29 January :  Thornbury RFC      10 v 10            Frampton Cotterell RFC

29 January :  Clifton RFC              5 v 15           Frampton Cotterell RFC

Frampton kicked off a three-way fixture with neighbours Thornbury in heavy conditions at Rockhampton.  The hosts started the stronger and took an early lead before stern defence by the Frampton backline and good work at the breakdown, with Perrott and Mellor to the fore, turned the tide, assisting with Lock Morgan Stiles going over to tie the scores at the interval.  Frampton had the initiative in the second period and after some sustained pressure, another break by Cross put Wing Matt Iles away to put the visitors in front.  A fumbled restart enabled Thornbury to tie the scores and, despite some excellent attacking work - led from the front by man-of-the-match Henry Hayett at 10 - the hosts defence stood firm.

Frampton then took on Clifton in what was to prove a forward-dominated encounter on an increasingly stodgy pitch.  Excellent work by Wrighton, Ferris, May and Pearce at the contact area ensured plenty of possession and joint MotMs Stiles and Willis caused all sorts of problems on the charge as well as quickly snuffing out all attempts by the strong Clifton pack to get any sort of go-forward.  The scores went to the backs, however, who were in fine form all day.  Scores for Morgan Lewis, Henry Hayett and Toby Crowley sealed the win in an entertaining, full-bloodied, encounter.

15 January :  County Festival 

Frampton progressed to the semi-final of the County Plate following a committed team performance at Cirencester.

The day got off to a bad start with Team Captain Oliver Carey nursing a plaster cast on his hand following what was decided was actually  "an undisclosed bathroom-related injury", rather than from the previous day's basketball game as he claimed.

First up were the hosts, Cirencester RFC, who emerged winners after nicking a score with a couple of minutes to go in what was a very even, end-to-end, encounter. The Captain's armband was to prove a bit of a poisoned chalice as an injury to stand-in Charlie Willis ended his involvement for the day, to be followed in the next game against Lydney by the now skipper Henry Hayett also leaving the tournament. The teams played out a very physical 0-0 draw and with Joe May, Jed Ferris, Jack Mellor and the rest of the Frampton forwards controlling the set piece, Frampton would rue the errors that prevented them from putting a score on the board.

Frampton now needed to get results from their remaining games and duly obliged, overcoming Stow with scores from Stiles, Plant and Mellor; followed by victory against Widden OBs, with Howell and Cross crossing the line.  A late score by the Gloucester-based side was enough, however, to prevent Frampton progressing via the Cup competition, finishing as 9th seeds and heading for the Plate.

With Hooker Kieron Perrot also joining the casualty list, the Frampton squad was now at full stretch but still started brightly against Fairford RFC in the Quarter Final.  Controlling territory and possession, with Lock and Captain Morgan Stiles as ever in the vanguard, great defensive work by Fairford was proving difficult to overcome until Frampton's player of the day, Scrum-half Tom Howell broke the deadlock.  A second of the day for Centre Liam Plant closed out the game and Frampton now move forward to Finals Day on 25th March.

An excellent whole-team performance, where every single player was called upon to play a part and give 100% commitment to the shirt - and everyone duly did so. 

8 January 2012 :  Frampton Cotterell RFC         38 v 10      Yatton RFC

Frampton kicked off 2012 with a convincing win in the return fixture against Yatton RFC, despite the visitors being first on the scoresheet early on.

The reply was swift, with the hosts back line - superbly marshalled by Henry Hayett in the Centre - looking dangerous from the outset.  With the breakdown being fiercely contested, every scrap of possession was seized on and scores from Hayett and Fly-half Crowley quickly made good the deficit.  The Yellow & Blacks could find no answer to the direct running of Centre Liam Cross who continually set up platforms for the outstanding No.8 Morgan Stiles and his fellow forwards to work from.

Yatton pulled level just before the break with some fine work of their own out wide before Cross charged though a stranded defence to put the hosts in to the lead on half time with a well deserved reward for his efforts.

