What ifs & maybe
Foresters travelled to Light Foot Green Lane, Preston, with the first XV, to take on Grasshopper’s 2nd team.
The away supporters that made the journey matched those in numbers of their hosts.
Conditions were perfect augmented by Preston providing a referee and two assistant referees!
The game initially started brightly for Dale, however, after a short kicking dual, Dale misqueued a kick to touch which went out on the fall taking play back into Dale’s half and gave the line out to Preston. Grasshopper’s pack took advantage of the situation and with a well organised drill in the lineout , threw to the middle of the line, despite pressure from Dale’s competition. From here Preston played keep ball and slowly went forward using their backs and forwards to pressure Dale’s defence. The Greens at times got caught “narrow “ however they managed to scramble and hold out in their right hand corner until their green wall was finally breached with a short range drive for Preston to take the lead after 3 mins , 7-0.
Foresters, not to be out done, then put their opposition under sustained pressure to the extent that Grasshoppers were penalised on their own 10 metre line. The left footed Stand off, Toby Mallison, drilled the ball into touch to around 10 metres out from the opposition’s try line. Dale’s pack demonstrated to Grasshoppers that they were also a well organised unit and set up a driving maul. To Grasshoppers credit they managed to stall the momentum of the drive. Dale reorganised themselves with the forwards getting the ball out to the half backs, Preston themselves then got a little narrow in defence. Dale, recognising the space out wide, saw this and with crisp handing across the back line put Ryan Hodgson through, touching down in the left hand corner.
Score 7-5 after 7 minutes.
Dale now had a sustained period of pressure and will be kicking themselves that they didn’t convert this into points. They were becoming frustrated with the referee’s inconsistency at the breakdown. This frustration probably led to Dale spilling ball in two certain try scoring opportunities, one on and the other over Preston’s goal line. Dale then exacerbated these lapses with their discipline by questioning the referee’s decisions in open play.
At the break Preston went in 13- 5 up after being awarded a scrum penalty in front of goals, at 37 min. Dale were again penalised for ill discipline, for back chat to the referee, who marched Wharfedale back 10 metres to make an initial difficult penalty kick a far easier task.
Halftime 13-5
The second half commenced and saw the game played in the middle third of the pitch with neither side gaining ascendancy for the first 10 minutes. However, Dale gradually were edging the forward battle and were beginning to look the fitter team. The Greens were now looking threatening with a combination of the pack driving supported by the three quarters asking questions with their direct play which was interspersed with some attacking kicking. It’s to Preston’s credit that they remained steadfast and, as Dale mounted another attack on Grasshopper’s right edge, the Greens were turned over and Preston’s right wing went 50 metres to run in a try under the posts.
Score at 57 minutes 20-5.
The young Foresters team were determined to still take the game to Preston and, after sustained phase play, Luke Craven scored wide left.
The score was now 20-10 after 67 minutes.
Dale were unable to capitalise on this momentum despite their attacking intent, crucially missing touch for a penalty awarded to them deep in Preston’s half .
Prior to full time Grasshoppers elected to kick for goals after being awarded a penalty.
Full time 23-10
Dale maybe with a little more accuracy, concentration and discipline might have returned home with an alternative result. However, to their credit, they had a number of players playing out of position. In the forwards Jack Hirst and Joe Fawcett were prominent with some heavy carries into contact while on both sides of the ball and particularly defensively, Jack Burton made some critical dominant hits and turnovers to stem pressure. In the back line,Josh Prell, both in attack and in defence, was conspicuous. A special mention to Ollie Bullock, Dale’s Swiss Army Knife, a true utility player, playing at centre, scrum half and wing despite his preferred position being Flanker. Foresters now need to get themselves prepared for league leaders Billingham’s visit next Saturday at The Avenue.
Team Starters: – 1 T Whitehead, 2 J Hirst, 3 R Smith, 4 J Burton, 5 S Borrill , 6 M Mountain, 7 Z Hayes, 8 J Fawcett, 9 F Walker, 10 T Mallinson, 11 R Hodgson, 12 O Bullock, 13 J Prell, 14 O Hall. 15 S Mason.
Finishers: – A Rhodes, S Bennett, L Craven .
By Geoff Burton.