Match report Sunday 14th March Friendly
A Rishworthians side depleted by injuries and Mothers Day committments traveled to Roundhegians and were somewhat relieved to find they were also struggling for numbers. Missing Joe Garside our regular goal kicker out with an injured foot for the rest of the season proved to be the difference in this close encounter.

With only 10 players and the opposition only having 11 there was plenty of space on a big pitch which the Rishworthians should have been able to exploit with all their big runners being present. In the early exchanges this proved to be the case. From the kick off Rishworthians secured the ball and the backs swiftly moved the ball out wide to Lawrence Chan who used his pace to good effect and scored an unconverted try wide out.

Roundhegians also had a very capable centre who could make big runs and with players in support at the break down they levelled the scores with an unconverted try. Rishworthans playing up the slope and into the wind still had plenty of opportunities to move the ball but nothing was created with too many balls dropped, passes going astray or the wrong option taken. Rishworthians gained the upper hand through Jake Sturman and Josh Gledhill dominating the scrums and Richard Bullough winning most of the line out ball. It was the Rishworthians who scored next from a penalty on the 22. A quick tap and pass to Rob Varela allowed him to take the ball at speed, run round and burst through the defence to score an unconverted try. Just before half time Roundhesians broke away to level the scores with an unconverted try.

Half time score Roundhegians 10 - 10 Rishworthians

Second half was dominated by Rishworthians with the home side not venturing into the Rishworthians half on many occasions but on two of their visits they managed to score and crucially convert one. Their first try came from a promising Rishworthianss attack, however the ball was knocked on and whilst the Rishworthians appeared to have settled for the scrum, the referee played advantage and this eventually resulted in a try. Their second try came from the Rishworthians recovering the ball just outside their own 22. The forwards made a couple of drives and the ball was made available and spun out to the back line. However the pass went astray allowing one of the retiring Roundhegians players to collect the ball. He was tackled but hung onto the ball and got his pass away along the Roundhegians back line for them to score despite Ben Coup making a great effort to hold the ball up over the line.

Despite Rishworthians falling behind for the first time in the game they fought their way back into the game. Rishworthians third try came from Richard Bullough who, after a couple of pick and drives by the forwards was able to collect the ball from the base of a ruck, break a tackle and sprint for the line. Bullough had a further try disallowed, Jake Sturman made an thumping tackle on the scrum half, the ball was turned over and fed to Bullough who handed off his marker to cross for a try. However the referee awarded a penalty for the hand off.

Rishworthians had the chance to level the scores when Daniel Cooper picked up from a ruck and crashed over after a number of drives by the forwards, Rob Varela took over the kicking duties and from the touch line only just missed. With Rishworthians trailing by only two points and time running out the next score was likely to win the game. The only team that look like scoring was Rishworthians who were winning the majority of the ball but trying too hard to get the ball out to Lawrence Chan or Tom Hammond. Daniel Cooper managed to get over the line but a wonderful tackle from their centre not only prevented him scoring but knock him out of play, giving them a 22 drop out if he had only been held up it would have been scrum 5 to us.

At the end Rishworthians were still going forward and it was a great effort by all the players. With Joe Garside out for the rest of the season the squad need to find a goal kicker. We missed Joe's goal kicking today and had Richards second try been allowed the squad could have won the match.

Full time Roundhegians 22 - 20 Rishworthians

Man of the Match :
Effort award

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Team
	1. J Gledhill	2. Sturman	3. D Cooper T
6.				7.
	4. Bullough T		5. Verela T
		8.
9. B Davies
	10. T Vaughan
		12. T Hammond
			13.
11. Coup				14. Chan T
		15.
Subs