BIRMINGHAM ACADEMY 18 OUTLAWS ACADEMY 52 (7/6/2008)

Report by Richard Johnson

Nottingham Outlaws Academy travelled to Birmingham on Saturday holding a superb 3 match winning run. With both open-age mens teams holding 100% records they did not want to be the first to crack! However, there was never any chance of the Outlaws losing a game that they controlled from start to finish as they scorched in for 9 tries and in doing so, muzzled a game but well-beaten Bulldogs outfit 52-18.

The match started with an enthuisiastic Birmingham team taking the game to the Outlaws and only good defence by young Danny Crampton at full back kept the Bulldogs at bay. However, after repelling the early onslaught the Outlaws opened up and young prop Liam Annable showed great strength to score from short range as the young powerhouse notched the opening score of the match. However fellow front-rower Ben Yeardley showed that he also could mix it up front and the burly prop smashed over the line for a carbon-copy try to stretch the Outlaws lead to 12 points in as many minutes.

As the match progresses the points continued to stack up in the Outlaws favour at the rate of one a minute! Next over the line was hooker Chris Kemsley who darted over from short range after good work from the Annable had taken play up to the home try line and things then went from bad to worse for the home team as a spiralling bomb from Dave Clayton saw the ball bounce loose and Will Gardner was on hand for the Outlaws to touch down and move the score out to 24-0.

There was to be no respite as the sharp-shooting Outlaws lived up to their name, attacking with every opportunity and as the champagne rugby flowed the points began to rack-up. Next over the line was young George Updale who shaped to pass only to dummy and shoot through a flat-footed home defence and score under the posts. Chris Kemsley slotted over the extras in a master -class of place kicking as the young marksman made it 5 out of 5 and the Outlaws were 30 points up in as many minutes.

As the Outlaws piled on the agony it was only a matter of time before more points came along and next on the scoreboard was Matt Campsall who powered over from short range again on the back of good forward play. At 34-0 the Bulldogs were flagging but to their credit they kept snapping at the Outlaws heels and they at last got on the scoreboard with a well worked try to make it 34-6 as the referee drew the first half to a close with the Outlaws well on top.

The second half started with both sides probing for the next score and it was the Outlaws who got it! With the half only 5 minutes old the Outlaws attack switched into overdrive and a superb handling movement saw centre Pete Braybrooke unleash Will Gardner on the wing and the young pace merchant scorched in for a try to make it 40-6 with Kemsley adding the extras.

The Bulldogs still had life in them and they hit bit back again to grab a try to get them into double figures at 40-12 but it was merely an intermission in the Outlaws try scoring fest. The hungry Outlaws immediatelt returned the favour with interest as Oliver "Judo" Dale scored a superb solo effort as he dummied to pass and shot through a gap to score under the sticks. Kemsley added the conversion and at 46-12 the Bulldogs were well and truly tethered. However, there was still time for one last try and it deservedly went to young forward Liam Annable. The young tyro had mixed it all afternoon with a larger, more physical bulldogs pack without taking a backwards step and he got his just rewards with a second try borne from sheer strength and courage. Once again Kemsley gave a masterclass in goal kicking with a superb touchline conversion to close out the game with the Outlaws holding onto an impressive 52-18 victory margin.

As the elated players left the field there was much debate as to who would get the man of the match trophy. There were a number of players in with a shout but the trophy rightly went to young Dave Clayton. Normally a winger, the young speedster showed that he is a natural scrum half in the making and with first team coach Martin Crick watching he did his future first team chances no harm whatsoever!

After the match coach Joe Shepherd congratulated his players for a job well done adding "I thought our last performance against Bedford ws good but this was even better. We played excellent rugby from start to finish and we were always in control. I am especially pleased with my younger players and with no fewer than four 16 year olds in the squad there is great promise for the future. They all played extremely well and did not look out of place at this level"