Marple (u14) - 41 - 21 - Capenhurst (u14)

Marple u14s took to the field in their first ever fully competitive fixture in the Cheshire Cup, reprised for 2023 after a number of years absence. After being lucky to have a home draw, Marple welcomed Capenhurst to Wood Lane, who had made the hour-plus trip across from the Wirral for the fixture.

The Autumn weather gave way to an extremely warm morning for the time of year and glorious conditions. Capenhurst started brightly with a big strong pack running direct lines into the Marple defence and fiercely contesting the breakdown. Marple managed a turnover and probed left and right with runs from Eric and Tyler, but Capenhurst were resilient and made some good cover tackles, shutting the space down well and fashioning a turnover of their own. They then ran three excellent phases with big ball carriers, before a nice turn of pace and offload from a strong Capenhurst forward set them away down the left flank, sprinting clear to score despite despairing efforts from Finn and Tom. The conversion was relatively straightforward: 0-7 to the visitors.

Capenhurst were unlucky to knock on from the re-start, and after a couple of re-set scrums, the Capenhurst scrumhalf strayed offside. Isaac B took the decision to take points with the resultant penalty from a good 30m, slotting home an excellent kick with distance to spare, and make the score 3-7.

From the re-start Marple carried strongly and struggled to punch holes in a strong Capenhurst defence who made some huge hits. After a break from Felix was shut down, quick ball across the field presented the opportunity for a cross-field kick which was well placed from Isaac B, but a lopsided kick chase exposed the Marple defence down their left. The Capenhurst full-back fielded well, sprinting from his own 5m line all the way to score under the Marple posts. Again, a simple conversion was well taken to leave the score at 3-14.

Capenhurst remained strong, running three or four excellent line-breaks down their right from kick-off as the Marple defence struggled to cope with the physicality, becoming condensed. Excellent work at the breakdown however to a turnover, and a sharp break from Tyler supported by Tom got Marple back up into the Capenhurst 22. Two good phases later, and an offside at the breakdown 20m in front of the posts was seized upon by Marple with Isaac B making the decision keep in touch in terms of points, kicking cleanly through the posts for 6-14.

Marple continued the offensive from the re-start, with a super break from Tyler gaining ground, another penalty against Capenhurst in at the side of the ruck, and a lovely backs move between Isaac B, Finn and Isaac M from the resultant lineout causing confusion in the Capenhurst defence. As Isaac M sprang clear galloping away down the Marple left, Capenhurst defended well, tackling him into touch, but were unfortunate to knock on the subsequent lineout. From the scrum Marple moved right, with Eric’s dangerous looking run being cut short by a high tackle. From the penalty Marple pushed Capenhurst deeper into their own 22, and from the line out moved left then right, exposing Capenhurst out wide as Eric showed superb pace to score in the corner. Isaac B was immaculate again from the tee, adding the extras from wide on the right to make the score 13-14.

Eric continued to look dangerous with another run down the right being bundled into touch, but Capenhurst countered and began to look strong again into the Marple half. Before the interval a sequence of high tackles led to an unfortunate yellow card for Capenhurst, but even with 14 men they forged into the Marple half with three strong breaks in succession. Marple were penalised for not releasing in the tackle after Tyler thwarted an incisive running line near to the Marple try-line, but defended well from the penalty and managed to shut out Capenhurst to see out the half.

Into the second period, Capenhurst surged forward, and after a real battle at the breakdown Isaac B relieved the pressure with a huge kick from Marple’s 22 and deep into the Capenhurst half. Marple kept the pressure on and after moving the ball left and right, Tyler slalomed his way across and through the Capenhurst defence to score a great solo try.
Capenhurst remained resilient despite the increasingly hot conditions and lack of replacements – bulldozing into the Marple half and pinning them back on the 5m for a period of time but after knocking on, Marple were able to counter from the scrum and Felix sprinted home a full 80m run to score under the posts and stretch the lead. Isaac B again converted to make it 27-14.
Marple’s quick ruck ball moved them up the pitch as Capenhurst tried to contain them, and a good backs move which saw Isaac B offload to Tom, to Isaac M, and back to Isaac B, who powered over from short range to score in the corner. Continuing his excellent place-kicking display, Isaac B struck the conversion from both distance and angle to make the score 34-14.

Capenhurst refused to wilt, despite the game slipping away from them with the warm weather conditions and limited numbers, and mounted two attacks which were looking dangerous until a big hit from Finn M. Eric ran clear but was tackled high in the Marple 22 leading to a break in play as a few weary bodies needed some treatment.
Marple continued to attack, Isaac B collecting his own up-and-under with a great piece of skill, and after two short drives Capenhurst did well to turn the ball over, but after running combatively and then looking dangerous when they spread the ball wide they were unfortunate to knock on on their own 10m line. After a solid Marple scrum, Isaac H pinged the ball back to Isaac B who noticed an exposed blindside and raced down it to score his second try of the match in an outstanding individual display, before converting his own score to put Marple ahead at 41-14 and maintain his 100% record off the tee.

Capenhurst were still game, and continued to give a good account of themselves, forcing a Marple knock-on as they looked to play out from their own half, and setting up a nice scrum 30m out and in a good central position. After two or three line breaks Capenhurst set themselves up just short of the Marple line, and the forwards worked hard to breach the Marple defence and get the score their determination and resilience deserved. No mistake made from the conversion, and the game ended with the score 41-21 to the home side.

A superb game of rugby played, with both sides working hard, contributing plenty and showing wonderful sportsmanship and respect on a warm morning. Marple move on from a comprehensive team performance with plenty more to come this Winter, and Sandbach lying in wait in the next round.