U13s Creative against Carlisle

With the added bonus of an exchange referee from Sunny Barcelona! Dame un beso!!!! (google it!)

From the off it was Sunderland who applied the pressure, but an unfortunate knock on led to the ref playing advantage allowing Carlisle to make a huge break. Despite a valiant last ditch tackle by Farai ‘fizzy’ Chikumbirike on the try line, Carlisle went on to score but without the conversion were 5 points ahead.
From the kick off Carlisle looked to break, but another tackle by Fizzy put Carlisle into touch. Sunderland won the resulting line-out giving Dean Edmundson and Bradley Wall space to make yards. There were some lovely passing moves between Dean and Kye Horn but alas they were tackled just short of the line. A scrummage ensued and Sunderland forwards were dominant, keeping much needed pressure on Carlisle. Sunderland won the ball, an eventual pass to Mathew Clinton nearly saw him over for his second try in as many weeks, but he was tackled inches before going over. More pressure by Sunderland saw Reece Thompson and Brad combine allowing Reece to force the ball over the try line and score. Converted by Dean brought the score to 7-5.
The next phase of play saw good pressure from Carlisle, but great hits from Fletcher Jackson and Josh Poole held them back. It was the Carlisle winger who managed to pick and fly down the wing to score. No conversion this time 7-10.
Sunderland responded with some quick passing to Fizzy from Dean, who managed to run half the length of the pitch but was held up by three Carlisle defenders. A quick penalty take by Fletcher saw more yards gained and some good work by Brad, Reece and Kye took the play to half-time.
Second half saw some determined play by both sides, and a great run by James Usher earned Sunderland some space but Carlisle smothered the attack. Sunderland forwards grafted the ball back, allowing great interchange between Dean and Ben Hutchinson. Ben kicked and James chased down, yet Carlisle managed to pick up and attempt to break on the wing. It was a big tackle by Reece on the half way line that kerbed Carlisle. Yet more Carlisle pressure was piled on but a great tackle by Lewis Carter also aided by Mathew Sanderson and Fizzy but Carlisle sneaked over in the corner. No conversion which made the score 7-15.
Carlisle came back with aggression but determined play by Bradley Lindsay and Aidan Wayman managed to stem the flow of play. Some great hands and great passing was to follow starting with Dean offloading to Reece who took the ball forward to earn some space and managed to pass back to Farai who battled forward against three Carlisle players. Support by Dean got the ball out to Reece who offloaded to Ben managing to make a good 15 yards and passed to James to run over. All round teamwork bringing the unconverted score to 12-15.
Carlisle came back fighting but a big tackle by Dean on the halfway line then more good tackles by Reece and then Brad stopped them gaining yards. Sunderland won the ball, and a huge surge by Dean down the wing meant a pass infield to Matty Sanderson who got the ball out to Devrim Koca who drove over the line to score. A massive try bringing Sunderland into the lead at 17-15.
It was a nail-biting next phase as a good clean take by Tye Hanlon saw him battle through Carlisle, allowing Fizzy time to pick and go passing to Dean who danced forward 30 yards, dodging tackles to place the ball to the left of the posts. The score was also converted by dean 24-15.
James then grafted the ball out to Dean who ran forward then chipped the ball 30 yards over the top of Carlisle’s defence and used his pace to ground the ball and score, also converted by Dean which brought the score to 31-15.
Carlisle went on to suffer a penalty for not rolling away which let Matty pass to Dean, then out to Ben - both using pace to run forward. A pass to James saw him run almost half the pitch down the wing and still place ball under posts which was converted. Final whistle and the score was 38 -15. Great team work by all and some unselfish play to pass to others in space to score.