WELLINGTON U16’s played their first league game and faced a tough trip to Hornets on Sunday.

With a makeshift pack the forwards were going to need to play well to get parity and they certainly did that.

Hornets had the better of the scrums with their much heavier pack but Wellington matched them in every other facet of play.

After 10 minutes the score was still 0-0 and Wellington turned down an easy three points to kick for the corner, a decision they may regret.

After 15 minutes Ollie Owen scored a good try in the corner to open the scoring, converted by Charlie Taylor.

Hornets scored next to make it 5 – 7 before a Brock Vallance penalty extended Wellington’s lead.

After half an hour a massive Ben Briddon clearance kick went from one try line to the other.

A great chase by Bailey Lee led to a try for Archie Austin converted by Vallance.

At 5-17 Wellington looked in control of all areas apart from the scrums.

But five minutes into injury time Hornets scored a converted try.

They then spent a few minutes hammering the Wellington line but great defence and a good clearance saw the half time whistle come with the score 12-17.

Hornets scored first in the second half with a converted try followed by a penalty to lead 22-17.

But Wellington were in no mood to lie down with Will Barnes taking the game to Hornets in attack and defence.

The ball spilled lose 30m out and Ben Briddon twisted and turned then powered over for a great individual try, again converted by Taylor.

Ollie Owen then put in a good kick and chase that resulted in a try for Jonah Kyle a few phases later. Again Taylor converted.

Hornets then scored a try to make it 27-31.

With 35 minutes having been played the Welly players thought they heard the ref call that it was the last play.

Running back towards their own posts they kicked it off the pitch thinking they had won.

To only be told they had misheard the ref and there was still nearly seven minutes injury time to play.

Wellington cleared their line with a free kick two minutes later but with a minute left Hornets managed to score the winning try in the corner.

Wellington had lost 32-31 but every player put in an amazing shift and they came away with two league bonus pints.

They knew it was a game they could and probably should have won.

Player of the week was Will Barnes who put in a massive shift both ball carrying and knocking the Hornets players backwards from No 8.