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Moortown 56 - 5 Rishworthians- Yorkshire 2 result - rugby union in Halifax - mini junior and senior rugby union in Halifax

Much better performance from Rishworthians




Match Preview Friday 25th March
Rishworthians know all about their Yorkshire Two opponents Moortown - they were beaten convincingly by them in Leeds last week. But the Copley men will have home advantage this time and feel they did enough at times in last week's game to worry their visitors. While they retain virtually the same squad as last week, they include fullback Aaron Canning, who has missed recent games. Prop Phil Kershaw switches to hooker in the absence of Bob Collins and Gerard Rollings, who was outstanding last week, retains his position at flanker. The game at Moortown showed that Rishworthians may have got back the drive which has been missing in recent games although they will need to be strong in the scrums, where they struggled last week, and keep the ball away from the Moortown backs.



Match Report Saturday 26th March - Yorkshire 2
A freak bounce in the second half turned the game in the visitors' favour as Rishworthians put in their best display of the season. It was beyond belief that Moortown had beaten the Copley men by 50 points in Leeds last week - with a weakened side.

Again Rishworthians turned down three simple penalty chances, but this time converted one of them into a try. This Yorkshire Two match was anybody's until midway in the second half when a speculative high kick landed between Rishworthian players and bounced dramatically into the arms of speedy Moortown wing Mark Docking who raced over. It took the game away from the home side side who had been more than competitive throughout, with flanker Gerard Rollings taking up where he left off last week, scoring two tries and might have had a third. It was a good team performance by Rishworthians whose young side, with an average age of 24, were never out of touch. The home pack contained six players under the age of 22 and, even without player-coach Lance Hamilton, who was ill, they put in a fine performance.

From the kick-off Rishworthians gave away a try in a carbon copy of the previous game as from the kick they attempted to run the ball out of defence, dropped it and gave away the simplest of tries. Unlike the previous week, however, it seemed to spur them and they came back to score, Rollings bursting through a mass of players to touch down. Moortown hit back with a penalty, but Nick Faulkner on the right wing was only inches short of scoring from a crossfield kick.

The visitors countered and put Rishworthians under severe pressure on their own line. It eventually told and Moortown No 8 James Collinge forced his way over for another unconverted try. They soon added a penalty for a 13 - 5 lead. Again the home men fought back and a fine move involving left wing Anthony Shoesmith and Rollings ended with the flanker crossing the line, only to be brought back for an infringement. On the stroke of half-time, the visitors added a further penalty.

Half time Rishworthians 5 - 16 Moortown

Rishworthians opened the second period strongly. They turned down a penalty kick and went for touch. From the line flanker Ben Robinson made a fine catch and was driven over for a try with Rollings touching down. Fullback Joe Billing made a fine conversion.

They gave away a penalty almost immediately to go 19 - 12 behind, but still looked the most dominant side, until that bounce took the game from them. They came back with Billing and Faulkner combining well to take play near to the visitors' line. Then from another lineout catch by Robinson, they moved the ball out and No 8 Tom Clough came in on a strong diagonal run to burst through and score under the posts. Michael Piper added the conversion. In the final seconds the speed of winger Docking caught Rishworthians out for a try in the corner.

Rishworthians seconds were heavily beaten by Sheffield Medicals, although they got a try by Matt Cartwright converted by Ben Copley.

Moortown website


Team
1. Fox 2. Kershaw 3. Rika-Raine
6. Robinson 7. Rollings T2
4. Pollard 5. Rawnsley
8. T Clough T
9. Morris
10. Piper C
12. F Davidson
13. Richard Mudd
11. N Faulkner 14. Shoesmith
15. Billing C
Subs
Turner Teasdale Normanton