The Celts secure their first Hampshire U15 league championship!

A damp, drizzly, December morning at Petersfield RFC was the setting for the final Hampshire Division 1 league match for The Celts. A win would not only guarantee the league title but it would also mean an unbeaten campaign in the premier county league for The Celts.
The Celts started the more nervous and uncharacteristically kicked the ball dead twice in the first few minutes giving Petersfield opportunities to clear. However, at the first breakdown the Celts demonstrated their advantage in the ruck and won the first penalty of the day. A kick to the corner provided a platform for a rolling maul off the lineout which the forwards had been practising prior to the kick off. Unfortunately a couple of players lost their footing and nearly brought the maul down, the ball broke free but was recovered by Harry Cromie and carried forward by Will May falling just short of the try line. The call was to pick and go but there were gaps out wide that the backs looked to exploit. Elliott Giles took the ball into contact under the Petersfield posts and without hesitation, Will Parker picked the ball and drove between the two defenders in front of him, diving over the line to rapturous applause from his teammates and the supporters. Thomas Hutchinson added the extra two points from the boot. What a great start! 0-7 after 5 minutes.
From that moment and for the rest of the first half, the celts were pinned in their own half with only scraps of possession. The Petersfield tactics straight from Garryowen FC put the celts under continued pressure in front of our posts. The Celt pack was fully dominant at the scrum with the red pack going backwards every time. This meant no front foot ball for the Petersfield 9. That, coupled with the coordinated defensive line of the celts meant Petersfield had few opportunities for all their territorial dominance. However their fullback was excellent and every time the celts cleared, he brought it straight back! The celts held firm though and closed the half out 0-7.
The message at half time was to retain possession of the ball and keep it in hand. Our defence was solid but our exit was not. We needed to go back to basics and play to our strengths.
Petersfield’s tactics continued into the second half, this time with an assisting tailwind. After a few positive runs upfield from Harry Cromie and Jake Hoare, the celts were awarded a penalty in front of the posts on the 22. Thomas Hutchinson confidently stepped up and extended the celts lead 0-10.
The next phase of the match resembled an arm wrestle as the two sides struggled to find their form. The celts pack continued to dominate; Jack Harrison, Michael Cromie, Will Parker, Kai Williams, Jake Hoare, Morgan Clayton, Tom Warwick, Ollie Smith (c) and Will May, an unstoppable force!
In the backs, Harry Cromie, Aidan Bones, Thomas Hutchinson, Elliott Giles, Charlie Fisher, Michail Nastoulis, Peter Headley and Josh Fernandes showed how the celts defence is one of the strongest, if not the strongest in the county.
However, the high balls continued and after a free kick was awarded to Petersfield after a scrum offence, up it quickly went. This time, the kick found space and an awkward bounce rewarded an excellent chase and three Petersfield backs found themselves in acres of space with no one at home.
5-10 after a missed conversion.
The Petersfield team suddenly had their tails up and smelt an unexpected victory. But after another excellent turnover at the breakdown, the celts were off. Spreading the ball wide, we found the space and got Petersfield on the back foot. A few phases later, Morgan fizzed a flat pass to Jake who weaved his way to the line to score our last points of the campaign. Final score 5-15.
A deserved victory for the Celts but recognition must also go to Petersfield who played tremendously and used their strengths well. A lovely group of boys who play rugby in the correct way (despite all the Garryowens!).
The celts secured the league title with an unbeaten run and now look forward to the Hampshire cup after Christmas.
Thanks, as always, goes to our club sponsors Deep Blue Financial and SI Digital.
The celts are a great bunch of lads who thoroughly deserve the league title, well done! With 35 squad players, the celts are in good strength, however, we are always in the lookout for new players to join our team. If you know someone in Year 10 who would like to try rugby, come and give it a go at the premier U15 club in Hampshire!! New players can join us after Christmas on Sunday 16th January for a 4 week free trial. Please see our homepage for more details.
Thanks to all the travelling supporters who turned it in force to cheers the boys to victory!
Have a great Christmas break and we will all reconvene Wednesday 5th January.