Tiger cubs lose 3 on the bounce

Tigers Academy side lost their first game against Bedford since 2009 to extend their winless run to 3 games.  Bedford had a dream start to lead 27-3 at half time before Tigers dragged it back to 30-15 to give the scoreboard a fig leaf of respectability.  It makes a mockery of Bedford's exclusion from the up coming national U-18 league.  The 3 game losing streak is the Academy's longest since October 2007 when they lost to France after earlier suffering reverses against Northampton and Sale.

Bedford opened the scoring when prop Joe Foreman buried over from a lineout drive.  Ollie Bryant reduced the deficit with a penalty before Bedford struck again; fly half Joe Tarrant broke through the heart of Tigers defence before simple hands put centre Felix Streeton over for the try.  Winger Mike Stangway finished off the first half scoring as his individual try but the Blues 27-3 up at the break.

After a roasting at half time the Tiger cubs looked to overhaul the scoreline and immediately set about their work driving Matthew Hubart over after 2 minutes; Bryant converted to make it 27-10.  But the come back stalled as Bedford's Tarrant pushed them further ahead with a penalty and it took a further 30 minutes for Tigers to breach the Blues defence as Ed Milne claimed the try to bring the score to 30-15 as the conversion effort failed.  

This was no weak line up from the Tigers, hooker Harry Thacker had made his first team debut the day before coincidentally also at Goldington Road against Saracens.  At least 6 of the squad have national representative honours compared to one for Bedford.  Tigers look to bounce back next Saturday against Moseley and build towards the new Under 18s league.  Maybe next year Bedford will be allowed into it.

Bedford:
1. Joe Foreman
2. Alex Bloisi
3. Jack Simpson
4. Ben Latimer
5. Luke Carter
6. Josh Lemon
7. Joe Bercis
8. Shaq Meyers
9. Alex Smit
10. Joe Tarrant
11. Mike DiPonio
12. Nathan Donnachie
13. Felix Streeton
14. Mike Stanway
15. Aaron Morris. 
Replacements: Ben Brownlie, Mitch Akroyd, Alex Ruck, Scott Arroyo-Hover, Danny Hartwell, George Humphries, Chris Lord, Brandon Lewsey.

Tries: Foreman, Streeton, Stanway; Conversion: Tarrant 3; Penalty: Tarrant 3.

Tigers:
O Tom Bellak
N Rhys Williams
M George Catchpole (c)
L Oliver Bryant
K Hershall Ward
J John Hargreaves
I George Prince
A Neale Farthing
B Harry Thacker
C Djustice Duru-Sears
D Ryan Mason
E Joe Maksymiw
F Jake Farnworth
H Kain Rix
G Ed Milne 
Replacements
P James Thraves
Q Oliver Povoas
S Matthew Hubbart
T Will Owen
U Gift Sankoh
V Luke Jones
W Perry Humphreys
Y Charlie Beckett
Z Charlie Thacker
David Williams
Josh Bevan-Brown
Will Andrews
Tries: Hubbart, Milne; Conversion: Bryant; Penalty: Bryant.

Cubs Crushed by Cardiff

Tigers Academy Cubs were blown away by a 20 minute flood of points for Cardiff as the Cubs went from leading 16-15 at half time to trailing 39-16 on the hour mark.  A mini fight back ensured the score line ended 44-28 in favour of the visitors.  Ollie Bryant at fly half bagged 2 tries, 2 conversion and 3 penalties for an impressive personal haul of 23, Perry Humphreys claimed the other 5 pointer.  

Unfortunately the Cardiff scorers are unavailable at this time.  I will update if they become known later. 

Tigers team had a real international flavour as Loughborough University's Junior All American Tom Bliss started at scrum half with Italy's Tiziano Pasquali was at prop.  New Zealander's Javiah Pohe and Paqualle Dunn were the centres, while on the bench Scott Steele is of course a Scotland U-20 international and Djustice Duru-Sears hails from Ontario, Canada.  Winger Luke Jones is also from Guernsey. 

Tigers:
O Tom Hudson
N Perry Humphreys
M Pasqualle Dunn
L Javiah Pohe
K George Catchpole (c)
J Oliver Bryant
I Tom Bliss
A Tiziano Pasquali
B Jamal Ford-Robinson
C James Thraves
D Matthew Hubbart
E Tom Price
F Jake Farnworth
H Oliver Povoas
G Ed Milne 
Replacements
Jack Holmes
Djustice Duru-Sears
Ryan Mason
Scott Steele
Tom Bellak
Luke Jones
George Prince 


Cardiff Blues Academy: 15 Joey Griffin 14 Ellis Wyn Benham 13 Garin Smith 12 Aled Summerhill 11 Harry Davies 10 Will Thomas 9 Shaun Clarke
8 Dan Crimmins 7 Sam Parker 6 Reuben Tucker 5 Matt Screech 4 James Sheeky 3 Will Griff John 2 Jack Dando (c) 1 Calum Lewis
 
Replacements: Jack Dunning, Darran Harris, Brad Thyer, Ollie Hitchings, Ben Roach, Tom Williams, Sam Edwards, Ryan Evans

Tiger Cubs down Leinster 18-16

Tigers' academy starlets survived a late Leinster onslaught to win 18-16.  Leinster scored a last gasp try but missed the leveling conversion.

Tigers tries came from Wrexham winger Rhys Williams and Old Millfieldian full back Tom Bellak.  Redruth's Ollie Bryant at fly half contributed the other 8 points from his boot.

Tigers side was:

O Tom Bellak
N Luke Jones
M Henry Purdy
L Pasqualle Dunn
K Rhys Williams
J Oli Bryant
I Scott Steele
A Riccardo Brugnara
B Jamal Ford-Robinson
C Tiziano Pasquali
D Jake Albon (c)
E Ryan Mason
F Joe Cousens
H Will Owen
G Oliver Povoas

Replacements
Harry Thacker
James Thraves
Jake Farnworth
Harrison Lee-Everton

It is worth noting Joe Cousens and Jake Albon were reported to have left the academy previously.  It is unknown what their current status is. 
----------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE: Joe Cousens will spend a year in Brazil working as a PRL community coach, he previously was expected to go to Cambridge but that is now on hold.