Today, the U14s extended their incredible winning streak with another thrilling performance. For the second week in a row, the team entered the game with just two substitutes. Facing one of the strongest teams in the Eastern Counties on any given day was already going to be a tough challenge, and with such limited bench strength, it seemed like an even bigger task.

We told the boys to give their all in the first half and then reassess the situation at half time. They responded with intensity from the outset, rattling the opposition. Norfolk struggled to break out of their own half, and after 10 minutes, Ely seized the opportunity and scored the first try. The try seemed to spark the opposition, and they capitalized on some indecision on our own try line to score on the 16-minute mark.

Not deterred, the boys regrouped and launched a series of strong, determined runs through the middle, gaining control of the game and putting Norfolk under increasing pressure. Ely's solid defense started to pay off as Norfolk began to make mistakes, and their discipline faltered. Ely made them pay, scoring two more tries to go into the halftime break leading 19-5.

At the break, we reminded the team that they would have to dig deep to outlast the opposition, who had plenty of substitutes to rotate. It was going to take a full-team effort, but they could do it. Unfortunately, the second half started on a rough note, with Norfolk scoring two quick tries to bring the score within 19-15, putting us on edge as we feared the lead could slip away.

However, the boys regained their composure and responded with aggressive defense and hard, physical running. Ely gradually regained control, and Norfolk's discipline continued to deteriorate. Ely capitalized on a series of penalties to work their way down the field and score another crucial try. With momentum on our side, the boys slowed the game down, took charge of the final 10 minutes, and scored one more try, securing a remarkable 24-15 victory.