On an overcast, still, grey day the Foresters travelled to Sheffield to take on their strong second team.
The Greens started with 14 men with a number of the team playing in unfamiliar positions, particularly in the backs.
The Dalesmen started well with plenty of possession and probed the Sheffield defence. On 7 minutes the Foresters were awarded a penalty and duly converted the attempt (Max Bell). 0-3.
Sheffield were stung into action and took no time in exploiting Dale’s numerical disadvantage. However, an excellent scrambling cover tackle by Owen Bullock kept the hosts from scoring some five minutes later.
The hosts came back at Dale and were taking advantage of repeated missed tackles. They scored a converted try, after 14 minutes, to take the score to 7-3.
The two packs were well matched with Dale edging the set piece.
Sheffield’s next try came four minutes later (the process being a pattern that was to repeat itself throughout the game). Dale were guilty of missing tackles from first phase, from set piece ball. They were 14-3 down after 18 minutes.
With their numbers up to a full fifteen, the Foresters looked a lot better in attack. They were awarded a penalty deep in the opposition’s 22 by the left touch line. The forwards were clearly getting the better of Sheffield’s pack and elected to take a scrum. Good, quick, go forward ball was put through the three quarters’ hands, left to right. Right wing Alex Mounsey finishing off a well executed move. The try was converted by fullback Jimmy Howorth.
This took the score to 14-10 around the 25 minutes mark.
The game was competitive with even numbers now on each side, however Dale were guilty of not nailing their tackles. Players were falling off tackles, trying to tackle too high and not targeting the runner’s legs. The missed tackles was making the Green’s pack having to constantly scramble back and cover the holes in the back line.This put them on the back foot in the collision area.
Under the constant pressure caused by the missed tackles, the hosts scored on the 38th minute to take the score out to 21-10 at halftime.
Despite the break, the pattern of the missed tackle repeated itself throughout the half. Sheffield scoring after three minutes. 28-10.
To make things worse, the Greens went back to fourteen players due to injury.
Dale conceded tries on the fifty third minute (35-10) and sixtieth minute (42-10). Despite the score line heading south for the Foresters, they continued to battle and take the game to Sheffield . They enjoyed long periods of possession close to the opponent’s try line. It was just one of those days.
On the 39th minute, with a Sheffield player sent to the bin (eventually after numerous warnings), the hosts turned a maul over on their line and, to their credit, scored with the last play of the match.
Full time: – 49-10.
Next week the Foresters are away to Heath.
Team: –
1,T. Whitehead 2, S. Holden 3,J Hirst 4, S. Borrill ( capt) 5, Z.Phillip 6, J. Burton 7, Z. Heys 8, W. Beecroft 9, F. Walker 10, S. Cox 11, O. Bullock 12, M. Bell 13, B. Blackwell 14, A. Mounsey 15, J. Howorth