Rishworthian Minis v Huddersfield Minis, match report, Rishworthians put in some excellent performances against Huddesfield

Wharfedale Minis v Rishworthians Minis

Rishworthians impress at Wharfedale

Match reports Sunday 18th November
Rishworthians minis made the long journey to Wharfedale for the first meeting between the 2 clubs at mini level and as we have always found at senior and junior level to enjoy a good level of rugby played in the right spirit of the game. After the games the parents players and coaches enjoyed the friendly hospitality from their hosts in their impressive surroundings.
There are those who claim Grenoble as the finest setting for a rugby match, dominated by the majestic scenery of the Alps. You would certainly have to go far to find a more attractive venue than Threshfield home of "The Green Machine", surrounded itself on this wintry Sunday by snow dusted peaks. It is always a challenge on days such as these for cold hands to grip on a slippery ball.

Under 6’s The Micros
The under 6's have steadily increased in numbers over the last few weeks with 14 micros training including another new recruit. Neil Lumb was unavaiable so Darren Grogan lead the session with Guy Laurie and Warren Doyle helping Darren. The squad enjoyed the session despite the cold damp conditions. Once they reach their 6th birthday and understand the game they can join the under 7's squad and play some competitive games.

Under 7's The Young Guns
With Wharfedale having enough players for two sides a game of four quarters was played with Wharfedale interchanging their two sides, thus leaving some hard work for the Young Guns.

Final Score Wharfedale 10 - 11 Rishworthians

1st Quarter Wharfedale 2 - 2 Rishworthians
Rishworthians gave away possession too easily and in a game that they probably should have won they ended up drawing 2-2 with tries from Kian Sutcliffe and George Sutcliffe (no relation).

2nd Quarter Wharfedale 2 - 2 Rishworthians
With a much tighter performance Rishworthians played some good open rugby to again draw 2-2 with tries from George Sutcliffe and Corey White.

3rd Quarter Wharfedale 3 - 4 Rishworthians
In the best passage of play both sides produced some great open rugby with fine individual runs by players from both sides. Rishworthians finally edged home winners 4-3 with tries from William Harker, Corey White, Kian Sutcliffe and Jack Mallinson. A great all round performance.

3rd Quarter Wharfedale 3 - 3 Rishworthians
Wharfedale took an early 2-0 lead before Carrick Keighley-Payne pulled one back for Rishworthians. Wharfedale scored again to lead 3-1 and the Young Guns looked dead and buried before Corey White scored two great solo tries to even the scores at 3-3.

George Sutcliffe then seemingly took on Wharfedale single handed with an amazing sequence of tagging which earned him the man of the match award.

Squad ; Jack Mallinson, Kian and Finn Sutcliffe, George Sutcliffe, William Harker, Henry Hilton, Carrick Keighley-Payne, Corey White

Thanks to all the parents again for getting the players to the match on time and for their support throughout the morning. Once again it was a great morning out with the hosts providing sporting opposition who played the game for enjoyment. Definitely a fixture to keep on the list in future years.

Grahame White

Under 8’s The Raiders
Firstly thanks to Steve Cockroft who stepped in to coach the side in the absence of Dave Puddephatt.
Although there are no detailed match reports by all accounts the two games were very evenly contested and both sides enjoyed themselves playing some good open rugby.

Game 1 Wharfedale 10 - 9 Rishworthians
In the first game Rishworthians managed to edge into and 8-6 lead but let in some late tries to finally run out 10-9 losers.

Game 1 Wharfedale 8 - 8 Rishworthians
The second game proved a closer affair and ended up with honours even at 8-8.

Under 9's The Reds & All Blacks
The Reds picked up exactly where they left off the previous week. A fine display of forward play coupled with deft teamwork to find space to run and bring two victories for Rishies in this double header against Wharfedale.

Game 1 Wharfedale 0 - 30 Rishworthian Reds
Wharfedale started the game with neat passing, but ran into what is becoming an impressive "Reds" defensive wall. Jacob Bower spotted the opportunity to rip the ball clear and darted down the touchline to establish an early lead. Moments later and Rishies had again trapped Wharfedale with the ball. This time George Radcliffe, who had a fine day’s rugby, ripped the ball clear to find Thomas Creasy. Good teamwork brought Thomas Sweeten into play and his cross field charge gave The Reds a 10 point lead.

