Malvern U13 Bucks at home to Ledbury 06/03/11
Mar
Malvern Bucks U13 – 17
Ledbury U13 Dev - 17
BUCKS CHASE DOWN LEDBURY LEAD
The Bucks leaked two early Ledbury tries but managed to claw their way back into the game with a gritty second half performance. In a game that could easily have been a walkover the Bucks fought hard to get back on equal terms after a string of errors allowed the visitors to build an early lead.
Malvern kicked off and immediately invited Ledbury to run between the gaps in their defence for their opening try. The Bucks managed to get into opposition territory but ended the run with a handling infringement in a ruck. The resulting Ledbury counter attack was initially held off but a knock on again gave away possession and was turned into a second try for the visitors.
Late in the first half, Oakley lifted Malvern spirits with a left wing break to score a try against the run of play and the pattern of the game changed as the Bucks found their rhythm. Oakley added a second try just before the whistle and a conversion gave the home side a lead for the first time.
Malvern made a livelier start to the second half and looked most likely to break the stalemate as they became more alert and hungry at the break down. Despite this, it was Ledbury that made the first points of the half to regain a five point lead.
Unperturbed, the Bucks kept working hard and it was Bale who eventually broke the Ledbury line for a try after a sixty yard grind through some heavy defensive traffic. The game ended with the honours even but with the Bucks in the ascendency showing that a strong lead can be chased down by teamwork.
