Millwall rugby youngsters celebrate big win

Centre Freddee Lewis got the scoreboard ticking over early, after stripping the ball off his opposite number and running away to score under the posts. Jardine converted for a 7-0 lead after 10 minutes.

Prop David Hayward was rewarded for his efforts with a try 5 minutes later, with a barnstorming run in which he carried three Stanford defenders over the line with him.

Jardine again converted to extend the lead to 14-0 before making a super dash up the middle of the defence himself to send his team to the half time break with a 19-0 lead.

The second half began with Prop Ashfaq Uddin bashing his way through some feeble tackles just inside the Stanford half to touch down in the corner.

Determined not to let up, the Lions set about driving forward with every touch of the ball and when second rower Jamie Walker used an overlap to dive over just under the posts, Millwall lifted their intensity even further.

Winger Jack Rowland soon got into the action, picking up a fumbled pass by Stanford on the Millwall line and raced 90 meters untouched to score. Rowland’s try was followed by a charging run by Full Back Charlie Brennand, who dodged would-be-tacklers with ease for his try.

Jardine’s conversion tallied the final score at 41-0 to the home side and celebration of their first ever back-to-back victory.

Jardine, 15, spoke of the satisfaction his team achieved from the victory.

He said: “We were ecstatic with our performances last time, but to be able to back it up today with a big victory over an established team like Stanford is a good indicator of how much we have improved.”

“Our coaches have instilled a good work ethic and discipline in us and I think that is showing with our performances on the pitch."

The previous day, Millwall’s second team, the Llamas, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a 26-24 win over local rivals Phantoms RFC in their Merit Table match at East London Rugby Club.

After trailing 12-0 after just ten minutes, the Llamas battled back to tie the scores at 19-19 at half time. The second half proved to be a tight affair with both teams making ground only be repelled by hardnosed defence.

Phantoms scored what they thought was the match-winning try with just four minutes to go in the match however the score was not converted, leaving the home side clinging to a 24-19 lead.

After almost letting another Phantoms try, Millwall got their attack on the straight and narrow, sending runners up the middle to get them within scoring distance. Centre Matt Barker stormed straight through some the defence; touching down under the posts for his third try of the day and then duly converted his own points to steal the lead 26-24.

Phantoms came close to scoring once again but they were held out by the valiant Llamas defence. After forcing a mistake metres from their own line, prop Mark Burnall booted the ball over the sideline as the referee called time on a stunning away victory that leaves the Llamas level in third position of the Merit Table, with the finals looming.

simon.hayes@wharf.co.uk