Old Brods 2nd Team rounded off a fine season on Saturday, in dramatic style, beating Scunthorpe 2nds to win the Promotion Play-off Final at Pontefract.

Brods were trailing 17 - 7 with just 10 minutes to go but managed to turn things round just in time to run out 17 - 19 victors.

The result means they will now progress from the Northern Championship to the Premiership Merit League next season, Yorkshire's strongest 2nd team league.
Brods have had a great season losing just one league match, drawing three and winning the rest. They finished 2nd in the Northern Championship, narrowly missing out on the top spot to West Leeds who finished one point ahead. They then progressed to the Play-off Final beating Dinnington and Selby en route.

Saturday's opposition won their Southern Championship League convincingly by winning 15 of their 16 matches. With Scunthorpe first team playing in the fourth tier of the game (Brods first team play in Yorkshire One which is the seventh tier) the Hipperholme men were under no illusions that they needed to perform at their very best.

The Brods team had a great mixture of youth and experience featuring four Colts and the old stagers Luke Scrimshaw and Jamie McLaughlin.

In perfect conditions, bright with little wind, Brods started well and took the game to Scunthorpe with a number of good forward carriers and phase play.

Scunthorpe were clearly strong in the scrum but Brods soon adapted and held them off a number of attacking scrums close to the line - the front row of Moger, Moger and McLaughlin digging in well with the rest of the pack.

Work rate was good in the opening quarter with Scrimshaw taking the team forward and Dan Smith testing the opposition with effective kick returns and some useful one on one tackling.

On 20 minutes Brods deservedly took the lead when captain Ryan Harris touched down after supporting a fine break from centre Danny Chappell. Tighe Maxwell providing the conversion.

The only criticism was that Brods weren't necessarily playing in the right areas of the field and could have been more efficient with the possession they'd enjoyed. Opportunities don't come that often against tough opposition like this.

The try should have given them further confidence and momentum but, in a damaging 10 minute spell Brods let their concentration slip and Scunthorpe showed how effectively they could be with three tries in quick succession.

Brods were guilty of playing too much high risk rugby in their own 22, failing to clear their lines well with the boot and were missing too many tackles. Scunthorpe's tries came through there rotund centre hitting from short range, their strong running back row, and an elusive young winger.

Fortunately for the Brods, the Sculthorpe goal kicker only managed one of the three conversions taking the score to 17 - 7 at half-time.

Brods started the second half with a number of changes. Cole Wilson and Harley Morris entered the fray in the forwards and began to make their mark straight away with some telling carries.

Brods were soon dominating possession and field position and it was only some stern Scunthorpe defence, close to their line, that was keeping them out.

Scunthorpe were under a lot of pressure and now conceding penalties as a result. Brods failed to capitalise on a number of opportunities, missing touch with the 'kick to the corner' and missing a shot at goal. Other than that, it was one-way traffic as Brods threw everything at the opposition.

With 20 minutes to go Captain Harris thought he'd broken the deadlock with a hit and spin, clearly grounding the ball over the try line. Unfortunately the referee was unsighted so was unable to award the points.

Brods tenacity and perseverance was unrelenting as Scunthorpe continued to hold on, deep in their half, despite committing further penalties. With little more than 10 minutes remaining the referee's patience had run out as he blew for another infringement, marched under the posts and awarded Brods with a penalty try. Young Maxwell slotted the conversion and, at 17 - 14, an exciting climax to the Final was assured.

Brods were in the ascendancy but time was now short and Scunthorpe were undoubtedly hard to break down.

The effort from the black, red and whites was unwavering and, with the clock ticking Cameron Wroot broke down the left-hand side with support runners. Wroot offloaded to Zak Ward who carried hard, stooped to the line and ground the ball despite the scrambling defence. The Brods lads went nuts piling on the try scorer.

The conversion was missed but Brods now had a 2 point lead heading into the last 2 minutes.

One final twist could have taken the victory to Scunthorpe as they kicked off with a short, hanging kick from the restart. A player from each side leapt for the ball, taking each other out in the process. As the ball bounced along the ground the referee signalled for the penalty against Brods stating "the Scunthorpe player was taken out in the air". It was a tough call but rather than take the shot at goal, Scunthorpe opted to kick for the corner in order to set up a catch and drive lineout.

The Brodleian pack was ready as the Scunthorpe jumper returned to earth with the ball, putting their catch and drive in reverse and successfully winning the turnover; thus thwarting the final threat. Game over.

It truly was a fitting finale all round. Highly entertaining with numerous comments from spectators and coaches/managers on both sides commenting on how the players had provided a thrilling spectacle.

Congratulations to everyone involved in the Brods 2nd XV this season.
Next season is going to be tougher week-in, week-out and will help all players to keep improving and raising standards.

Play-off Final Score: Scunthorpe 17 - 19 Old Brods
Team:
1. Gareth Moger
2. Jack Moger
3. Jamie McLaughlin
4. Luke Scrimshaw
5. Zak Ward
6. Alex Rackstraw
7. Ryan Harris
8. Cameron Wroot
9. Brad Martin
10. Tighe Maxwell
11. Anton Gaughan
12. Greg Roper
13. Danny Chappell
14. Dan Smith
15. Jimmy Hodkinson
16. Cole Wilson
17. Matt Smith
18. James Crabtree
19. Harley Morris

Team Managers: James Ogden, Neil Sheard, Chris Hartley and Chris Green