Rishworthians v Huddersfield

Reds bounce back after defeat at Sandal

This Sunday the Reds played their first home game of the season against Huddersfield on our new pitch at Hollas Lane. After all the rain that has fallen this week the new pitch looked remarkably well and it was "christened" by the under 11 Reds who put Huddersfield to the sword with an impressive display of flowing rugby.

After an uninspiring display against Sandal Sharks last week the youngsters had a point to prove to themselves, coaches and parents and it was good to see a more positive mindset prior to kick off. A couple of players who have been missing recently returned to the fold, and we gave a welcome to new recruit Toby Gledhill, so the coaches had a full squad to choose from for this encounter.

Game 1 Rishworthian Reds 33 - 0 Huddersfield
Any apprehensions that existed before this match were expelled after a superb opening to the game. Over the years the Reds have scored some quick tries but they excelled themselves in this match scoring in the first 7seconds. From the kick off Jacob Bower put the ball deep in to Huddersfield territory where it rolled in to the in goal area and the Huddersfield defender was slow to collect. Quick thinking Sam Bake, who had given chase, pounced on the ball and was awarded the try. Jacob Bower converted. The immense Reds pack won their first scrum against the head and after the ball had gone down the line, Will McDonnell picked up and darted over. Bower converted. A Huddersfield kick was fumbled by Nathan Cooper at full back but recovered in time to lay the ball back. Will McDonnell at scrum half cleared the lines with a kick downfield which Thomas Sweeten chased and put the defender under pressure. From the ensuing ruck the Reds stole the ball and Cooper battled over to score. Bower converted.

Huddersfield were undaunted and they had a good 7 or 8 attacking phases within the Reds 10 metre line but great defence from the Rishies youngsters kept them at bay. Rishworthians then attacked again with a wonderful cross field move which finished with McDonnell offloading the final pass to Charlotte Siddall on the wing who made her way to the try line where she was assisted by her team mates who shoved her over to score. The tackle of the day was made by Nathan Cooper who booted the ball up field, chased his own kick, and flattened the ball catcher with a perfect tackle. The Reds almost scored in the final seconds of the half when a scrum was won against the head and the ball was released down the line only to see the final pass go to ground.

Half time Rishworthians 26 - 0 Huddersfield

The second half started with the Reds again in the drivers seat. A Huddersfield line out was won first of all by George Radcliffe with the two props Jamie Smith and Jonathan Wheatcroft gaining good ground. They then won another scrum against the head followed by a penalty when a Huddersfield player was penalised for an infringement in the ruck. From the penalty Jack Davis charged at the line but Huddersfield gave away another penalty. Again Davis attacked the defence and again was held up but from the maul Jamie Smith barged over from 2 metres. Bower converted. The Reds then got a case of the dropsy?s with a number of final passes going to ground in decent positions.

The last attacking play from the Reds saw McDonnell take the pass from a penalty and run across field before offloading to Bake who was held up just short of the try line. A last effort by Huddersfield was snuffed out by Thomas Creasy on the right wing who made a great tackle which put the opposing player in to touch. The final score was 33-0 to the Reds.

Tries: Sam Bake, Will McDonnell, Nathan Cooper, Charlotte Siddall, Jamie Smith. Cons: Jacob Bower (4)

Game 2 Rishworthian Reds 77 - 5 Huddersfield
It looked like deja vu when this game kicked off with Thomas Sweeten chasing the kick deep in to Huddersfield territory and recovering the ball only to be tackled short of the line. The try soon came though when Davis forced his way to within 2 metres of the try line where a maul formed, which then drove over allowing Davis to drop and place the ball on the line. Bower converted.

What followed next was a bizarre series of events. From the kick off Thomas Sweeten collected the ball from his own 5 metre line and set off down the right wing to score in the corner. Bower converted. From the second kick off Davis caught the ball and returned it 50 metres through the entire defence before a pass to Sweeten saw him go in again at the corner flag. Bower converted. The ensuing kick off again went to Davis who yet again ran almost the full length of the pitch and this time managed to score. Bower converted. Huddersfield?s next kick off went through the in goal area and went dead. A Rishies scrum on the centre spot saw good handling down the line to Bake who gave the final pass to Siddall who strolled over unopposed. Sweeten converted. Suddenly it?s 35-0. Phew!!! What an amazing 5 minutes of excellent, powerful rugby.

But it didn?t stop there. Sustained Reds pressure in the Huddersfield 15 ended when a heap of players crashed over the line for Greg Day to emerge with the days biggest smile on his face after planting the ball down. Bower converted to give the Reds a half time lead of 42-0.

Half time Rishworthians 42 - 0 Huddersfield

The Reds continued to play on the front foot, dominating possession in the scrums, line outs and breakdowns and their efforts were rewarded with more well crafted tries. From a well driven maul the ball was released to Bake at pace who ran through 3 defenders and dived over to score. Bower converted. The next try was very similar but this time George Radcliffe peeled off the maul and, spinning out of a tackle, reached over the line. Bower converted. The kick off again saw another solo try. This time scrum half Will McDonnell collected the ball and set off like a whippet down the left wing to score in the corner. Bower converted. From the restart McDonnell again returned the ball 30 metres before offloading to centre Bake who continued the run and was awarded a penalty 10 metres out. McDonnell took the ball and jinked his way through a couple of tackles before diving over. Bower converted.

Huddersfield had hardly looked like scoring through the game but good play from them brought them to the Reds 5 metre line and a scrum. I think this coach put the kiss of death on the play when bellowing from the side line, "They will not score!!!" Because, from the scrum the ball went wide down the line and they scored in the corner. The conversion bounced back of the crossbar. 70-5. The last word though went to the Reds with another try from the industrious Sam Bake who sprinted through a gap in the defence. And guess what, Jacob Bower kicked his 10th conversion of the match, and his 14th of the day.

Tries: Jack Davis(2), Thomas Sweeten (2), Sam Bake (2), Will McDonnell (2), Charlotte Siddall, Greg Day, George Radcliffe.
Cons: Jacob Bower (10), Thomas Sweeten.

Man of the match: Jack Davis
Effort award: Sam Bake
Tackle award: Nathan Cooper

All disappointments of the previous week were wiped out after this superb exhibition of flowing rugby. Big hard tackles came from every player and Huddersfield had no answer to our handling, passing and intensity in the scrums, rucks and mauls. Confidence should now be high and it will need to be with Brods coming to Copley next Sunday, but if we play like we did today we should be rewarded with a win.

While I give plaudits today, it could be so much better tomorrow. That is, if we get more players attending training on Friday evenings, we could then have the whole team singing from the same song book. It was obvious at times during today?s games that some players do not know such basic things as line out calls, set plays, defensive and attacking tactics. All these things are gone through in training each week to prepare for Sundays matches and it is difficult as coaches to teach such things when nearly half of the team is not there. I know it is difficult at times but it would be appreciated if an effort could be made between 6-7 on Fridays. It is not fair on the 10 or 11 players who do turn up as they are also not receiving the proper team training. We play well as a team, lets train as a team.

Lastly, thanks to all parents, grand parents, relatives and friends that attended and supported the team on Sunday. It was good to see such an impressive crowd. We will try to get a key for that gate by next week. Dave Mc