Brussels Celtic RFC

Score: RC Nivelles U17's 14 - 17 Brussels Celtic U17's

Report 

The league leaders travelled with a somewhat depleted squad to Nivelles knowing victory would put them in a commanding position in the title race. Their hosts however had won their last three matches and were already well into their warm up drills as the Celtics arrived.

By kick off time the early rain had subsided but a strong cross wind persisted and would prove have a major influence on the game.

After a scrappy opening Celtic got off to the perfect start. Volf chipped the defence and pressurised the full-back into conceding a penalty at the Nivelles 22m line. A quick tap was popped to the formidable Sorozabal, who swatted away the defence to touch down in the corner. Longueville converted with a fine kick from a tight angle to give the Celtics an early 7-0 lead.

Any doubt about the credentials of the home team were quickly dispelled as they launched a spirited fight back. The Nivelles pack applied massive force at scrum time and the nippy opposition No.9 made life difficult for the Longueville and the back row. With the wind Celtics long throw at the lineout was largely nullified. Without solid 1st phase possession Volf et al struggled to excute their back moves and Celtics were forced to improvise from turnover ball. With ball in hand, the Celtics attacks lacked depth and with Longueville running laterally to shorten tricky passes, the back line tended to drift towards touch even with T.Blyth’s fast hands. One when Volf and D.Blyth stepped inside did the visitors look dangerous.

Despite the pressure Celtics tackled heroically with notable tackles from P.Hedegaard. It seemed as though the defence would hold out but eventually fielding kicks proved to be Celtics undoing. With the cover defence stretched, the back three were left out of position, allowed the ball to bounce and came under fire from the Nivelles line. Frequently Celtics tried to run the ball from deep, but the length of the Nivelles kicks meant these counter-attacks fizzled out through insufficient support.

It was from from one such occasion that Nivelles levelled the score with a converted try. Almost straight away Nivelles levelled the score after confusion behind another under pressure Celtic scrum.

For once this season half time couldn’t come soon enough. The scrum had already been reschuffled and without any recognised forwards on the bench the team discussion focussed on on turning the tables on Nivelles by putting their full back under pressure.

It took a while for this message to sink in and Celtic continued to struggle. Eventually Millet unleashed his right boot and torpedoed a kick 50-60m, which the full back promptly knocked forward. Immediately Celtic saw the light. Vogel (usually a back) entered the fray and an emergency 2nd row and instantly provided much needed ballast to the scrum allowing some decent 1st phase possession.

The momentum began to shift in Celtics favour and after a flowing attack Garcia was bundled into touch just before the try line. Moments later with typical tenacity chased a Longueville kick, pressurised the full back into a mistake and offloaded the loose ball to D.Blyth who held on to the pass with his fingertips to score the try between the posts. Longueville converted to level the scores.

With time running out Celtic piled on the pressure to regain possession and the quick thinking Volf drop kick from the 22m line to give the lead back to the visitors.

Nivelles came fighting back and threw everything into the dying minutes. They won a penalty in front of the posts but spurned the kick to run at the steadfast Celtic defence. Garcia kicked the ball dead to end an exciting match.

Celtics now take a well-earned break and return at home against Racing Jet on November 20th.