There was a big day for four young Kendal players at Warwick University.
They were part of a gathering of all under-16 academy teams from the premiership clubs and the Cumbrian quartet were involved in two teams from Newcastle Falcons.
Each team played two back-to-back games and the Kendal lads taking part were Reuben Dyer, Reuben Parsons, Ben O’Halloran and Will Meaden.
The afternoon began with glorious sunshine for Meaden’s game against the Leicester Tigers.
The Falcons managed to retain most of the possession during the 40-minute game, with Meaden scoring two tries.
The first, after five minutes, was scored from a grubber from the scrum-half through the Tigers’ line which Meaden scooped up to score in the corner.
In the 24th minute, he scored his second equally impressive try when the ball went loose near the halfway line. He took it on the bounce and managed to outpace the Tigers defence down the right-wing, running it in from around 60 metres.
The Northampton game was very tough and Falcons did well to notch up their 25 points to the Saints’ 35. The Saints had giants in their pack and did dominate for most of the game but the Falcons played with spirit, keeping the ball alive when they had possession.
By the time the other Kendal lads stepped up to play the Exeter Chiefs it had started to snow, but it thankfully eased off as the game began.
The game was played with huge intensity and was a fairly even struggle in the opening minutes.
Parsons made a number of dominant tackles and the Chiefs were pushed back by the relentless pressure.
O’Halloran showed his pace, scoring a try out wide from a line-out.
In the last five minutes of the game, Dyer scored two tries, running good support lines from a tap and go and a line-break following an interception near the halfway line.
The Falcon’s open, expansive rugby and ability to keep the ball alive were reflected in the 40-10 scoreline.
The sun reappeared for the start of the game against Quins but this was the toughest game of the four.
Quins were a quality team and they ran in seven tries on their way to a 35-15 win.
But it wasn’t all one-sided. Falcons managed three tries, including a superb finish by O’Halloran, who beat five players to score.
All in all, it was a great day of rugby and a valuable taste of really fast-paced, intense rugby for the Cumbrian lads.
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