Visé 5 - Luxembourg 68

Weather: Cloudy. No rain

Temperature: 9°
Pitch: Good

Kickoff: 13:30

Spectators: 23

Ref:  G. De Greef (*****)

Luxembourg:

Last Saturday Luxembourg U17 went to Visé for Day 9 of the Belgium Cadets Division 2.

Since the kickoff Luxembourg took control and on the third minute scored the first of ten tries. From a scrum at 5m, the forwards took the action close to the side line. The ball was shifted quickly to the backs and Callum Bonallo entered in the gap between the opposition centers. Five minutes later, from a scrum in Luxembourg half, a nice loop pass created the numeric superiority to send Christopher Rossa into space. Another five minutes and Callum scored his second. This time getting the ball from a quick penalty close to the end zone and entering in the centre. On the 17th minute it was for Christopher to score again. The forwards got a turnover on the right and the ball ran all the backs to the left where Christopher managed to beat the only defender left.

Just before half time Luxembourg scored their 5th try of the afternoon. The same simple but effective moves as in the previous try but this time was Martin Pacaud who scored on the wing. Benji Simpson was perfect with the kicking and half time arrived with the score at 35-0 for the visitors.

Second time was more difficult. With a strong wind in their backs, logically, Visé opted for a more kicking game. It paid right in the first minute when a long ball to Luxembourg 22 was badly handled and gave the chasing Visé player the opportunity to score. This try motivated Visé to keep the pressure but Luxembourg stopped short any thoughts they could have of discussing the score. Only two minutes passed when Visé had a taste of their own poison. After another long kick, Luxembourg caught the ball and initiated a perfect counter attack with the ball always available after each tackle thanks to a good support. The final pass went to Yannick Boone who scored.

Five minutes later another good collective move opened a gap in defense and Benji entered to finish in style.

With the strong wind against them and some players not in their usual positions due to small injuries, Luxembourg game became a bit less structured. Visé kept kicking the ball on every opportunity but with no effect. However, at the end of the game, Luxembourg still had the resources to score three tries in five minutes. First by Robert Irons running all the way after catching another long kick, then by Pierre Ducreuze forcing is way to the try line from a ruck and, in the last minute, Martin scored again from a counter attack he started in his own half and finished after the support managed to keep the ball alive all the way to the opposition 22.

Benji had almost a perfect kicking afternoon converting 9 of the 10 tries only missing because a wind gust sent the ball backwards near the posts.  

Another fine display from the Luxembourg Cadets which puts them top of the league 5 points ahead of the second team and closer to promotion to First Division.

Man of the Match: Yannick Boone