Colts’ Tour to Veneto region of Italy – February half-term
The Guernsey Rugby Academy Colts travelled to Italy with a touring party of nineteen players over the February half term to take part in matches against three teams based in the north-east region of the country. Following a day long journey from Guernsey to Italy via Gatwick the team arrived at their base in Chioggia a small seaside village south of the lagoon of Venice, the lads got their bearings and then settled in for the night. With no game on the first day of the trip a sightseeing tour to Venice had been arranged and the boys took in the sights of this famous city and it canals. It was the Venice Carnival week and there were many people walking around dressed in 18th Century costumes and masks.
Day two saw the first game against Petrrarca Padova whose senior team play in the Italian Super 10 and who had also played in this seasons Amlin Challenge Cup and whose colts played in the top league for their age group. With 6 of their under 20 international players away on international duty, Padova fielded a senior development team but had a number of players amongst their reserves who had played to a high standard. The match was played under lights and there were 29 Padova squad players out warming up which meant they had 14 reserves available on the bench. Padova were a well organised team who stretched the Guernsey defence on a number of occasions but the green’s worked hard to keep them out launching some of their own attacks and looked dangerous when they played on the front foot with both Matt Horton and Callum Murdoch going close in the opening 25 minutes. It was the home side that scored first though working the ball wide to cross in the corner for an unconverted try. Guernsey still kept pressing and got their reward on the stoke of half time with some good play by the forwards and backs to secure the ball to allow prop Ryan Staples to take advantage of the overlap to go in at half time 5-5. The second half started the brighter for Guernsey and they pushed hard to get their second score and reward with their constant graft when after a few pick and drive winger Tom Chamming was released and crossed from 20 yards out to give Guernsey a 10-5 lead. This saw Padova send on some more replacements and the fresh leg soon began to make a difference getting two scores in quick succession to make it 19-10 to the home side. Guernsey still worked hard to try to get another score but the huge effort they had put in was taking its toll and while chances were created they were not put away. Padova managed to get another score 5 minutes from time when the spread the ball wide to make it 26-10. The Colts were proud of their performance against one of the best junior teams in the country and they gave as good as they got with both Horton and Murdoch working hard and getting the joint Man of the Match award.
The afternoon of day three saw match number two against Vicenza Rangers and following the efforts of the game the night before there was a very subdued feel to Guernsey preparations. Rangers who are a lower league side (Under 20 Series D team) compared to Padova (National Division 1) brought in some other local players to match the Guernsey performance of the previous day. Rangers bench had some 12 reserves waiting to provide fresh legs in the second half. Guernsey started the brightest and kept the ball alive as much as they could and nearly had the first try after a strong run from Ben Bradley resulted in penalty on the Rangers 22 a quick tap by Scrum half Elliot Eastwood was called back but Nic Roussel slotted a penalty to get the first score 3-0. Straight from the re-start first Murdoch and then Alex Penney made inroads to the Rangers back line to again give Guernsey a good platform to launch attacks. This lead to the first try when a break by Man of the Match Harry Fox and some quick recycling saw Sam Pearson held up before the ball was passed out Ryan Jordan who crossed to make it 8-0 to Guernsey. Again the opposition made a number of changes and at the close of the half Rangers managed to get their first try thanks to a few quick penalties in the Guernsey 22 with a try out wide to make it 8-5 at half time. Second half was a different story as they game turned against Guernsey and they spent most of it camped inside their own half working hard in defence. Horton and Bradley both had a few runs that got Guernsey into the opposition half but poor decision making meant Guernsey were soon back in defence. The constant threat from Rangers took its toll with first Cashel Cahill and then Ryan Jordan being sent to the bin for offences that seemed a little lost in translation. Down to 13 men Rangers still tried to run it through the forwards but were knocked back time and again it was only when they took the ball wide did they get their second try to make it 10-8 to the home team. Guernsey tried to get the winner but even when they returned to 14 men it proved difficult to make the break through and with the last play of the game a stray pass was intercepted to score under the posts to give Rangers a flattering 17-10 score line. Again Guernsey could be proud of their defensive work rate. If a few a more balls had gone to hand or a different option taken the result could have been different and fatigue from the night before took a big toll.
Following the hard work put in by the team over the last two games, the third was always going to be an up-hill struggle and The Castlefranco Treviso ‘Monsters’ were going to a tough ‘FIR Under 20 Series C’ team to beat but everyone in the team was determined to end the tour on a high. Guernsey had the best of the possession in the opening stages of the game but it was The Monsters that got the first try after a turn over and kick and chase put Guernsey on the back foot and a lose clearance gave the outside centre to smash through for an unconverted try. Guernsey worked hard for the rest of the half and but were unable to turn pressure into points giving an interception away on the 5 metre line was the best chance they could create in the first half. The second half started more brightly with Bradley setting the tone with a big tackle from the KO that gave Guernsey possession and they were soon on level terms after a break by Chammings saw Guernsey on the front foot leading to quick hands that saw Jordan touchdown to make it 5-5. Unfortunately in the act of scoring see Jack Scott replace him. From the restart Guernsey again looked to get the ball in the opposition red zone with strong runs from Scott, Penney, Jimmy Mroch and Charlie Denton. Guernsey started to get more possession and put the Monsters under more pressure. Sam Pearson led the charge into the Monsters territory and a number of penalties in their 22 saw Bradley take a quick tap to Chammings who crossed to make it 10-5. Guernsey were soon back under pressure and a Sam Warburton moment from Penney gave the Monsters a numerical advantage which took advantage of to make it 10-10 with 10 minutes to go. Guernsey were not to be denied victory and put pressure and so good work by scrum half Elliot Eastwood won Guernsey turn over ball on the 22 again and with Penney back from the bin a penalty for off side gave Nic Rousell the chance kick a penalty which he did to make it 13-10 to Guernsey. The Monster had chance for one more attack but a knock and from the scrum Eastwood kicked the ball into touch to give Guernsey the win.
Playing three games in three days was hard work but the players did well and to finish with a win after two close games was down the excellent attitude and commitment to this group of players.