Despite creating a number of chances out wide in the second period, it was the Frampton forwards who now took charge of things.  Having succeeded in strangling the visitors of possession for most of the game, they now took the offensive with some powerful direct running, led by Stiles and ably supported by Pearce and May from the front row, continually driving at the heart of a strong and well drilled Yatton pack.  More excellent stealing work by Locks Carey and Wrighton - who were a thorn in the visitors side  in the dark places all game - set up a series of drives before Hooker Charlie Willis crashed through to put some daylight between the teams on the scoreboard.

This pattern was repeated as Frampton maintained possession and  field position for much of the half, with Scrum-half Tom Howell going over after a break by Pearce.  Full-back Morgan Lewis ensured that the Frampton backline had the last word, however, as the game drew to an end.

An excellent performance to start the year; plus an enjoyable game for the spectators that was much contributed to by the visitors from Somerset who played some excellent rugby and probably deserved more from the scoreboard.

18 December 2011 :   St. Bernadettes RFC       33  v  14      Frampton Cotterell RFC 

11 December 2011 :  Chipping Sodbury RFC       5 v  7       Frampton Cotterell RFC

In the second of Frampton's back-to-back derbies, another hard fought encounter took place in wintery conditions at near neighbours Chipping Sodbury.

Frampton started strongly with the forwards controlling the breakdown and ensuring a good stream of possession for Fly Half Henry Hayett to unleash a Frampton midfield where Centre Liam Cross was causing all sorts of problems for the Sodbury defence.

Playing in to the very strong wind mean't keeping the ball close to hand and after an extended spell of pressure on the hosts line, Winger Iles burst through only to knock on over the line as the Sodbury defence held firm.  The ever-dominant Frampton scrum, marshalled by man-of-the-match Charlie Willis on the Tighthead, again secured ball against the head, allowing Scrum-half Matt Watts to break clear and feed No.8 Stiles for the opening score.

Frampton continued to have the edge in terms of territory and possession but a mixture of errors and excellent tackling ensured they could never make the advantage pay on the scoreboard as the first half drew to a close.  This may have proven fatal when Sodbury pulled a score back from a quick tap penalty when the visitors concentration lapsed for a moment.

The game now became a fierce battle at the breakdown as Sodbury upped their effort and never enabled Frampton to take advantage of their ascendancy in midfield.  Willis and, in particular,  follow tight forwards Perrot, Mellor, Wrighton, Stiles and Ferris continued to ensure possession at the breakdown, but the hosts defence was exemplary and held on to the final whistle.

In the end, it was an excellent and entertaining game for players and spectators alike, with the final score reflecting the tightness of the game.

4 December 2011 :  St Marys RFC       20 v  15       Frampton Cotterell RFC

In a typicaly fierce local derby, St Mary's held on to take the spoils after a determined Frampton fight back.

Excellent work by the hosts backline saw them off to a flying start with a three-try burst in the first half.  Despite gaining plenty of ball from its forwards, Frampton fumbles and mistakes out wide continually gave possession to a smart SMOB outfit that made the most of it - and some poor Frampton tackling  - to take control of the scoreboard early on.

The Frampton Forwards ensured a steady stream of possession

Entering the second period, Frampton dominance up front helped the visitors get back into the game and a couple of quick scores from Crowley and Lewis were just reward for a blood-and-guts performance by the Frampton pack - superbly driven on by captain Oliver Carey.  The hosts were always dangerous out wide, however and nabbed another try to keep them ahead of the scoreboard, despite a late score by Plant.

20 November 2011 :  Yatton RFC         12 v  7          Frampton Cotterell RFC

With a number of the team havng participated in a schools tournament the previous day, it was a somewhat depleted Frampton side that travelled south to take on Yatton RFC.

The intial exchanges were very competitive, with the two forward packs competing hard to gain the initial advantage.  Despite tremendous work at the breakdown by No 8 Jed Ferris and Hooker Charlie Willis in trying to stem the flow of posssion to the Yellow & Blacks, Frampton were hanging on for most of the first period.  Good defensive work, with Iles and Plant to the fore, kept the the scoresheet blank at the break.  Indeed Frampton nearly stole the lead on the stroke of half time with the best chance of the session, following a searing break by Lewis and Crowley to put Winger Aland away only to be bundled in to touch just short of the line.

