Rishworthians v Huddersfield, Littleboro & Waterloo

Another good performance from Cats and Raiders

Match report Sunday 22nd January
This Sunday was designated a training day but the Meercats and Raiders needing match practice were invited to make up 3 way tournaments at Huddersfield YMCA and Littleborough

Under 6's The Micros

The micros had over 20 training in the warmth of the Rishworth Scool Sports Hall.

Under 10's The Meercats
Both sides produce fine performance in poor conditions

With no game scheduled to take place on Sunday Rishies were grateful of a late invite to a double headed fixture against local rivals Huddersfield and Huddersfield YMCA. The windy conditions and sloping pitch would play a factor in both games at Laund Hill as all sides struggled to come to terms with the conditions.

Game 1: Huddersfield 5 - 5 Rishworthians
With both sides initially struggling to control their passing in the strong wind, it was Rishies who adapted to the conditions first, keeping the ball closer in hand and managing a number of penetrating runs deep into Huddersfield's territory. With the lion's share of possession Rishies were rewarded with a first half try by Oliver Brian.

Following a change in personnel at half time, Rishies were a little disjointed and Huddersfield were able to capitalise by winning more ball at the breakdown. This lead to a well earned try by Huddersfield early in the second half. Rishies then began to find their feet and battled their way back into the game and were unfortunate not to score a winning try prior to the final whistle.

Try Scorers : Oliver Brian

Game 2: Huddersfield YMCA 10 - 35 Rishworthians
The second game of the morning was a more straight forward affair with Rishies being fortunate to have taken a break between games. The visitors got straight back into their stride and with some excellent rucking and scummaging they were able to release their backs to clinical effect. Early tries from Tom Georgiou (2), Oliver Brian (2) and Henry Hilton put the game beyond YMCA's reach prior to half time.

In the second half YMCA battled on and were rewarded with two tries of their own before further scores from Oliver Brian and Finn Sutcliff secured a Rishies win.

Try Scorers : Tom Georgiou (2), Oliver Brian (3), Henry Hilton, Finn Sutcliffe

Squad : Jack Marsden, Owen Witchell, Will Adams, Alex Sharpe, Tom Threlfall, Oscar Powell, Billy Smith, Nick Crane, Henry Hilton, Tom Georgiou, Tom Boom, Reece Barraclough, Finn Sutcliff, Marcus Woodhead, Oliver Brian, Gabriel Moore, Edward Whitwam, John Keeble, Max ????.

Man of the Match Oliver Brian
Effort Award: Tom Threlfall
Top Tackler:

Mark Witchell

Under 12's The Raiders
Raiders win muddy battle of Waterloo

The Raiders enjoyed a double success in a 3 way fixture with Waterloo and Littleborough on Sunday. They made light work of the miserable conditions on a rain soaked, muddy pitch, running in seven tries in the first match against a Waterloo side who seemed less than impressed with the unrelenting Pennine weather and then battled with the hosts Littleborough who were more accustomed to the conditions.

Game 1 Rishworthians 35 - 0 Waterloo
Stand Off Tom Craven crossed the whitewash for the first try as his dummy pass did enough to create a gap in the Waterloo defence and he cruised through to score. Shortly afterwards Craven was involved again as his pass found back row forward Morgan Smithies out wide on the left. Smithies straightened his run, drew the last defender then gave a well timed pass for Max Harrison to run onto and finish off the move with a try in the corner. Try number three was scored by Connor Friend just before half time. He picked up from the base of a ruck and dived across the line, after inside center Patrick Smallman had been halted just short following a strong run up the pitch.

In the second half the Raiders moved up a gear scoring 4 unanswered tries. The Waterloo defence were unable to secure any ball in the loose, giving the Raiders plenty of opportunity to feed the back line. Morgan Smithies popped up again wide on the left, this time finishing off the move by scoring in the corner. Two minutes later it was the same result but this time wide on the right. Stand Off Tom Craven drew the defender and floated a pass to winger Sam Puddephatt who ran down the touchline to score the Raiders fifth try. Scrum half George Wright was next to get in on the act as he spotted an opening down the blind side after picking up from a ruck, having too much pace for any would be tackler. Patrick Smallman scored the seventh try of the game with a typical strong run through the heart of the Waterloo defence and it seemed at this point the final whistle couldn't come soon enough for the demoralized visitors, and they got their wish as the referee cut the second half short, with the final score Raiders 35 - 0 Waterloo.

Game 2 Littleborough 0 - 20 Rishworthians
In the second game of the morning, local neighbours Littleborough proved to be a sterner test. The Lancashire side were strong and determined in defence, putting in some big hits on the Rishworthian players. Prop Nathan Hales, second row Phillip Tattersall and the hooker Toby Muscat-Baron all made strong runs up the middle though for the Raiders and with players there at the breakdown quickly to secure possession, it wasn't too long before the pressure told on the Littleborough defensive line. Connor Friend picked up from the base of a ruck and dived over for the first try and prop Harry Hinchliffe also went over from short range just before half time.

Replacement scrum half Morgan Smithies stepped in to fill the number 9 shirt after George Wright went off injured and promptly spotted a gap in the Littleborough defence as he picked up and darted over the line for Rishies third try. The final try of the game came from outside center Ethan Pollard who capped a man of the match performance with a well deserved try, cutting through the defence after receiving a well timed pass from Tom Craven, to complete the 20 - 0 victory.

Tries: Craven, Smallman.Smithies (2), Friend (2), Puddephatt, Pollard, G. Wright, Hinchliffe, Harrison,
Conversions:

Man of the Match Ethan Pollard
Effort Award: George Ackroyd and Toby Muscat-Baron
Best tackle: