Old Rishworthian RUFC
Address: The Clubhouse, Copley, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX3 0UG
Telephone: 01422 353919, E-mail: rugby@orrufc.co.uk
Club Colours Maroon, White and Black
Minis Match Reports 2011 - 2012
Old Rishworthian RUFC
Minis Match Reports 2011 - 2012
Good set of results despite the cold wet weather
Match report Sunday 11th December
Meanwhile at Camp Copley the micros had over 20 training with new players joining each week.
Under 11's The Destroyers
The Destroyers ended 2011 with a gutsy and determined performance in very wet conditions at the Leeds Carnegie festival. Rish were drawn in a four team group consisting of Sheffield RUFC, Sandal and Wensleydale with the three group winners automatically going through to the knock out semi finals. The fourth semi finalist would be the second placed team with the best record from the three groups. As Rish only had 11 squad members available on the day they had no option but to play each game with a 1 man disadvantage, and did not have the luxury of making any substitutions in case of injuries or resting players if required. Game 1: Rishworthians 5 - 0 Sheffield RUFC
The second half began in similar fashion, but Rish gradually began to get on top with most of the game played within the Sheffield half. Good driving runs from William Robbins, William Harker and Ben Burrows kept the pressure on the Sheffield defence but they managed to hold out with good tackling. Then with time running out and a draw looking the most likely outcome Corey White burst through from 10 metres out and was only held up 2 metres short on the line. Excellent Rish rucking over by the forwards meant they kept possession and the ball was collected by a very determined Tom Gillespie who forced his way over the line for the winning try. The referee immediately blew for full time and Rish celebrated a hard earned and well deserved win. Game 2 Rishworthians 0 - 20 Sandal
In the second half Rish continued to battle hard but once again Sandal made the extra man count and scored a further 2 unanswered tries to take the match 20 - 0. Game 3 Rishworthians 5 - 0 Wensleydale
In the early stages of the second half Rish continued to show great committment and played some of the best rugby seen this season as they attempted to secure the win. One determined run followed another as Tom Gillespie, Zak Rush, William Robbins, William Harker, Kian Wallace and Matty Toomby all made good ground before laying the ball back to the next man to drive on. Eventually the breakthrough came as Corey White went on another blistering run and laying the ball off to Henry Craven who raced up the wing before cutting inside only to be tackled 5 metres short of the line. Good Rish backing up secured the ball and allowed Jake Haynes to collect the ball and squeeze over the line for a superb team try. Rish now had to show their defensive strength as in the closing minutes Wensleydale went on a prolonged attack, and at one point crossed the Rish line but fine tackling prevented the ball from being grounded.The attacks continued but fine all round tackling held Wensleydale at bay. In the final minute with Rish pinned within their own 5 metre area Corey White ripped the ball free allowing Tom Gillespie to launch a fantastic clearance kick which went in to touch 2 metres from the Wensleydale line. As the ball went out the referee blew for full time much to the relief of the Rish supporters to end a great display of rugby from both teams. All in all a fantastic team performance in difficult conditions that all eleven players can be proud of. Even though Rish finished a very creditable second in their group they just missed out on the fourth semi final slot as Malton & Norton who also finished second in their group had a better overall record over the 3 group matches.
As a matter of interest Sandal beat Otley 10 - 5 in their semi final, and went on to meet Malton & Norton in the final. This game finished scoreless and the trophy was shared. Squad Ben Burrows, Henry Craven, Thomas Gillespie, William Harker, Jake Haynes, William Robbins, Zak Rush, Thomas Stott, Matthew Toomby, Kian Wallace and Corey White Man of the TournamentTom Gillespie
Gutsy performacne by a depleted squad
Rish opted to play without a fullback, and wingers Henry Craven & Matthew Toomby were instructed to play further infield to cover any Sheffield downfield kicks. Rish began well driving Sheffield off the first 2 scrums to win good possession, and scrum half Jake Haynes almost opened the scoring from the second scrum as his run for the line was just held up short. The lack of replacement players was highlighted when Ben Burrows had to leave the field with a facial injury, but bravely returned to the pack after being patched up. As the half wore on Sheffield came back in to the game but determined tackling from all Rish players prevented any clear cut scoring chances and the half ended scoreless.
