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1st XV - Report
Date: Saturday 15th September 2012 - Kick Off: 15:00
Northern Division - Yorkshire 1
| Huddersfield YM | 52 | vs | 3 | Old Brodleians |
A solid all round display set the scene
for an outstanding win against the YMCA’s Halifax rivals Old Bodleian’s at Laund Hill.
For the first time this season the YM’s capabilities in defence were on show and they proved far too tough for the visitors.
This was expected to be a stern test for the home side as their opponents had recently been playing higher league rugby, but a confident YM brushed the challenge aside with a fine display of fast attacking rugby linked to strong work by the forwards and an all hands to the pump defence.
As early as 4 minutes into the game the home side were on the scoreboard after neat work along the back line saw Marshall in space out on the wing. He sprinted past the covering defence and then released an inch perfect pass to the supporting Sam Hodge for the flanker to get the try under the posts. Stead stepped up to the mark for the extras and the YM were off and running. 7-0
The visitors held their nerve and began to control their share of the possession although never threatening the YM line as tackle after tackle took the ball carrier to ground. The home side also had their share of possession but the Brods were also capable of good defence and at that stage managed to hold the YM at bay.
The breakthrough came on 24 minutes after Stead forced his way through a gap with Barber in support, he drew the cover and fed out to Ryder who did not need a second invitation to use the space which had been created, powering over for his first score of the day. Stead was just wide with the conversion but the YM were starting to pull away. 12-0
Minutes later Brods got their only points of the day when YM’s Mark Whitehead was penalised for being offside, not the first or last time in the game that this would happen until it finally dawned on referee Mr Park that he really was that fast to the breakdown. 12-3
Within minutes the YM were back on the attack and this time the forwards decided to show what they could do, driving back an earlier dominant Brods pack for a pushover try scored by number 8 Whitehead. Stead added the extra points to make the score 19-3
Almost on the half time whistle Ryder pounced on a ball lost forward in the tackle by a Brods player, he smashed his way through the oncoming defenders then sprinted over the line for another YM try which again Stead was able to convert 26-3
Half time 26-3
Into the second half and service was resumed. The backs were in total control and looking dangerous every time they were in possession. Barber was in his element orchestrating events and the inclusion of Damian Clayton at stand off working alongside Simon Wilson has made a big difference to the running lines as Clayton is prepared to take the ball straight at the opposition before releasing it and leaving Barber the extra space to work with. With Ryder outside and the likes of Whitehead, Hodge and Stead always in close support he is spoilt for options with a line up that has pace to burn.
The Ryder/Barber partnership was evident after Barber made a neat break before giving Ryder the ball out on the right wing, he set off on a rampaging run and having done most of the hard work found Barber waiting for the return pass to score close to the posts. Again Stead converted. 33-3
It wasn’t long before Whitehead was back on the scoresheet, once again following up a devastating run by Ryder to take the simplest of passes and dive over the line to finish the move. Stead added the conversion but it was to be more or less his last contribution to game as a mistimed tackle saw him leaving the field injured. 40-3
Brods then had their best period of the game and although by that stage playing for pride they took the game to the home side and made them work very hard in defence. In the first two games of the season the YM have had a somewhat cavalier attitude to defence having preferred to concentrate on their attacking abilities whilst sometimes leaving the back door open. Unfortunately for Brods defence has been the theme in training and the home side were determined to put the training into practice and deny the Brods any sort of score.
Having dealt with the Brods threat it was back to business as the visitors started to look very jaded.
The YM continued to fizz and some of the play was scintillating with the ball whizzing between hands at such a speed that at times it took concentration on the part of the spectators to work out where it was.
After repelling a number of attacks the Brods eventually capitulated and a sublime round the corner pass from Barber in the tackle saw new full back Matt Johnson in support to get his first score on the board. In the absence of Stead, Johnson converted his own try. 47-3
Not to be outdone the forwards got the final score of the match as prop Steve Dyke was on hand to take a neat ball close to the ruck and sprint through a gap to score out wide. Johnson missed the conversion but at that stage it didn’t really matter 52-3
Final Score 52-3.
An outstanding all round performance from the YMCA from 1 to 18 with every man fully up to his job. The introduction of the new rotating substitute law allowing up to eight rotations of players is also something which has worked well for the YM with players such as James Bell, Josh Wrafter and Stuart Morton available to come off the bench and slot straight into position adding that little bit of extra impact.
On this showing the YM are going to be one of the sides to beat in Yorkshire 1 this year. It is doubtful there will be a fitter or faster side playing at this level and more to the point the players look as though they are thoroughly enjoying every minute of playing together which makes for a great team sprit and atmosphere in the clubhouse afterwards.
