Under 15s Reports (Most recent at Top)

23/04/06 The Andover 10s Competition

Swindon came to Andover’s ‘Goodship Ground’ favourites and were determined not to disappoint. The first match versus Romsey proved to be a tight affair though Swindon did make a good start, Mike Thompson breaking through some tough Romsey resistance to touch down under the posts. Ben Loosmore converted for the extra points, 7-0. Swindon continued to have the upper hand and Alex Cox showed Romsey a clean pair of heels, side stepping neatly to score under the posts giving Nick Cozens a simple conversion, 14-0 at half time.

The second half proved to be a stern test for Swindon and Romsey closed the gap to seven, but it took them until the final minute to do it and it was too little too late.

In their second match they faced old adversaries, Wootton Bassett who proved to be a stern test as usual. Bassett started the quickest and took an early seven point led, scoring neatly under the posts. Swindon dug deep and it was an unconventional try from Cozens that got them back into the contest, Cozens kicking and chasing from 30 metres out before diving onto the loose ball, 5-7. Swindon then looked the more likely side and Matt Gillis scored to give them a 10-7 half time advantage.

This game was wide open with just the three points between them, but Swindon nailed it when Cozens crossed for a second time, outpacing the despairing Wootton Bassett defence, making it 15-7 at the final whistle.
In the final match Swindon faced the home side, Andover needing victory to seal the tournament. Any worries about big match nerves were forgotten early on when Cozens sprinted through and passed to Harry Campion who scored and converted to give Swindon a 7-0 lead. Then Cozens broke through once again, this time like an Exocet missile, supported again by Campion who received the pass and touched down for this second try, 12-0.

Loosmore added a third try, converted by Campion, and crossed again soon after for what should have been his second try, but the referee disallowed the try for ‘showboating’. Loosmore’s elaborate dive over the line was in some way against the R.F.U.’s new no fun policy which only the referee himself has read. This caused some dissent in the Swindon ranks and in the crowd, the result of which left Swindon with nine players at the re-start. Undeterred by this Loosmore proceeded to score almost immediately to seal a fine win and the sullied were rightfully restored.

Coaches Smith, Osment and Badenski were pleased with the overall display and look forward to the Newbury 10s next week.

    Well done all!

Swindon Squad
Troy Badenski
Gerraint Brown
Harry Campion
Alex Cox
Nick Cozens
Eddie Curtis
Mike Fitchett
Sean Gadd
Matt Gillis
Luke Guest
Ben Loosmore
Josh Osment
Jack Ryan
Carl Thomas
Mike Thompson

Swindon came into this match needing a victory to win their group with a 100% record and secure a home semi-final spot, and win they did. The first five minutes were played in Swindon's half with Warminster having the upper hand. The tide seemed to turn though when Carl Thomas crossed over only to be held up in the goal area. From the resulting 5 metre scrum Mike Thompson bullied his way through to give the visitors a 0-5 lead. This lead was soon doubled when Swindon made the most of a penalty on the opposing 10 metre line, Thompson finding Nick Cozens who in turn found Ben Loosmore who touched down for a solid 0-10 lead. Then from a scrum on the halfway line Loosmore was set loose to give Swindon a 15 point lead at half time.

It had been a hard earned lead, with only the fierce tackling of Mike Fitchett, Steve Gadd, Jack Ryan and James Hughes keeping Warminster at bay. Thompson was as usual leading the way in this department and surprised all when getting back to his feet after being run over by Warminster's human bulldozer, brutal.

Early in the second half Swindon's rearguard lost its concentration and Warminster trimmed their lead to 10 and threatened more until Chris Claydon restored the 15 point advantage. Quality rucking by Swindon allowed scrum half, Josh Osment to find Cozens, who passed to Loosmore who in turn passed to Claydon who scored Swindon's 4th and final try, 5-20.

Warminster were not finished though and continued to press Swindon for the remainder of the game and it was no surprise when they reduced the deficit to 10, but it was all too little too late, 10-20. Swindon won their group with a 100% record and will now host Salisbury in the semi-final

Swindon maintained their 100% record in the Wiltshire Cup and in doing so booked a place in the semi-finals. The writing was on the wall for Pewsey as early as the first minute, Nick Cozens combining with Ben Loosmore who scored under the posts. Harry Campion converted, 0-7. After five minutes Mike Thompson added another try and Pewsey Vale were fighting a losing battle, 0-12.

