|
Garforth 24 pts – OLD
OTLIENSIANS 17 pts
Click the Pic for more photos
In the away match against Garforth in
February ‘Ensians fielded a weakened team and suffered a heavy defeat.
Hoping for a better result on a fine sunny afternoon, things started to go
wrong when four selected players were unavailable at the last minute and
there was a re-shuffle as kick-off approached. Garforth made all the
running in the first ten minutes with constant recycling of the ball
through their lively forwards before the hosts began to put moves together
through half backs Mark Coultas and Dominic Oddy. On 13 minutes centre
John Ratahi beat his man and set off down the middle and his offload saw
the ball go through three pairs of hands before prop Ben Newall gleefully
dived over half way out, the failed conversion giving the home side a 5 –
0 lead.
With both sides moving the ball wide at every opportunity there was strong
running from centres Ratahi and Lee O’Donnell with good support from
wingers Richard Goakes and Liam Copping. Garforth were generally defending
well, but a breakaway down the right by Coultas was carried on by flanker
Collum Hanogue and then lock Sam Gray sold a superb dummy to leave himself
a clear run in from 30 yards. The conversion by Coultas narrowly missed,
but the home side was 10 – 0 up after 25 minutes.
Two minutes before half time ‘Ensians were again pressing on the Garforth
line, but a spilled ball along their back line allowed the opposition
centre to hack the ball upfield, gather and then race for the line. Winger
Goakes showed his pace and managed to overhaul him ten yards out, but with
the home defence disorganised, Garforth were able to control a series of
rucks which eventually sent their winger over near the posts making the
half time score 10 – 7 to ‘Ensians.
The second half started well for the hosts with slick passing along the
backline giving space to replacement centre Will Foster to cut through
half way out and his conversion lifted the home side’s lead to 17 – 7 on
44 minutes. Play continued to be lively and open for the next 20 minutes
and both sides had half chances. In the set pieces, the home front row of
Ross Myers, Richard Paley and Ben Newall commanded their own ball and Sam
Gray produced quality ball from the lineout, but the lively Garforth back
row made life difficult for half backs Coultas and Oddy. Ten yards out
from the home line, fast hands from the visitors produced space out wide
and their centre cut through for a converted try, reducing the home side’s
lead to 17 – 14 on 65 minutes.
Five minutes later, ’Ensians infringed and the reliable Garforth kicker
levelled the scores at 17 – 17 on 70 minutes. This spurred on the
visitors, but the ‘Ensians pack took control and worked the ball upfield
to the Garforth line. For several minutes they battered the visitors’ line
with No. 8 Arbuckle and flanker Gumbs being pulled down inches short. Both
sides were wilting under the heat, but the visitors could scent victory
and valiantly withstood repeated attacks at close quarters.
Eventually the ball was knocked forward and Garforth recovered the
situation with a long kick downfield. Fullback Kristian Keinhorst relieved
the pressure with a kick into the opposition half where their speedy full
back set off on a weaving run, bypassing several half-hearted tackles to
score a fine individual try under the posts. The conversion left the
stunned hosts trailing by 24 – 17 on 76 minutes. Experienced hooker Andy
Rocket replaced Hugh Gumbs in the pack and the home side tried hard to
create chances in the last few minutes, but weary legs and determined
tackling gave Garforth a well-earned victory.
Despite the disruption of last-minute changes, ‘Ensians had the
wherewithal to win this game against a team propping up the league, but,
overall, Garforth lasted the pace better, wanted victory more and took
advantage of some indifferent home tackling at crucial moments.
|
