Persistent rain and chilly temperates meant that both sides struggled to maintain possession. However, a try from Tosin Segun and the boot of Harry Mallinder led to the Saints taking a 3-10 win away from Sixways.
“I’m really happy with the boys performance today.” Academy coach, Paul Diggin, told SaintsTV. “The conditions were challenging, which meant that it was hard to maintain possession. It’s inevitable that you’re not going to get a really high scoring game when the conditions are like this and I think that affected us.
"On a day like today it’s sometimes easier to play without the ball than it is to play with the ball in hand but it’s good for the side to get experience of playing in conditions like this. We had a few chances that didn’t end up going our way but the fact that the boys have come up and got a game of rugby as a team is important and it’s always a bonus to take a win.
“There will be a lot of positives to take from the game, especially the game time which the lads get. They usually only get to train together once a week due to their school commitments, apart from over the school holidays and the Christmas break, where they train slightly more often. They really pulled together today though and taking three wins from three games so far this season is a great achievement for them.”
Worcester picked up the first points of the game as they successfully slotted a penalty through the posts with 7 minutes on the clock. The Saints were given the opportunity to level the score when they were also awarded a penalty. Harry Mallinder assumed kicking duty and picked up three points for the Saints.
The only try of the game came with 25 minutes on the clock when an impressive team effort from the young Saints resulted in Tosin Segun crossing over the line after Mallinder spotted a gap down the right channel when picking up a loose ball, allowing him to make 50 metres up field before linking up with Segun. Mallinder’s accuracy allowed him to convert Segun’s try from just inside the touch line, leaving the score at 3-10.
All of the points came in the first half of the game and as the pitch steadily became more wet and slippy throughout the second half, it seemed increasingly unlikely that either side would be able to keep control of the ball for an extended period. However, the Saints seemed almost sure to score towards the end of the second half when a chip kick set Segun up in the corner but the conditions took hold again as the ball slipped through his hands and bounced into touch. The Saints Under 18s are currently sitting top of the Premiership Rugby Under 18 Northern Conference League.
Timeline
7mins WORCS Pen Shilcock 3-0
19mins SAINTS Pen Mallinder 3-3
25mins SAINTS Try T.Segun 3-7
26mins SAINTS Con Mallinder 3-10
HALF TIME WORCS 3 SAINTS 10
FULL TIME WORCS 3 SAINTS 10
Saints U18s- Adam Shaw, Tosin Segun, Rory Hutchinson, Harry Mallinder(c), Rotimi Segun, Gregor Haldane, Rob Smith, Luke Palmer, James Fish, Luc Jeannot, Alex Moon, John Hawkins, Tim Cardall, Will Allman, George Cox
Replacements- Freddie Davison, Rob Marmion, Ehren Painter, Jake Carter, Matt Watson, Tom Emery, James Grayson, George Furbank
Worcester U18s- Dion King, Harry Robinson, George Trimmer, Will Butler, Jonathan Keh, Jamie Shilcock, Josh Nott, James Page, Jack Singleton, Joe Morris, Myles Edwards, Justin Clegg, Sam Smith, Zax Xiourouppa, Huw Taylor
Replacements- Joe White, Seb Dean Smith, Ben Davis Moore, Max Hill, Jacob Ham, Sam Hollingsworth, Tainne Finn, Will Hollis
