Atherstone Badgers feel the four-ce as Rugby strike 'gold' after sluggish start
By Nick Hudson
2nd Mar 2020 | Local Sport
Rugby & East Warwickshire Gold 4 Atherstone Badgers Firsts 2
Atherstone Badgers began and ended their trip to Rugby School in style but in between were taught a harsh hockey lesson.
An assist by Izzy White saw the commanding Bradley Wakeford-Davy give the young Adders cohorts a deserved early lead.
But despite further great inter-play from Emily Bewsher, Charlie Blood and Rory Taylor, the visitors failed to capitalise on a sluggish-starting Rugby side
Adders' opposition however pressured the defence and an unmarked player secured the equaliser.
Then it became one-way traffic either side of the interval with Badgers' defensive trio of Jacob Trollop, Felix Roberts and Thomas Parsons making some fine stops from on-target attempts by Rugby's forwards.
And it was down to 10-year-old debutant keeper Edward Kobrin – in a first appearance for the Badgers 1s in place of the regular shot-stopper on county duty – to stem the tide of Rugby assaults on goal with a man-of-the-match performance between the posts.
Edward repeatedly repelled efforts to stop the home side striking gold with great stops and kick-outs to keep the scoreline respectable.
But at least there was a happy 'goalden' ending for the Adders. Just before the final whistle an Emily Bewsher penalty corner was coolly tapped home by Luke Iliffe – the side's leading scorer this term.
Man of the Match was shared between the young keeper and forward-raking Izzy White who again gave her all to really push the Rugby defence with attack after attack into the D.
Coach Yvonne Davies told Nub News: "It was a closely fought game that did not reflect how they are playing as a team and the huge improvements in their skills."
Next up for Badgers 1s, who drew the corresponding fixture with Rugby at Atherstone in November, is a trip to Warwickshire Bears.
Footnote: Click on the arrows in the main picture to see other images from the match on Saturday.
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