Sunday 13th December saw the Exiles U18’s play the Independent Schools Barbarians team at Leeds Uni. Weetwood ground. The match was a trial for both teams with the Exiles players looking to cement their selection for the trip to Glasgow in January and the ISB players their tour to South Africa in 2010.

The Exiles had a squad of 25 players whilst the ISB had a squad of 42. The game was played over 4 x 20 minute sessions with the ISB playing one of their teams for the first 40 minutes and their second set of players for the second 40.

The Exiles started strongly with the forwards gelling well and providing ample ball for the backs that ran some well worked patterns causing the ISB team some problems. ISB tried to play a fast open game but the better organised Exiles controlled the first 20 scoring two tries to one. No changes were made at the break and the Exiles continued in the same vein with powerful runs and good support play by the forwards and the backs making good use of the ball they got with penetrating runs by the centres and unselfish play ensuring the wingers saw plenty of ball running in three further tries without reply. Special mention must go to prop Alex Allan who received the ball 30 metres from the ISB line did a lovely show and go which any back would have been proud of and then outsprinted the wrong footed defence to score under the posts also Struan Connor at full back who fielded all the opposition kicks well and then ran the ball back with interest showing great skill of change of pace and direction ensuring he got in front of a forward to offload to.

The third 20 saw ISB bring their next team on and the Exiles make several changes to utilise the whole squad. ISB obviously shaken by what they had seen came out of the blocks playing fast and controlled rugby and before the Exiles had settled ran in two unanswered tries. The Exiles then started to play the way they had in the first 40 but were unable to breach the ISB line.

The last 20 continued in the same way with the Exiles forwards working hard to control the ISB pack and provide sufficient ball for the backs who were certainly an equal for the talented ISB backs who never stopped running from all angles. The Exiles made tackle after tackle to thwart ISB who scored two well worked tries and looked capable of scoring more but for the endeavour of the Exiles who managed to work the ball out wide again for another well executed try.