We have played Frampton once before and it’s a game we would like to forget as we didn’t give our best performance and Frampton gave us a lesson in running rugby. We knew we were up for a tough game and it felt even tougher before the start that due to illness, holidays and injury’s we just managed to scrape enough players to make a team. It was great to see Jack making a come back from injury and the boys wanted to play a good game for George and Mel while Oli was off sunning himself in Bognor Regis (so the rumour went).
What a great match to watch, this brave Knights team pulled out all the stops to make this a fight that Frampton would not forget. Riley led out his eager players as we started the game against the wind. Frampton came out firing on all cylinders and played their running game and by the end of the first quarter were 2 tries and 10 points up but they dropped the ball on a third try and excellent defence from Knights kept the score down and kept us in the game. And not surprisingly “Iron Fist,” Wilf Hacker, was having his usual scuffle at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter felt like the game was getting away from us even though we spent the majority of the quarter camped in their half. Strong rucking, full commitment from backs and forwards and with 9 phases of play Charlie went over for a magnificent team try. Then Frampton put a lot of pressure on us, did some great offloading, used their width and runners well and even though we did some great defensive tackles they ran in four tries, ending the first half Knights = 5: Frampton – 30. The score didn’t reflect how the Knights team were playing as we were competing for everything, solid tackles, driving scrums, good passing, and quick rucking, we couldn’t really ask for more. There were a lot of positives but its hard to keep going when the momentum is against you and you feel like you are chasing the ball.
The third quarter the coaches jiggled the team around and what a difference it made. Knights took it up not one but four gears and completed dominated the Frampton team. They had very little to reply to the Knights pressure and suddenly realised that this wasn’t going to be an easy victory. This is the best quarter of rugby played by the lads this season. Wilf, Yoshi and Theo leading charges through their defence. Then a nice solid scrum – well done Lucan, Jack L and Theo in the front row, Willaim and Charlie in the second, and Jayden as Number eight. This good platform then allowed Yoshi literally willing himself over the line for a try. Pressure from Frampton mounted but with a great quick out by Charlie using the wind to push them back into their half. We harried their defence won the ball and passed along the line for Wilf to run in a try. Then Jayden was breaking through and offloaded to Wilf for his second try. Straight away we pressured again retained the ball through several phases of play and Yoshi passed to Christian who burst through their defence for his very first try which led to a cheer from the boys. Our heads were up, momentum was in our favour and Frampton had no answer and were glad when the whistle for the end of third quarter blew as it finished Knights 25 Frampton – 30. Knights were well and truly back in the game. Well done boys – this was magnificent.
The final quarter Frampton took stock and played to their strengths using their key players to stretch our defence. Rocco had an amazing quarter darting at the back of the scrum and mauling their scrum half who struggled to get good ball out to their backs – well done Rocco – keep this up! Frampton ran in two tries to take the game but we put up a strong defence soaking up lots of pressure. This was an all round brilliant team performance, we played the whole game with no subs while Frampton brought fresh legs on in the final quarter. Its not about the score but it’s how we played the game and Knights kept themselves in the match right until the end. It didn’t feel like a loss as the players came off the pitch because everyone knew they had done their best.
Try scorers – Charlie, Yoshi, Wilf x 2, and Christian
Coaches man of the match – Charlie
Hitman – Rocco
Captains men of the match – Jack and Christia