Bakewell Beat Traffic And Then Belgrave To Keep Winning Momentum

5 enforced changes was going to challenge any team, however, the young Bakewell side did themselves and their club proud by grinding out what could well prove to be one of their best victories of the season.

Captain Crampton and lock Spencer were out injured, adding to the unavailabilities of Pearce, Sean Dricoll and full-back Al Graham. In came the returning Chris Frogatt from injury at loose-head, the committed James Turner at hooker, the jolly green giant Michael Clegg in the second-row, and the colossus Will Brocklehurst into the back row. Ali Crawford returned in the centres in place of Graham, with Jack Duncan reverting to full-back.

Having got the lengthier than normal trip out of their system due to a multi-vehicle accident on the M1, Bakewell could have been forgiven for thinking that today might just be “one of those days”. Replacement Sam Loxley arriving as the teams were about to kick-off.

Receiving the kick-off having elected to kick up the slight slope, the ball was caught by Brocklehurst, and with his coach’s “play the game at pace” team-talk still ringing in his ears, took the play straight to the heart of the Belgrave pack. Good link-up play kept the visiting side on the front-foot. However, ill discipline, and questioning of the referees decisions cost penalties, and ten metre march-backs allowing the home side to get themselves into the game.

Despite being under such pressure in the scrum, scrum-half Bagshawe was able to provide solid ball for stand-in skipper and fly half Will Moroney to launch counter-attacks with his backline. With penalites often awarded against both defences a lot of the early play was taking place either side of half-way, with neither side actually threatening the first score.

Fierce tackling from the back-row of Sizer, Boam and Brocklehurst prevented their much larger opposition from gaining valuable ground in the loose, and with Dan Driscoll complimenting the hard defensive work by taking the ball on in attack, giving belief to the side that today could well be “one of those days – except one of those successful days.

It was Belgrave that forced the first scoring opportunity after 15 minutes, however their stand-off let the visitors off the hook pulling his straight-forward penalty attempt left of the uprights. This seemed to spur Moroney’s side on, and went on the attack themselves, resulting in the skipper landing the first points of the match after 20 minutes with a penalty from in front of the posts. 0-3.

Solid defence from the centre partnership of Jake Ward and Ali Crawford prevented their opposition from making any clear ground. On the odd occasion that Belgrave managed to make a clean break, namely their huge second row from a well worked line-out, the covering tackles from winger Tom Crapper and full-back Duncan were nothing short of outstanding, to keep their side ahead.

Bakewell had a chance to extend their lead through a penalty attempt, following further good link-up play however Moroney missed his own straight-forward kick at goal.

The home-side knew they were always in the game, and had the upper-hand in the scrum, so it came as little surprise after a series of plays in the Bakewell 22, that a resulting 5 metre scrum was driven over the try line with the Belgrave number 8 touching down to give his side the lead on 35 minutes. The conversion was missed. 5-3.

Back came Bakewell and strong-direct running from loose-head Frogatt led to the home side giving away another penalty on the stroke of half-time. This time Moroney nailed the kick to give his side the lead at the break, knowing they had the advantage of the slope and slight wind to come. 5-6.

Coach Burnett identified where the strengths and weaknesses of the game were, and re-itereated the “play at pace mentality”, and to play with the confidence he knew his side were developing week on week.

Bakewell kicked-off the second half and looked to play the territory in the first instant with good probing kicks from the fly-half and the intelligent Crawford. Centre Crawford passed a message to his captian shortly into the half saying “I fancy any kick from the 10 metre line area”. Shortly after he was to get the opportunity, and duly slotted a successful penalty from long-range to extend his sides lead. 5-9.

The hard tackling and intensity of the game meant tackles were getting harder and harder, and number 8 Boam was unlucky to be on the receiving end of a 10 minute rest, with the referee adjudicating that one of his tackles being “dangerous” and by the letter of the law had to visit the sin-bin. Moroney called for his team to step-up to the mark for this period, and that they did with massive enthusiasm. The visitors kept the ball in hand when in possession and increased their lead through another Moroney penalty. 5-12.

Tired and sore bodies were replaced with veteran Roderick Bell coming on for Frogatt, and Jimmy O’Neill in place of Clegg. It was at this point that Bakwell had a scrum in opposition territory. Clean ball was won and the ball fed to Moroney, this was taken to the line where inside centre Ward hit the line at pace leaving the would-be tacklers questioning who should have stopped him. With just the full-back to beat he did so skilfully and continued to put the ball down under the posts, leaving Moroney to add the simple conversion and put his team into a winning position with 10 minutes to play. 5-19.

Back came the home side and only further strong defence from the back three prevented any further home score. Sam Loxley came on and added further tacking power to hold out for as long as they could. One key area that’s been an improvement this season for Bakewell has been the communication in defence, led by Tom Oldfield, who refuses to leave himself facing an overlap situation.

After further sustained pressure the home-side were awarded a 5 metre scrum out wide, and with the Mannerians pack being forced backwards something had to give, which resulted in the awarding of a penalty try, and with the successful conversion bring the home-side within 7 points and all to play for in the last 5 minutes. 12-19.

More manful defending and good disruptive play in the line-outs and the loose led to Belgrave only having one further meaningful attack, and when the visitors were awarded a penalty on half-way, the referee confirmed that when the ball was kicked out the game was over, and the relief and awareness of what Mannerians had achieved was clear to see. Not many teams will turn up to Belgrave and win this season, and with coach Burnett confirming that his side have still to hit 5th gear, this season could prove to be an exciting one for all sorts of reasons.

Manager Oldfield commented “There is a willingness about this team to play for each other, and some of the last ditch tackling today showed the “never say die” attitude that has formed throughout pre-season. With so many changes it was never going to be easy, but the strength in depth we have now allows us to be confident in whoever is selected each week. The oldest player out there for much of the game, until Rod turned out almost doubling the average age of the team, was 29 – something that bodes well for the future. Today was very much a team effort, with every single player performing their job”. He went on “I’m out for a meal tonight with my family so X-Factor is being sky-plussed. It’s the last week of the auditions, so next week I’ll have a fair idea of who is going to win this year. It’s a shame they deemed that lady ‘mad’ after her audition singing Duffy’s version of Mercy, not only was she beautiful, she was also very talented”.

Next week sees Mannerians travel back to the Leicester region for a cup game against Leicester Forest, who play at the same level. With confidence and team play improving week on week, there’s no reason why this side can’t make good progress in the Competition.

Scorers:

Try: Ward, J
Conversion: Moroney
Penalty: Moroney (3), Crawford (1)