The hosts struck early in the second half, having engineered space down the left flank and this was  quickly followed by a second after a lapse in concentration enabled them to drive Frampton off their own scrum at close range.

Whilst Yatton had the edge at the breakdown, Frampton always threatened when the ball was moved wide.  Eventually reward came after Will Pearce and the Frampton forwards found some quick ball to feed a break by Liam Plant in the Centre.  Solid defence brought him down 5mtres short but a great offload to the ever-eager Liam Cross gave him his first Try for the Club to cap a good performance on the day.

A good, competitive, encounter and a fair result, followed by the usual fine hospitality from the Somerset side.

6 November 2011 :  Frampton Cotterell RFC         21 v  17          North Bristol RFC

Frampton held off a comeback by visitors North Bristol to take the win in a spirited local derby at Crossbow.

Once again the home side started slowly, knocking on from the kick-off and spending the next 5 minutes working hard in their own 22 to keep a big North Pack at bay.  The visitors looked to have the edge at the breakdown, despite sterling work by Carey, Willis, May and Wrighton, but gradually the host Half-backs - Watts and Crowley - moved Frampton into North Bristol territory.  A charge from No.8 Stiles opened space in midfield where the eager Toby Crowley was on hand to break the deadlock with the first of his brace of scores.  He also put over the conversion to maintain a 100% success rate for the season to date - something that was to prove crucial in the final reckoning.

 The Frampton Scrum had a good day at the Office

The visitors response was swift as the hosts again fumbled the re-start to allow North to swoop and tie the scores. Although Frampton were hanging on at the breakdown, they were well on top in the scrum and this provided the platform for a ten minute period of pressure on the North Bristol line.  Excellent defensive work on their own line repelled charges by May, Willis, Howell and Plant, however the pressure eventually told as Scrum-half Matt Watts burst off the back of another scrum against the head from 5mtrs out to put the home side in to the lead as half time approached.

MotM Henry Hayett leads the attack

Slack defence helped North take the lead for the first time with two quick scores soon after the interval, however the two missed conversions were to prove crucial.  The game now turned into a ding-dong battle in the forwards as both sides tried to get momentum.  Man-of-the-Match Henry Hayett was everywhere in midfield defence and always threatening as Frampton started to gain the advantage in field position.  Hooker Charlie Willis was twice held up over the line in an intense 5 minute spell of Frampton pressure.  From a resultant scrum, the ball was quickly moved wide and Crowley was on hand to seize the winning score with seconds left on the clock.

Not the prettiest of matches but a tough, fiercely contested encounter where both teams scrapped to the very end.

30 Oct 2011 :  Clifton RFC         21 v  42          Frampton Cotterell RFC

After a cagey opening five minutes, where the forwards jostled for dominance and both teams probed for good field position, Frampton were starting to gain the advantage when the hosts broke out of their 22 to open the scoring.

Frampton quickly responded with May, Willis and Carey, in particular, grabbing control of the breakdown with some fine work on the floor, allowing No.8 Morgan Stiles to do the clearing up and linking with an ever threatening back line - where Fly-half Toby Crowley and Centre Henry Hayett caused all sorts of problems for the Clifton defence.  The visitors running and support lines, as well as some excellent offloading to eager support runners, was rewarded with a 5 try burst to the end of the first period.

Two scores for Crowley, one for Morgan Lewis and a first for the Club by new boy Matt Iles from the Wing were all a result of direct running, good handling and a relentlessness in support play that continually troubled the Clifton defence.  Whilst Scrum-half Tom Howell and Centres Hayett and Plant dominated the exchanges in the midfield, the pick of the scores went to the forwards, where an 8-phase sequence of "drive - pick&go - offload" ended with Carey putting Stiles away for a well deserved try for the Pack.

Maintaining the pace and intensity of the first half was always going to be difficult for Frampton and so it proved.  Clifton grabbed the initiative early on and clawed back a couple of scores before the visitors switched back on.  Attacking through the midfield, Liam Cross, on in the Centre, stretched the hosts defence on a number of occaisions; creating opportunities for Lewis, who was held up over the line and Winger Aland, who was forced in to touch just inches short of the line; before being rewarded with a feed to Crowley for his hat-trick score to cap a fine all-round performance.