The second game was against a Sandal team who had just beaten Wensleydale by six tries to nil, so playing with a man short Rish knew this would be a very difficult challenge. From the kick off they started well with a good charging run from Ben Burrows, but as Sandal won more possession and began to throw the ball out to their speedy backs they found gaps in the Rish defence crossing the line twice to take a 10 - 0 lead at half time.
With the rain getting heavier the Destroyers were straight back on the pitch for their final group game which would be the group second place decider against a strong Wensleydale team and a 'cracking' encounter it turned out to be. Rish were straight on the attack with a Jake Haynes run taking the ball deep in to Wensleydale territory, and the ball was neatly laid off to Tom Stott who almost went over to score in the corner. Rish continued to apply strong pressure with good runs from Corey White and Kian Wallace forcing Wensleydale back in to their own half. Several times the Wensleydale backs were forced to kick long to relieve the pressure, but on each occasion in spite of the tricky ground conditions the ball was gathered well by Matty Toomby or Henry Craven who proceeded to relaunch the attack. In the closing minute of the half Zak Rush collected the ball and had a chance to score in the corner, but committed Wensleydale tackling forced him in to touch just short of the line and a very competitive half ended scoreless.
Effort Award: The Entire Squad
Top Tackler: William Harker and Corey White
Shaun Brittlebank
Under 12's The Raiders
Wet conditions at the Leeds Carnegie festival couldn't deter a spirited Old Rishworthians Under 12's side on Sunday. Game 1 Rishworthians 5 - 5 Morley
The second period was an equally tight affair although the Raiders always looked more likely to score, with winger Sam Puddephatt making several good breaks. However, it was Morley who scored the opening try as the Rishworthian defence switched off momentarily, allowing the Morley inside centre to sprint through a gap which should have never been there. Rishies battled back though, with strong runs from Patrick Smallman and Ethan Pollard just being halted short of the try line. It was Smallman who eventually levelled the scoreline, with a typically strong run up the middle, backing himself to score when there were options out wide, but the determined centre made sure he crossed the whitewash to end the game 5-5. Game 2 Rishworthians 5 - 5 Morley
Game 3 Rishworthians 15 - 0 Aireborough
With other results going against Rishworthians, they were just pipped to top spot in their pool by Dinnington, who went on to beat Sheffield in the semi-final but narrowly lose to Sandal in the final by a single try. Tries: Smallman, G. Wright, Bell, Pollard, Craven.,
Man of the Match Alex Tull
Risworthians just piped to pool top spot
Playing in a pool of four teams, the Raiders first opponents were Morley. The teams were evenly matched although Rishworthians enjoyed more of the first half possession, following some good work at the breakdown by Morgan Smithies and Connor Friend. Second row Alex Tull made several good runs after picking up the ball from the base of the ruck, but the Morley defence held firm and the Raiders failed to get on the score sheet.
Next up were Dinnington, who had won their opening game against Aireborough. It was the Rishworthian Raiders who once more dominated possession however, with Phillip Tattersall ripping the ball out of several mauls and also winning plenty of lineout possession. The Raiders back division failed to exploit space out wide though in the first half, with runners choosing to cut back inside on several occasions when a simple pass may have been a better option. Scrum half George Wright showed his initiative however, picking up from the base of a scrum and sprinting down the blindside to make the score 5-0 in favour of Rishworthians. Alex Tull looked as though he may have added to the Rishies total, making some hard yards with ball in hand but always getting halted just short. As the clock ticked down, Rishies seemed to have done enough to secure a valuable win but agonisingly allowed Dinnington to move the ball out wide in the dying seconds of the match and slip through several would-be tacklers to level the score with the last play of the match 5-5.
In the final pool game, the Raiders did what they had threatened to do all morning and score some well worked team tries. Playing against Aireborough, Morgan Smithies made a strong run up the middle and then popped the ball up to Connor Friend as he was tackled. Friend recycled well and prop Callum Bell was on-hand to pick and drive from the ruck and cross the line for the opening score. Ethan Pollard came off the bench when an injury forced Patrick Smallman to retire hurt. Pollard accepted the invitation and promptly made a strong run through the heart of the Aireborough defence to score Rishies second try. The victory was completed as fly half Tom Craven received a lovely pass from scrum half George Wright and threw an outrageous dummy to fool his opposite number and cut through to round off a 15-0 win.
No Conversions:
Effort Award: Connor Friend
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Old Rishworthian RUFC are Registered under the Industrial & Provident Societies Act 1965 No. 29834R