RUGBY 3RD XV P9, W 6, L 3 The 3rd XV were an absolute joy to coach. Very ably led by Charlie Bracken, they developed a thoroughly entertaining style of play and finished the season off with a cracking victory over Harrow. There had been a couple of stumbles along the way; Eton were too strong at the start of the season and we were a little soft against Tonbridge a week later. We played with considerable style against Marlborough, but perhaps the driving rain and sloping pitch were not ideal for the fifteen man, off-load game that we were trying to develop. Character was developed with some close wins over Oundle and Bedford.
Master In Charge: DJ Pullen Captain: CWH Bracken
The pack drove forward at every opportunity with Charlie Bracken, Rafe Thornhill, Hugo Adams, Ed Wiggin and Harry Constant providing much of the bulk and power up front. Alexander Anderson and Milo Eadie were the tireless warriors in the second row. Charlie Craven, Harry Lloyd, Mark Lambert and Luke Perkins covered metre after metre from the back row. Due to support to the 2nd XV and injuries, the backs were a less stable group. A number of different combinations at scrum-half and flyhalf were tested from Luke Stalder, Hector Chamberlain, George Hervey, Ed Sayer and Robbie Cockroft; all of them kept the play moving forward
and loved to attack. Will Swift, Perry Beckett, Luke Bishop and James Mills scored a number of tries from the centre with Henry Tregear, Charlie Purton, Charlie Heath and Ollie Gillen-Toon getting involved as much as possibly from the wings and from full-back. At the end of the season, Harry Lloyd was voted the Players’ Player. Mark Lambert was given the 3rd XV Team Player award – Mark played in every game (as did a couple of others) but having beaten Harrow, two hours later he performed one of the lead roles in the College play.
THE RADLEIAN SPORTS SUPPLEMENT
DJP
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