1st XV Match Report - Yorkshire 3
1st XV Match Report - Yorkshire 3
Rishworthians face a tough task when they travel to Rotherham Phoenix in Yorkshire Three. The Copley men lie in fourth place in the league, with Phoenix one place above them. The sides met in only the second league fixture of the season at Copley in September, with Rishworthians winning 15 - 10. But then they had to hang on as they were battered in the second half by the big Rotherham pack. They have not fared as well as Phoenix since then, but have a speedy squad and will be looking to build on last week's convincing win over Thornensians.
Matt Tyson returns to the back row from four weeks absence after making an impressive debut against Halifax Vandals. In the backs they will be looking to speed with the Sutcliffe brothers, Kurt and Luke, in the centre and Nick Faulkner on the left wing. He scored in the game at Copley as did the other winger Anthony Shoesmith, who is not available this week. His place goes to Lee Atkinson. They will also rely heavily on the experience and speed of Aaron Canning at fullback and the boot of stand-off Michael Piper.
LUCK deserted Rishworthians at crucial times in a game which could have gone either way. The visitors' under-powered pack struggled against the much stronger home outfit, but when they needed to under pressure on their own line they stood firm. Fraser Swarbrook had a towering game in the back row and later in the second row, as did Matt Tyson, who showed his potential in a side which just did not give up. It was a thoroughly entertaining end-to-end game, but, despite a fine performance, luck deserted Rishworthians at the beginning and end.
Right from the start a speculative home clearance kick had an unlucky bounce straight into the arms of the home right wing, who outpaced the cover to touch down in the corner for an unconverted try. The visitors pulled themselves together and went straight back on the attack. They declined a penalty kick, but could not make the movement pay. But they remained in the home 22 and when the ball went loose at a lineout near the line, Tyson gathered it and dived over in the corner. Michael Piper converted with a fine kick.
Rishworthians took the lead with a Piper penalty and soon they went further ahead. A poor home kick from a mark near the Rotherham line went straight to Piper. He passed to fullback Aaron Canning, whose pace took him through to set up right wing Lee Atkinson for a try in the corner, which Piper converted with another fine kick.
Luck again ran out for Rishworthians as outstanding lock Harry Collett had to leave the field with a bad gash to the eye. It meant the abundance of lineout ball he supplied dried up. As the half ended the visitors were under pressure on their own line and the home stand-off sliced through a gap to score a converted try. With the last act of the half Rishworthians conceded a penalty to go in trailing 18 - 17.
They found themselves under pressure at the start of the second period and conceded an unconverted try when the ball bounced out of a ruck and a home player was quick to gather and cross in the corner. Luck took a hand again when hooker Phil Kershaw had to go off with an ankle injury and Rishworthians were forced to completely reshuffle their pack. With Tyson and Swarbrook having to go into the second row it left them somewhat exposed, but Lance Hamilton marshalled the back of the scrum and Rishworthians were able to regroup and put the home side under pressure.
From then it was all about penalties. Phoenix landed two, but each time Piper replied with successful kicks. Rishworthians were just six points behind and still in with a chance of snatching it or at least getting a losing bonus point until luck took a hand again and with the last act of the game the home side landed a long distance penalty to rob them.
Rishworthians second string had a fine 15 - 7 win at Selby with two tries for Liam Normanton and another for Matt Knight.
| Squad | ||||
| 1. G Rika-Raine | 2. P Kershaw | 3. R Pollard | ||
| 6. F Swarbrooke | 7. L Illingworth | |||
| 4. S.Edmundson | 5. H Collett | |||
| 8. M Tyson T | ||||
| 9. G Morris | ||||
| 10. M PiperP3 C2 | ||||
| 12. K Sutcliffe | ||||
| 13. L Sutcliffe | ||||
| 11. L Atkinson T | 14. N Faulkner | |||
| 15. A Canning | ||||
| Subs | ||||
| C.Hewison | J.Hope-Collins | L.Hamilton |
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