The Foresters for their first league match of the season entertained Sheffield Tigers 2nd XV at the Avenue. Conditions were benign with a pitch that was in good order and firm.
Tigers had experienced travel disruption and were a player down, however this did not seem to dampen their desire for the forthcoming challenge.
Foresters kicked off, (left to right, from the clubhouse). Tigers secured the ball near the far touch by their 22 metre line. An excellent break by the Tiger’s s loose head prop had the Greens immediately on the back foot. Tigers used the short side to make more ground and to give their back line plenty of width. Their halfbacks then switched play. Another incisive break, this time by the inside centre, who had drifted left, saw him able to offload in the tackle. He put his wing away to score in the corner. Two minutes in (0-5) and the Foresters knew they had a game on their hands.
Shortly after the restart, Tigers found themselves in possession around their 22 metre line. They were being pressurised at the breakdown. This pressure led to a turnover. Scrum half Sam Cox initially passed (right) to the open side from the ensuing ruck. Stand off, Omari, noticed that the Tigers were short of numbers on the blindside and switched play. The Greens outside backs picked off the Tiger’s defence and left wing Owen Bullock scored in the corner. With a game that was not 5 minutes old the score was 5-5!
The game seemed to settle down with both teams having plenty of possession. The Greens set piece probably just edging out the Tigers up front.
At the eighteen minute mark, a rushed kicked clearance by Tigers was fielded by the Foresters. They were near the far left touch on their 10 metre line. This sparked the back three and the midfield into action. The counter attack saw the ball transferred left to right. The Greens had now penetrated deep into the Tiger’s territory. With a shortage of defensive cover right wing Orson Hall scored out wide to make the score 10-5.
Some two or three minutes later the determined Tigers manufactured a good try. They scored via their backs in the left corner. An excellent conversion kick saw the Tigers take the lead, 10-12.
We then witnessed a relatively quiet period of the game where both teams had the intent to attack but lacked execution. The weather had turned, the fine steady rain no doubt made handling tricky.
Halftime score 10-12.
The second half started where the first half left off. Neither team gaining ascendancy, however both teams were beginning to sustain injuries leaving them both short of their original starting line ups.
Around the 50th minute Dale eventually retook the lead. They scored through the impressive outside centre, Josh Prell, scoring under the posts after beating several defenders.
The Foresters led 15-12 but the lead was short lived.
Tigers were awarded a penalty, for an illegal clear out at the ruck. This was on the halfway line. An excellent kick for posts saw the game level 15-15 going into the last quarter of the game.
The injuries, particularly on the Tigers, seemed to be taking their toll. The Greens were beginning to enjoy territory and possession. From a line-out deep in the Tiger’s territory the Forester’s forwards drove hard into the Tiger’s defence. From the ensuing ruck, hooker, Dan Stockdale, ran hard and straight from around 10 metres out, to score just right of the uprights. The conversion was duly made and Dale were back in the lead after sixty minutes, 22-15.
The Tiger’s although not now enjoying the lion’s share of possession still posed a threat and were being steered around the park by their scrum half. They were awarded a penalty near Dale’s 22 metre line for a perceived no arms tackle. The quick thinking scrum half tapped the penalty and found the Greens short of numbers on their left. Tigers put the ball through the hands and scored. The subsequent conversion was succsseful and we were back to being all square at 22-22, with about three minutes remaining.
The Greens went back down into the Tiger’s half and were awarded a penalty left of the posts around the 22 metre line. The Foresters confidently opted to kick for touch. From the ensuing line out the Greens went through a number of pick and go phases, all the time going right. Eventually the ball went out to the backline and right wing Orson Hall secured the win, scoring a try wide right.
The subsequent conversion was taken by the talented Alex Mounsey making the final score 29-22.
A great result against a good team.
Next week the Foresters are away to Harrogate.
Team: –
Starters: –
1, R. Barker, 2, S. Holden 3, J. Hirst (capt) 4, Z. Heys 5, J.Beecroft* 6, D. Stockade 7, S. Bennett 8, D. Wills 9, S. Cox 10. O. Kaup-Samuels 11, O Bullock 12, A. Mounsey 13, J Prell 14, O. Hall 15, L. Hall*
Finisher : –
T. Whitehead
*=debut