Rugby Reports for 2007-8 Season

Austin leads Judd to U14 Kent Cup success
14 December 2007

Judd's U14 rugby team ended 2007 on a high with victory over Langley Park in the Kent Cup Final. The 29 - 0 score-line capped a stunning cup campaign in which Judd conceded not a single point in matches against Rochester Maths, Skinners', King's Canterbury and lastly Langley.
The team was led superbly by John Austin who played with a maturity beyond his years. The captain's work rate was immense throughout the night, providing constant support for the team's backs and driving forward. His awareness was shown in the second half when taking the ball from the left wing he broke from half-way into the opposition 22. He cut back to avoid the covering defenders and gave a try-making pass to fly-half Josh Livett.
On a cold, frosty night both teams struggled to find consistency but Judd took an early 12-0 lead in the first-half. Freddie Greehy scored his first try for Judd when he broke from a scrum to charge down Langley's clearing kick and was first to the ball as it bounced over the line. Ryan Redman scored the second kicking a loose ball forward and accelerating past the out of position Langley defence.
Langley asserted control for the remainder of the half but Judd's defence was firm. Rob Eades, Sam Hair, Luca Vincenzini and Richard Edwards tackled well and allowed James Osborne and Mark Grimshaw the opportunities to relieve pressure by carrying the ball out of defence.
The second-half saw a more fluent performance from Judd's backs. Fast service from scrum-half Josh Brockman presented plentiful opportunities for Livett to get the backs running. Jerry Cummins, Sam Fitzsimons and Matt Barnes all showed good running ability but it was the second-half back row players who made the significant in-roads. Henry Croft sprinted half the length of the field only to be hauled down by the collar after Will Grist had scored in the corner. Austin's break allowed Livett to score the fourth before Ryan Redman finished the scoring with a break down the left-wing.
The cup final win meant that the team has finished a second consecutive year unbeaten in all forms of rugby and have now won every match they have played over a 28 month period. Winning their first Kent title completes a grand-slam of titles for the team in 2007 after the squad won the Berkhamsted Collegiate 7s and the National Schools 7s, Junior tournament.

Tries: Greehy; Redman (2); Grist; Livett
Conversions: Redman (2)

Squad: J. Austin (c); H. Croft; F. Greehy; J. Osborne; M. Grimshaw; S. Hair; L. Vincenzini; R. Edwards; J. Cummins; M. Barnes; R. Redman; R. Eades; M. Barnes; J. Livett; J. Brockman
Reserves: W. Grist; R. Luft; H. Collins; L. Marcinkus; W. Chapman; W. Nikhwai; C. Morten
Coach: Mr. S. N. Fraser