Sun 1 Mar 2026, 11:00
The Marlborough Rugby Under 14s (also known as 'the Stags') go forward to the Dorset & Wiltshire RFU Plate Final after beating Lytchett Minster away from home!
After a long car journey to south Dorset (with special thanks to the accompanying parents!) the boys put on a superb display to book their passage to the final.
Lychett were a constant threat at the breakdown, contesting the ball and forcing us to keep having to switch to defence from attack. After a cagey first fifteen minutes, the first score was registered after some relentless pressure from our forwards, eventually seeing Lytchett run out of defenders. Our second score came almost immediately from the re-start, with a rampaging run down the wing. And the final score in the first half was from a good attack, with the boys moving the ball wide to see one of the locks bursting over from five metres out on the wing - who says second rows are slow?!
The halft-ime score was Lytchett Minster RFC U14s 0-19 Marlborough Rugby U14s and the majority of the game had been played in the Lytchett half.
With the wind at our backs, we opened the scoring in the second half. A great kick from a penalty gave the forwards a throw-in on the 5-metre line and a planned line-out move gave us a comfortable 0-24 buffer.
We needed this margin, as Lytchett came back into the game scoring two tries in two minutes! One was a strong burst from a tap-and-go penalty ten metres out, and the second came from some great handling after the kick off.
However, the final word was from the visitors from Marlborough and, after some quick hands from a scrum on the right hand side of the pitch, our left winger scampered in to touch down in the corner and to finish the game.
Final score: Lytchett Minster RFC U14s 12-29 Marlborough Rugby U14s
Whilst there are still areas to work on and improve, it was the best team performance yet for this group. The front five laid down a platform, and the back row were everywhere, chopping down the dangerous Lytchett runners at source. The half backs made sensible decisions all game, the centres were clever in attack and resolute in defence, and the back three were dangerous.
We meet Bridport RFC U14s in the Two Counties Plate final on Sunday 22 March at Bridport - travelling support will be welcome!
Photo, below, shows action from the game. Look at that line speed!