It is always a credit to a side on a cold day like this when they can lift their heads at two tries down in the first few minutes. Certainly, Wharfedale were not going to let this one go easily and attacked Rishies fiercely from the restart. It took a driving tackle for Jack Davis to put Wharfedale into touch just 5 yards from the Rishies’ line. Thomas Cockroft showed a clear head, throwing the ball in carefully given the tricky windy conditions. Thomas Creasy at scrum half took a clean ball and must have been reassured at the sight of Jack Davis waiting at standoff. It wasn’t that "Rhino" Jack scored from here, that in doing so he must have covered the entire length of the pitch nor that he did so with half the Wharfedale team clinging on to him. It was that Jack drifted neither right nor left, he just powered his way from one line to the other with no deviation - or for that matter hesitation.

Wharfedale showed their first signs of weariness from the restart, harried by one Rishies player after another in a terrific display of teamwork. Thomas Sweeten found a chance, only to be hauled down yards from the line. Lewis Hilton then reaped the reward of a player who keeps supporting the player with the ball, collecting from Thomas and deftly sidestepping one way then the other until a chink opened and over the line he went to put the score at 20-0 at half time.

Half time score Wharfedale 0 - 20 Rishworthian Reds

From the restart Jacob Bower made good ground up the middle before finding Jack Davis who showed that he can score in the corner too and Rishies were 25 clear. Wharfedale, tough, showed that they will never lie down and put in perhaps their most ferocious period of the morning. Archie showed both teams how to tackle round the legs and Wharfedale started to build momentum, driving Rishies off the ball at rucks and securing good possession. They were unfortunate not to break the Rishies’ line and it was the turn of a Rishies player, Thomas Sweeten again, who closed off the game with an arcing run, timing his sidestep sweetly and crossing for Rishies’ sixth try.

Scorers: Jacob Bower, Thomas Sweeten (2), Jack Davis (2), Lewis Hilton

Game 2 Wharfedale 10 - 30 Rishworthian Reds
Both sides seemed to have settled into a pattern as we began this second leg of the morning. George Radcliffe opened the scoring for Rishies, from Thomas Creasy’s opening break of the match. Thomas Creasy then found his own chance, sprinting down the wing to go over unopposed. Jacob Bower was never going to miss out on a good thing and took the same route. Wharfedale made good ground to block him from the corner, but a bad case of white-line-itis had struck Jacob and nothing was going to stop him. Jack Davis too had clearly been struck down with the bug as he powered over for his third of the morning and Rishies were 20 – 0 up by half time.

Half time score Wharfedale 0 - 20 Rishworthian Reds

Wharfedale took their chances in the final half of the morning, making good use of open space and outsprinting the Rishies’ defence to register their first score. Charlotte Siddall, in return, was firing on all cylinders and looked as if she might make the line direct. Tackled short, she presented the ball well for her supporters and Will McDonnell was never going to be caught as he sped over. It’s a curious thing, but Rishies always turn out their best tackling immediately after they have scored and Will was no exception, making good round straight after his own try to prevent Wharfedale touching down in the opposite corner. Nevertheless, strong Wharfedale pressure caught Rishies over their own line and, after frantic attempts to clear the line, Wharfedale pounced on a loose ball to score.

Throughout the morning, Nathan Cooper had been an ever present thorn in the Wharfedale side and his resilient tackling just would not stop. Seldom do you see such energy, one second tackling, the next back on his feet to bring down the next player. Only desperate defence from Wharfedale prevented Nathan from crossing the line himself. Strong support from Gregory Day, Charlotte Siddall and Dan Byrnes kept the move alive in a way that characterised the spirit of the whole Rishies squad.

It was perhaps just that the last move was left to Rishies. Charlotte Siddall seemed to have saved herself for the final quarter as again she fizzed her way deep into Wharfedale territory, forcing a penalty from the home side. Working the ball quickly away to Jacob Bower, Rishies scored the final points, bringing this second match to 30-10.

Scorers: Thomas Sweeten, Thomas Creasy, Jacob Bower (2), Jack Davis, William Mc Donnell

These were fine team performances and it was no surprise to see so many smiling faces in the clubhouse afterwards. There can be no finer tribute, though, than to be complimented by the team you have played. The previous week, Baildon and Littleborough coaches and parents had been hugely impressed by the quality of the Rishies U9 team. This time it was Wharfedale coaches who commented on the way Rishies played as a team and tackled with determination. The best traditions of rugby are made by teams who create – and give - respect amongst those they meet. Old Rishworthians U9s can be proud of themselves.

The Squad: Charlotte Siddall, Jack Davis, Nathan Cooper, Thomas Sweeten, Thomas Cockroft, Thomas Creasy, Dan Byrnes, Lewis Hilton, Gregory Day, Jacob Bower, William McDonnell, George Radcliffe

The man of the match went to Nathan Cooper and the Effort award to George Radcliffe

Hugh Creasy