A good team effort, where everyone contributed something positive to a very enjoyable match.

23 Oct 2011 : Frampton Cotterell RFC     21  v  7       St Brendans RFC

The game started at a frenetic pace as both sides tried to establish a platform to attack.  The visitors started the stronger as their large pack crashed ball through the middle and only stout defence at the breakdown - with Perrott, Wrighton and Carey to the fore - kept the Frampton line intact.

The hosts now settled into their game and after some powerful direct running in midfield by Plant and Cross, Prop Charlie Willis broke away to draw the defence and deliver a sublime offload to put Fly-half Toby Crowley away for the first and best score of the day. 

 

Aland is caught in posession but support is quickly on hand

The pattern was now set as Frampton, once again led by its strong running forwards, kept possession and territory advantage.  Hooker Kieron Perrot went over for the hosts second score after fine running and support work from fellow forwards Stiles, Willis and No.8 Jed Ferris.  The Frampton backline was also prominent and during the middle period of the game had a number of chances to add to the score - with fine breaks by winger Iles and Full-back Lewis only prevented by fine defence from the visitors.

Learning the lessons of the previous week, whenever St Bs got possession, smart defensive work by Cross and Plant in midfield - ably supported by Iles and Lewis - quickly snuffed out the threat.  Another score for Frampton was always likely and Crowley picked up his second of the match after some more fine support play following another break by Centre Liam Cross.  St Brendans picked up a well deserved score as the match drew to an end - reward for a commited performance and some fine rugby. 

9 Oct 2011 :  Frampton Cotterell RFC     7  v  61       Cleve RFC

A tough day for Frampton, in their first home fixture, against a powerful and intelligent Cleve side.

The visitors took control early on with some strong running from their big midfield runners.  Despite the Frampton pack more than holding their own against a big Cleve unit - securing their own ball and at time severely disrupting the visitors - the side from Mangotsfield built an early lead with 4 quick scores in the first 20min period.  Frampton started to get parity across the field after the break and pulled back a score for Full-back Morgan Lewis after some fine phases of play by the forwards, where Captain Oliver Carey and No.8 Morgan Stiles were prominent all day.  In the final period, Frampton camped on the visitors line on a number of occaisions but failed to get the reward they probably deserved in terms of effort and commitment.  Another flurry of tries by the visitors saw them finish as convincing, deserved, winners. 

2 Oct 2011 :  Nailsea & Backwell RFC     26  v  28     Frampton Coterell RFC

Frampton kicked off the new campaign with a trip south to take on Nailsea & Backwell.  In tropical conditions the home side started strongly and kept possession with a number of driving moves to open their account after 5 minutes.  This spurred the Frampton Pack into life and, with No.8 Morgan Stiles and Captain Oliver Carey to the fore, they drove at the heart of the Raven's defence in what was to be the start of an extended period of forward dominance.  Stiles crashed over for the first of his brace after fine work in the dark places by Willis, Pearce and May, to be added to by Perrott to put Frampton three tries to one up towards the end of the first half.

As half time - and a welcome drinks break - approached, Henry Hayett and Liam Cross in midfield continued to probe the host defence, exploiting some deft distribution from Toby Crowley at 10.  Another charge from Cross was held up just short but Lock Peter Wrighton powered through to add a try to his man-of-the-match performance.

Frampton kept up the pressure after the break and seriously threatened the Nailsea line before losing the ball and allowing the hosts to clear upfield and win the footrace to touch down.  The missed conversion was to prove crucial - more so as Frampton errors again allowed the hosts to turnover possession to break away and score after the restart.  The momentum was now with Nailsea and fresher legs in their Pack enabled them to start to accrue good possession as the Frampton forwards tired.  The game now ebbed and flowed with both sides threatening out wide - debutant Matt Iles and Full Back Lewis having half breaks that brought the best out of the host's defence.  The crucial score was grabbed by Nailsea to set up a thrilling last 5 minutes, where Frampton regained the initiative, remained threatening and stayed ahead of the scoreboard at the final whistle.

A great game for the spectators, with both teams playing some excellent rugby, in great spirit and with fantastic commitment.