Report by Geoff Burton.
The Foresters travelled with the 1st team to take on the Fylde Hawks at a cold and blustery Lytham St Anne’s; a new venue and opposition for many of the Foresters squad.
Coach Shuttleworth had a number of quality players returning to his team, with a few returning from long-term injuries and sabbaticals.
Foresters for the first few minutes of the opening period of the game were penalised twice for their indiscretions. They were put under early pressure by the young Hawks team.
However, the Greens were solid in defence and turned Hawks over around the 10-metre line. The ball was quickly recycled and went from right to left, where the impressive inside centre Callum Lockett made a burst up the middle of the field. After beating the opposition defence, he drew the remaining defender and put the supporting Harry Bullough (fullback) away to score in the left corner. The try was converted with an excellent kick from the Green’s stand off, Andy Rhodes. (Score 0–7 after approximately 6 minutes)
The Forester’s physicality began to take charge. At the 13-minute mark, it was again the inside centre, Callum Lockett, breaking the defensive line on Hawk’s 10-metre line. This time, instead of moving the ball, the midfielder finished himself in the left corner. Score 0-12.
Wharfedale’s pack, led superbly by captain Simon Borrill, was now in charge at the set piece and in the collisions on both sides of the ball. This allowed the back row and midfield to run hard at the battling Hawks. Open side flanker Max Mountain carried hard twice in phase play into Fylde’s defence. The increasing ruck speed, combined with an excellent running line and offload from Lock Zeb Heys, put the influential Callum Lockett away deep into Fylde’s half. The scrambling defence could not stop outside centre Ollie Bullock from benefiting from Lockett’s pass and scoring in the left corner.
Score 0–17 around the 30-minute mark.
There was a long delay shortly after this point when substitute Dylan Canny sustained a concerning injury. The game was rightly stopped to allow the appropriate action and treatment to be taken. He was conveyed to the hospital, where he was thankfully later given the all-clear.
The referee informed the teams because of the delay that the 2nd half would be shortened to 30 minutes.
After the break, a Dale turnover scrum in their own half saw the powerful number eight Jack Thompson take the ball from the back of the scrum before breaking through the centre of the field, offloading to the tireless scrum half, Omari Kaup-Samuel, who was in support and was stopped approximately 8 metres short of the try line (wide right). Two consecutive carries by the returning blindside flanker, Josh Burridge, and then Max Mountain took them towards the goal line and posts. Being inches from the try line, the backs now took charge, and the ball went along the three quarters. Ollie Bullock scored his second, just right of the goal posts. The try was converted, with a score of 0-24 after 47 minutes.
Dale were intent on attacking, but they were undone when they were intercepted by Hawks, who scored in the left corner. Score 5-24 (50 minutes)
53 minutes in, and after some direct rugby and multi-phase play, substitute Owain Thomas) scored under the posts. Try converted; score 5-31.
The Hawks tried to stay in the fight and were on Dale’s 5-metre line, looking to score. Unfortunately for them, they were turned over, and a subsequent fly hack down the centre of the pitch saw a foot race that Wharfedale won. The ensuing ruck, about 40 metres out, saw the ball moved out to the left wing. The young substitute, Spencer Bennett, demonstrated pace, footwork, and power, beating several defenders after cutting back inside to score by the posts. The try was converted
Score 5-38 (60 minutes)
With the game in its dying minutes, Fylde were again turned over, and the young substitute, Alex Mounsey, finished off a well-taken try to conclude The Green’s scoring for the day.
The try was converted, and the score at full time was 5-45.
Team: –
Starters
1. T. Whitehead, 2. J. Hirst, 3. G. Latham, 4. S. Borrill, 5. Z. Heys, 6. J. Burridge, 7. M. Mountain, 8. J. Thompson, 9. O. Kaup-Samuels, 10. A. Rhodes, 11. O. Hall, 12. C. Lockett, 13. O. Bullock, 14. F. Walker, 15. H. Bullough.
Finishers: –
16. L. Craven, 17. D. Canny, 18. J. Howarth, 19. O Thomas, 20. S. Bennett, 21. A. Mounsey.