Team; Johnson, Marshall, Ryder, Barber, Stead, Clayton, Wilson, Dyke (Steve), Hill, Neilly, Lumb, Housley, Dyke (Stu), Hodge, Whitehead. Replacements; Bell, Wrafter, Morton.
By Martin Hunt
This was expected to be a stern test for the home side as their opponents had recently been playing higher league rugby, but a confident YM brushed the challenge aside with a fine display of fast attacking rugby linked to strong work by the forwards and an all hands to the pump defence.
As early as 4 minutes into the game the home side were on the scoreboard after neat work along the back line saw Marshall in space out on the wing. He sprinted past the covering defence and then released an inch perfect pass to the supporting Sam Hodge for the flanker to get the try under the posts. Stead stepped up to the mark for the extras and the YM were off and running. 7-0
The visitors held their nerve and began to control their share of the possession although never threatening the YM line as tackle after tackle took the ball carrier to ground. The home side also had their share of possession but the Brods were also capable of good defence and at that stage managed to hold the YM at bay.
The breakthrough came on 24 minutes after Stead forced his way through a gap with Barber in support, he drew the cover and fed out to Ryder who did not need a second invitation to use the space which had been created, powering over for his first score of the day. Stead was just wide with the conversion but the YM were starting to pull away. 12-0
Minutes later Brods got their only points of the day when YM’s Mark Whitehead was penalised for being offside, not the first or last time in the game that this would happen until it finally dawned on referee Mr Park that he really was that fast to the breakdown. 12-3
Within minutes the YM were back on the attack and this time the forwards decided to show what they could do, driving back an earlier dominant Brods pack for a pushover try scored by number 8 Whitehead. Stead added the extra points to make the score 19-3
Almost on the half time whistle Ryder pounced on a ball lost forward in the tackle by a Brods player, he smashed his way through the oncoming defenders then sprinted over the line for another YM try which again Stead was able to convert 26-3
Half time 26-3
Into the second half and service was resumed. The backs were in total control and looking dangerous every time they were in possession. Barber was in his element orchestrating events and the inclusion of Damian Clayton at stand off working alongside Simon Wilson has made a big difference to the running lines as Clayton is prepared to take the ball straight at the opposition before releasing it and leaving Barber the extra space to work with. With Ryder outside and the likes of Whitehead, Hodge and Stead always in close support he is spoilt for options with a line up that has pace to burn.
The Ryder/Barber partnership was evident after Barber made a neat break before giving Ryder the ball out on the right wing, he set off on a rampaging run and having done most of the hard work found Barber waiting for the return pass to score close to the posts. Again Stead converted. 33-3
It wasn’t long before Whitehead was back on the scoresheet, once again following up a devastating run by Ryder to take the simplest of passes and dive over the line to finish the move. Stead added the conversion but it was to be more or less his last contribution to game as a mistimed tackle saw him leaving the field injured. 40-3
Brods then had their best period of the game and although by that stage playing for pride they took the game to the home side and made them work very hard in defence. In the first two games of the season the YM have had a somewhat cavalier attitude to defence having preferred to concentrate on their attacking abilities whilst sometimes leaving the back door open. Unfortunately for Brods defence has been the theme in training and the home side were determined to put the training into practice and deny the Brods any sort of score.
Having dealt with the Brods threat it was back to business as the visitors started to look very jaded.
The YM continued to fizz and some of the play was scintillating with the ball whizzing between hands at such a speed that at times it took concentration on the part of the spectators to work out where it was.
After repelling a number of attacks the Brods eventually capitulated and a sublime round the corner pass from Barber in the tackle saw new full back Matt Johnson in support to get his first score on the board. In the absence of Stead, Johnson converted his own try. 47-3
Not to be outdone the forwards got the final score of the match as prop Steve Dyke was on hand to take a neat ball close to the ruck and sprint through a gap to score out wide. Johnson missed the conversion but at that stage it didn’t really matter 52-3
Final Score 52-3.
An outstanding all round performance from the YMCA from 1 to 18 with every man fully up to his job. The introduction of the new rotating substitute law allowing up to eight rotations of players is also something which has worked well for the YM with players such as James Bell, Josh Wrafter and Stuart Morton available to come off the bench and slot straight into position adding that little bit of extra impact.
On this showing the YM are going to be one of the sides to beat in Yorkshire 1 this year. It is doubtful there will be a fitter or faster side playing at this level and more to the point the players look as though they are thoroughly enjoying every minute of playing together which makes for a great team sprit and atmosphere in the clubhouse afterwards.
Team; Johnson, Marshall, Ryder, Barber, Stead, Clayton, Wilson, Dyke (Steve), Hill, Neilly, Lumb, Housley, Dyke (Stu), Hodge, Whitehead. Replacements; Bell, Wrafter, Morton.
By Martin Hunt
Player Of The Match
Not Selected
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