The day started with an unexpected twist, due to the pitch at Te Werve being unplayable the venue was changed to a home game at Hookers. Game on!
Espoirs came into the game unbeaten and on the back of an impressive win against Haarlem 3’s where as their opponents came into the game on the back of a loss against Espoirs rival Thor.
Te Werve won the toss and decided to start the game and they came out firing. The first ten minutes of the game consisted of big strong runs from forwards on both teams, each trying to stamp their authority on the game and gain the upper hand early. Despite a significant difference in almost every aspect of size between the packs, Espoirs proved why they are on such an impressive unbeaten run with Mele and Matias putting in tackle after tackle to contain Te Werve.
Pressure mounted on Espoirs and a few mistakes lead to Te Werve being camped in Espoirs 22 for 8 minutes, with attack after attack Espoirs didn’t back down but on the 18th minute Te Werve broke the line and put down for a well deserved try with a missed conversion.
Espoirs seemed rattled, disjointed and the energy they are known for seemed to be dwindling. Harvey was subbed with precautionary measure as he was in some discomfort this brought Mariano into the fold at ten. The next 12 minutes was fiercely contested with more hard runs and big tackles from both sides, Espoirs started to turn on some flare which eventually took Mariano over the line in the 31st minute for a solo effort try and Niels slotting home the conversion from close range.
Shortly after Niels was penalised for slowing the ball down during a Te Werve penalty and was shown a yellow for his troubles. Te Werve quickly took advantage of this situation and applied pressure right down the middle of the field with some excellent counter rucking and quick pick and go’s, one of which resulted in a driving maul which was put down over the try for Te Werve’s second of the game with a successful conversion just before halftime.
HT: ESPOIRS 7 – 12 TE WERVE
Espoirs came out in the second half guns blazing after a stern word from coach Shereza which seemed to have done the trick. Espoirs gave Te Werve no time on the ball pushing them back in defence when the ball was lost and winning it back in Te Werve territory, mounting pressure grew on Te Werve as Mariano and Kwinten sprang into life and began running rings around the centre of midfield. Mariano and Kwinten showed why they are assets to hookers when they combined in the 53rd minute for an excellent move off a scrum which put Kwinten in under the posts for Espoirs second try of the match.
Energy seemed to dwindle once again for the Espoirs and a few silly mistakes with offloads and support for runners not what it should be, eventually Espoirs were penalised for repeatedly not rolling away with Melle taking a yellow card. With Espoirs back down to 14 men Te Werve tried for all their might to take advantage of this once again, but, this time it was Espoirs who once again proved why they are unbeaten. With Harvey being reintroduced into the game just before Melle yellow card it fell to the young guns of the team to show us all what they were made of, with some outstanding link up play with some of the more senior players Kwinten was eventually fed a ball that would see him run through the Te Werve defence to put down for his second of the game and Espoirs third of the match with Harvey kicking the conversion.
The game was starting to show signs of fatigue from a fiercely fought game thus far. Mistakes from both sides were becoming more present and Te Werve capitalised on a loose ball which was ultimately scored to bring Te Werve within 2 points and 4 minutes left on clock!
Everybody could sense Te Werve wanted to win this with them once again firing into Espoirs midfield trying to use the size advantage they had. They tried and they failed with Matias and Melle once again denying them every step of the way, in doing so they caused a loose ball which was picked up by Espoirs and the break was on with Kwinten, Harvey and Gijs racing down the field. Te Werve managed to get back with a fantastic defensive tackle only for Daniel to secure his first try for the club with a snipe in the corner.
Te Werve looked defeated now, they were tired and they lacked the power they had showed for majority of the game, wingers were now coming inside and running the balls the forwards could no longer or so Espoirs thought, as one ball went out the back of a ruck to an on rushing forward who was met with a devastating tackle from Melle who picked him up, drove him back 5 meters and slammed him down like it was the 1st minute of the game again. Espoirs counter rucked fantastically and came away with ball feeding it out wide to Kwinten who made a break once again only to be stopped short of the line and Te Werve earning a scrum 5m out from their own try line.
Scrums had not been a strong point for majority of the game but when Thijs was introduced this changed and he did it again in the 82nd minute twisting the scrum up enough to allow Niels to rush up on the Te Werve 9 causing a mistake and putting the ball down under the posts for the final try of the game, conversion successful by Harvey
FINAL SCORE: ESPOIRS 31 – 17 TE WERVE
The game was a wake-up call for the Espoirs they learnt that every game is earned and they showed a great resilience and character against a team who threatened an upset. Ultimately Espoirs came out on top in not the prettiest game of rugby but one in which everybody did a job and secured the win.
Man of the match went to Thijs for a huge impact in the scrums which gained us an important try in the closing minutes of the game and showed what an asset he is to us.
Dick of the day goes to Harvey although he played another fantastic game, he almost overshadowed it by screaming at an opponent as he took his conversion.
Return of the legend Koen Krommenhoek put his body on the line for Espoirs and proved to be a real impact player once again. Koen leaves us shortly for 2 months to go to South Africa for work, but we will be welcoming him home with open arms for his next game in April. I hope everybody at club will wish him well and safe travels.