Hackney Bulls narrowly defeated by Eton Manor

Hackney Bulls’ U14s finished their season with a hard-fought friendly against Eton Manor, narrowly losing 12-10. Under-strength and calling in some U13s to make up numbers in the pack, Hackney’s boys battled hard through the Sunday heat against a well-organised team several divisions ahead of them.

Hackney opened the scoring, second row and Captain Charlie Couve coming into the line to break through the Manor defence and score in the corner. Manor were quickly back, pressing the Hackney try line and eventually managing to get over and score. Neither side converted.

Late in the first half, Hackney winger and man of the match Jazz Christie ran in a blistering try from the Hackney 22 metre line, passing four defenders to score under the posts. Sadly, again Hackney failed to convert.

The second half saw the Bulls soaking up wave after wave of Manor attack. Twice the Manor boys were held up over the line and the Bulls’ forwards held firm at the resulting 5 metre scrums to keep them out. The Bulls were disappointed not to get over the line with a wonderful pick up and run from the base of the scrum by No8 Colin Kpodonu, who was called back for a foot in touch; and to be denied after a fabulous kick and chase from fly-half Callum Oakley, just rescued on the try line in a desperate scramble by the Manor full-back.

The Manor pressure eventually told and they were rewarded in the last minutes with a try to level the score. They converted it to give them the 2 points to win the match. The Bulls were disappointed but they had played a fine and spirited game and it was great spectacle on which to finish the season.

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