another 20 points or so had the referee not been so sympathetic to the visitors, who had all but run up the white flag 15 minutes before the end.
Warlingham ran up a 36-point lead by half-time, the final score of that half emphasising the difference in the sides as Harry Wrightson caught the ball from a re-start after another Warlingham try. A sidestep opened up a massive gap in the Worthing defence, and Wrightson’s pace saw his burst clear for a tackle-free sprint 70 yards down the field. Tim Jenkins added the two points.
But that solo score - one of nine tries - was atypical of much of the first half, in which team play was foremost. The Warlingham forwards dominated, relative newcomers Aaron Kasza-Martin and Cameron Truscott at prop helping to grind down the Worthing pack, while Ollie Dodwell blasted massive holes through their tacklers, yet no one from Warlingham missed a tackle, the handling was almost perfect and the support play was nothing short of superb.
Whenever a Warlingham runner had the ball, he always had at least two team mates with him, providing options to pass or unload in the tackle, which meant that the ball was kept alive so much that Worthing - starved of possession - were run ragged.
This was from the first whistle: with slick passing, Warlingham moved the ball first to the left-hand side, then across to the right, where full-back Jenkins came into the line to put Justin Grabban in at the corner, but he was just held up.
Warlingham won the resulting scrum five yards out, Rob Farmer peeled off, took the ball and swerved his way under the posts.
Wrightson then opened his account from a quick tap penalty. Then it was Jenkins’ turn to score.
Warlingham won the ball against the head in the scrum in midfield, and when Liam Gallagher spun the ball to Wrightson, he used an advantage call to force another hole through the Worthing defence. James Thornton and George Robe, both outstanding all day, then worked together well in the centres to present the try scoring opportunity to Jenkins.
With Warlingham enjoying so much possession, Jenkins was spending as much time in the line as he was at full back. Yet whenever Worthing got their hands on the ball, as the tackling stopped them making any progress forward, they opted to kick. Jenkins never dropped the ball all day (although one less sidestep as he counter attacks might prove more effective).
Connell Binnie, from the next re-start, demonstrated his sprinting abilities, taking the ball and bullocking his way through the fading Worthing defence. With Kasza-Martin at his shoulder, the pair made 60 yards up field before forced into touch. From the line-out - which Warlingham won - and a subsequent ruck, Farmer emerged and when three defenders bought his dummy pass, he strolled in under the posts. Jenkins converted.
The penultimate score of the first half folded all those elements together. Wrightson combined with a pass to Robe, who unloaded in the tackle to Dodwell, all of them eager and available for the ball. When Dodwell was halted within a couple of yards from the try line, it was hooker Will Downes who took the unload and finished off. Jenkins added another two points (he would score 13 points on the day).
Coach Farmer made wholesale changes at half-time, including the welcome return after injury of Jamal King, who showed no ill effects from his enforced absence.
With Worthing’s forwards’ fitness failing them, Warlingham’s pack, freshened up with Will Taylor and Stephen Roe, started to really take charge, pushing the opposition off their own ball with impunity.
Warlingham might have scored two tries before Thornton went over, after his forwards won the scrum, Dodwell and Gallagher combined off the back, and Robe unselfishly put his centre partner in for the converted try.
Confidence was blooming: subs James Adaway and George Clarke both enjoyed lots of possession and were able to make strong runs deep into the Worthing defence, Clarke on one occasion even opting to kick across to the far wing, where Jordan Allen’s chase nearly produced another score.
Wrightson (inevitably) concluded the scoring, claiming two tries (that’s seven in two matches for the under-16s), though in truth, Worthing were already on their bus home by this point.
Next up is Wimbledon on Sunday, when on our home turf they are due a warm welcome following last season’s narrow defeat to them. Just have a bit of sympathy for Neil Farmer as he makes his selections this week. Spoilt for choice.
Scorers: Tries: Rob Farmer (2), Harry Wrightson (4), Tim Jenkins, Will Downes, James Thornton.
Conversions: Jenkins (4)
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