RUGBY: Wellington Under-17s progress in national plate (From Somerset County Gazette)

RUGBY: Wellington Under-17s progress in national plate

7:00am Monday 25th February 2013 in Sport Latest

WELLINGTON, taking part in the national under-17s plate for the first time, won 30-10 at Saltash on Saturday.

On a chilly day Wellington played down the Saltash slope in the first period, quickly putting the home team under a huge amount of pressure, dominating possession and terrority.

The forwards supplied the backs with good ball to work with and when called upon the defence was sound.

Wellington took the lead when the human wrecking ball of a flanker, Will Lane, took the ball from a tap penalty powering through numerous defenders, scoring near the posts. Outside half James Weeks converted.

The Red & Blacks second try came after Saltash tried to run the ball from inside their own half, centre Dan Rottenbury saw the danger, intercepting the long pass before hitting the turbo and galloping un-opposed underneath the posts. Weeks again converted.

Wellington's third try was the best of the match. A clearance kick by Saltash was gathered by winger Jamie Hayman on Wellington's 10m line line, a well timed hand off disposed of his opposite number before turning on the after burners leaving the would be covering defenders clutching at thin air before dotting down in the corner. Weeks' conversion attempt hit the post.

Towards the end of the half, impressive No.8 Gill Crouch, fell foul of the referees interpretation of the ruck law and was very unfortunate to be sent to the bin for 10 mins. Half time 0 - 19 in favour of the Red & Blacks.

Saltash came into the game more in the second period and put Wellington under pressure for the first 10 mins of the half. This pressure resulted in a penalty kick after the Red & Blacks had infringing at a ruck.

Almost immediately Wellington responding with a similar penalty of their own, Weeks coolly slotting the ball between the posts.

For the next 15 minutes the game was played on the half way line before a break by Saltash resulted in a try and conversion for the home team.

This score spurred Wellington onto greater efforts which resulted in another penalty. Again weeks calmly placed the ball between the posts.

With time nearly up The Red & Blacks final score came when Captain Patrick Jarman gathered a cross kick from Weeks and scored in the corner.

Weeks' final kick of the game was wide of the posts.

Squad: T.Davey, S.John, H.Loarridge, P.Steer, H.Ramsey, A.Davey, W.Lane, G.Crouch, A.Cadman, J.Weeks J.Hayman, P.Jarman(c), D.Rottenbury, O.Harrington, L.Symons, T.Hawkins.

Next weekend Wellington U-18s host Weston-S-Mare U-18s in the quarter final of the Somerset Cup (2.30pm).