U13s triumph after slow start

Despite a thorough and focused warm-up, Bowdon started with all the intensity of a wet weekend in Rhyl. The home team repeatedly rucked Bowdon off their own ball, and made hay to score four unanswered tries in the first quarter. Only Ben Royle, showing his continued development with a series of try saving tackles, could claim to have played to anything like potential.

Personnel changes at the break had an immediate impact, Harry Briscoe converting Bowdon's first attack. Soft hands from Will Nicholson then put HB over once again, before Ed Griffiths got a third try. Bowdon's fourth try was a Briscoe solo effort, ripping the ball off an attacker before sprinting the length of the field to secure his hat-trick.

All square going into the third quarter, a HB try straight from the kick-off gave Bowdon the advantage for the first time, before missed tackles allowed Knutsford back into the game with a score of their own. A try straight from the kick-off put the hosts in front, before Will Nicholson showed off his array of skills with a lovely dummy to go over for his first try.

Straight from the kick-off Bowdon secured good ball, recycled well, and passed down the line for HB to restore Bowdon's advantage.

The final quarter saw an even contest, but with the final move of the match a lovely delayed pass from James Peel created space for Ollie Meredith to skip round the defence to secure a victory.

Despite Harry Briscoe's outstanding contribution, and Ben Royle's first quarter resilience, your writer's MOTM award must go to Dan Thompson, who gave a masterclass to his more experienced teammates in tackling technique, hitting low, with a mixture of timing, power and aggression, and always bringing his man down. Similar efforts by the whole team are likely be needed next week, when Bowdon take on what is expected to be a strong Macclesfield side.