Sun 12 Jan 2025, 14:00
Report by Shane Lewis
On Sunday 12th January, Frome Academy travelled to Walcot, for a Somerset League clash. Walcot kicked off, on the Winter sunshine and Frome carried for a few phases, but Walcot put pressure on. Archie Pearn, playing at full back, spotted a gap and launched a big kick for a 50:22.
From the resulting line out Oscar Stickley carried into traffic and the ball was recycled. Can Vince fed to Henry Williams but the ball was knocked on in midfield. A good scrum followed for both sides. Charlie Stratford carried well, but was tackled high. Unfortunately, Frome could not take advantage and the ball was turned over.
Minutes later, Walcot swept forward in attack, but Frome defended well. Bryn Lewis and Stratford combined well. The winger had space and the ball was recycled well. Ewan Cox and Stickley made ground with repeated carries. The ruck eventually slowed, James Masters and Cox fought hard, but Walcot cleared their lines.
With ten minutes of the game gone; the two props Olly Andrews and Stickley combined in midfield. Andrews offloaded to Williams and Frome had a line out. However, the line out mid-fired.
Minutes later, Frome were on the attack again, through Williams and Kayden Henley. The powerful second row made ground and after more Frome carries on the line, the away side had an attacking scrum.
From the scrum Williams went blind and passed to Laurie White on the wing. A few phases later, the ball was turned over and Walcot cleared the ball.
From the resulting kick,Pearn gathered the ball well to clear up to the line. Good pressure followed from Toby Cassidy and Harry Greenwood. Masters, Stickley and Williams were all involved in a sweeping move, before the ball was intercepted and Walcot scored an unconverted try for a 5 v 0 lead.
Frome responded well, Dom Evans charged ball in hand, into the heart of the 22. The ball was recycled in midfield through Stickley and Cassidy. Frome were narrowly denied a try through scramble defence.
Immediately, they attacked again and the ball was held up over the line. Frome were building pressure well. But the half time whistle blew, and Walcot had a narrow lead going into the break.
In the first minute of the second half, Frome turned the ball over and Vince found Aelfric Bidder, he passed inside to Isaac Cornish, who offloaded to Masters.
Frome continued to build pressure and from a penalty, Fin Van Gorph slotted the 3 points, to narrow the deficit.
Following an injury, the Frome back line was reshuffled. The backs had a good attacking opportunity after ten minutes, Lewis and Pearn combined to send Stratford into space. Van Gorph used the recycled ball well and Henley carried on the narrow side.
Suddenly Walcot broke free. But two good tackles from Lewis and Masters and a jackle from Pearn kept the away side from the line.
With the game now in to the final third, Frome attacked following a good Van Gorph kick. From the resulting line out, Frome started a solid catch and drive, making good yards. Vince put a succession of forwards, notably Adam Hancock and Henley, into space and Pearn attacked into space.
Into the final ten minutes, Hancock and Bidder took the ball into midfield. Van Gorph looked to offload to Williams, who looked to be taken by two men in the tackle but he spun free and scored a try for Frome. He then converted his own try for a 5 v 10 score line.
After a tense five minutes, Frome were awarded a penalty. Williams pointed to the posts. There was a deathly silence as Williams lined up a kick, which proved successful. The away side now held a 5 v 13 score line.
The following few minutes, remained tense. But Frome keep possession to get a good, but tight win on the road.
Players of the match, Cam Vince and James Masters.
