Sub-16 Go Marching On

St. Julian's Sub-16s secure a thrilling last-minute win after coming from behind against Lousã to take them into the Final Four as well as a step closer to the Group B Champions Title.

Match report by Tom Rains

Sub 16s vs. Lousã

28^th January 2012

Those fortunate to have watched the match against Lousã will not disagree that this was probably the most nail-biting and closest fought game to have been played by a St. Julian’s team. The expectation was that it would be competitive but nobody could have predicted the intensity in which it was played, and that the result would only be decided during the final play of the game.

It was St. Julian’s who dominated the opening quarter of the game, remaining firmly camped in the opposition’s half. They threw everything they could at the opposition but the visitors’ defence remained resolute. As the first half progressed it was Lousã who gained the momentum. Their powerful forwards and strong running backs were beginning to take their toll, and when some defensive naivety presented the visitors with a sniff of the try line they duly took their chances and scored twice. With the one successful conversion it was Lousã who would finish the first 30 minutes of play twelve points up.

A half time talk that focused on self-belief and how to best exploit the opposition’s weaknesses paid dividends. On the stroke of 35 minutes a clever kick through from Charlie Frost pinned the visitors into their own 22. The resulting pressure that the St. Julian’s players exerted led to a series of penalties. Rather than opt for the three points captain Micha Mira backed his players who duly nudged their way up field. With the Lousã players desperately defending their try line, it was quick-thinking scrum-half Evin Fay who, from the base of a ruck, exploited the narrowest of blind-side gaps to dart over in the corner. From the kick-off St. Julian’s were immediately back down in opposition territory after António Rodrigues’s perfectly placed kick which put the Lousã winger under all sorts of pressure. Once again St. Julian’s went on the offensive and after a series of powerful rucks the ball was flipped out to fullback Santiago de Oriol who dived over in the corner.

The comeback was to be short lived. Lousã used their powerful forwards to make inroads into St. Julian’s territory. The physicality of the game was beginning to take its toll and as the St. Julian’s players tired, the penalty count crept up. With only 10 minutes of the game remaining, Lousã’s in-form kicker duly slotted two successive penalties in front of the posts to extend their lead to 8 points.

Roared on by the increasingly vocal home crowd, the sub-16s once again threw their battle weary bodies at the opposition. From a lineout on the Lousã 22m a clinically executed backs move put Santiago de Oriol into space. He drew the defence before feeding replacement winger, Francisco Garcia. His speed and finishing skills put him over for his debutant sub-16 try. With the conversion missed the St. Julian’s were three points down with as many minutes to play. If there was any chance of clutching victory from the jaws of defeat they would have to keep the ball alive and drive hard and deep into Lousã territory. With the clock ticking St. Julian´s moved further and further downfield. Ruck after ruck saw them gain the smallest of advantages, when finally the ball was popped out to a pack of hungry forwards who drove over the try line from 2 metres out. Diogo Silva emerged from the sprawling bodies, ball in hand and with the try awarded. The missed kick at goal was of no consequence, as no sooner had

the ball landed (if it ever really took off) the ref blew her whistle to signal what would be the end of an epic encounter, with the boys emerging victorious by 20 points to 18.

Every single one of the sub-16s on that day played an invaluable part in the victory. The collective spirit and never-say-die attitude proved that this is a team who are prepared to put their bodies on the line for one another and fight to the very end. Leading from the very front throughout was captain and man of the match Micah Mira.

Mr Pimenta’s post match pies and samosas perfectly complemented the sweet taste of victory.

Thanks to Inez Vilar and Fernando Santos for their photographs (see Image Gallery on this page).

Click here to also access Peter Fay's Image Gallery: http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter112/sets/72157629084006209/