The constant Swindon pressure was too much for the home side and Loosmore added his second and Swindon's third try which Campion once again converted 0-19. The Swindon performance was only let down by the willingness to concede a succession of sloppy penalties, the referee's whistle being red hot by half time by which Swindon led 0-24. After Troy Badenski had scored following good work from Matt Gillis.

In the second half Pewsey Vale tightened up and aided by Swindon's loose passing and conceded one more try which gave Loosmore his hat-trick. Pewsey Vale 0 29 Swindon.

In conclusion, Swindon were never in trouble, but made hard work of it with too many errors and possibly not enough attacking invention to trouble Pewsey more, but it was a job done and the semi-final awaits...

Swindon came into this game brimming with confidence after last week's mauling of Devizes. They wasted no time and were ten points to the good within minutes of the start; Nick Cozens scoring the first and Mike Thompson the second, inspired by Tom Hatch and Cozens.

The anticipated response from Westbury didn't come and so Swindon continued the onslaught, this time starting from a scrum on their own 22, scrum half, Josh Osment, found Dan Jones who in turn found Cozens who made a great run
down the wing stopping only to pass to Chris Claydon on his inside who then scored. Cozens converted 17-0.

Ben Loosmore then picked up and scored from a Matt Gillis charge down, 22-0. Westbury were in trouble now and found the Swindon line in no mood to be broken, Troy Badenski, Eddie Curtis, Mike Fitchett, Luke Guest and Steve Grant keeping them at bay, though it was Loosmore who provided the tackle of the day with a massive hit on the half way line, the only surprise being that for
once it was legal! Harry Campion came on with immediate effect, his run and pass giving Cozens his second try 27-0. Thompson then took advantage of some sloppy Westbury handling only having to dive on a spilt ball to score just before the half time whistle, 32-0.

Gillis was the first to register in the second half, following closely by Loosmore, both converted smartly by Campion, 46-0. Despite the sun disappearing behind the clouds and the temperature dropping, Swindon managed to keep the heat on. Number 8, Andy Pederson, Loosmore and Cozens each scoring with Campion converting all three in style, 67-0.

Swindon never stopped working for a minute, Geraint Brown, James Warburton, Josh Molton, Jack Ryan and Darryl McKinlay (who retired after taking a big bone crunching hit) all contributed to the relentless assault on the Westbury line, Carl Thomas in particular good form. The forwards earned their corn, driving their way across the try line allowing Jermaine Edwards to score a well
deserved try. Cozens drove the final nail in the coffin, both tries converted by the uncharitable Campion. 81-0.

Swindon came into this game knowing they had to raise their game after last weeks 7-12 defeat at the hands of today's opponents. What was to follow was total domination by a Swindon side determined to avenge last week's defeat and more importantly to play the kind of fluent and entertaining rugby that has been missing so far this season.
An early try by Ben Loosmore after good work from Mike Thompson gave Swindon the start they wanted, Dan Jones converted 7-0. The second try came soon after, Nick Cozens kicking forward and diving on the ball to score 12-0.
Swindon had their sails up and the wind was with them, with fly half Josh Osment at the helm they were cruising away with his game. Poor Devizes must have felt like they'd boarded the Titanic, getting that sinking feeling again and again when Eddie Curtis made it 17-0 after Cozens penalty tap on the 22. Chris Claydon showed some neat footwork on the left wing stepping inside two defenders to score, 22-0.
Devizes were under constant pressure and were caught out when trying to kick into touch from their own try line, the kick was charged down and Matt Gillis picked up and dived over. 27-0, half time.
Swindon continued to pile on the pressure in the second half and were soon rewarded when Curtis bulldozed his way to the line. Cozens converted 34-0. Mike Fitchett and Troy Badenski worked tirelessly to keep Devizes on the back foot, Alex Cox and Luke Guest swept up every time Devizes tried to kick their way into Swindon's territory giving them no respite.
Swindon's No. 8 Andy Pederson intercepted a pass and found Guest who showed Devizes a clean pair of heels from 39 metres out, 39-0. Jones converted, 41-0. Jermaine Edwards was unlucky when he powered his way over the line, the referee already having blown for a high tackle on him. Swindon soon made up for it, Loosmore scoring his second, 46-0. Matt Gillis scored his second of the match, bundled across the line by Osment. Cozens converted, 53-0. Final whistle.
This was Swindon's best display of the season by far, lets hope there's more to come!