Ossett Fall Short

I've never seen such an audacious display of rugby with excessive use of hyperbole!
Now my words are out of the way onto the match report.

From the word go both teams were clearly hungry for a win, Ossett having secured just one so far this season and York in a similar position having been awarded a HWO.
I will start with an apology, I text mark a brief report yesterday in which I said we took too long to get firing fully, having had time to reflect on the game that is not the case. Everybody started the game hungry for it and getting stuck in. However it took a while for the team to start working together as a unit and playing the structure we have been working towards.
That said, Ossett put a great deal of pressure on York in the first half. On occasions a couple of the York big runners made yards into Ossett territory, however a structured defence and the boot of Tim Roberts kept them well away from the Ossett line.
On the attack Ossett asked questions of the York defence big runs from Andy Webber and Leigh Learie sucking in defenders. At times we allowed the ball carrier to become isolated and were stripped as a result of this. I am as guilty as anyone – we need to just keep recycling the ball and not expect to make big yards on every carry.
Tebb at ten made the York back line work hard with his EXCESSIVE Jinking and darting in between players and breaking the gain line. On a number of occasions Ossett were unlucky to get that last pass away that could have seen them cross the white wash. A build up of pressure on the York defence saw one of their men giving a ten minute break for a professional foul in the 22, Ossett aimed to capitalise on this man advantage and succeeded.

A strong scrum from the Ossett pack secured clean ball for Danny Bonner at the back of the scrum, he was able to feed Tebb who used his back line effectively with good passing and running lines the ball ended up in the hands of our resident scouser and courgette virgin Mark Fisher who was able to run in unopposed and down the ball under the sticks, Roberts adding the extra two.

Ossett came close a second time with Tebb sending over a well balanced kick in the York 22. Fisher and Mark Buckbrough bearing down on the solitary York defender who was just able to ground the ball.

There were other moments in the half that deserve a mention, Roberts clearing the ball from his own 22 with a huge Gary Owen then following up by passing most of his team mates to smash the York catcher, getting back on his feet to contest the ball winning his team a penalty through which we kicked to touch in the York 22. We should recognise moments like this and use them to lift our performance. Sometimes we seem as individuals too happy to fade into the background and let others step up to the mark.

York bagged 3 points prior to the end of the half.

The second half began and York came out firing with big runs up the middle of the park. Poor defensive structure and individual tackling allowed them to make yards with almost every phase, setting Ossett on the back foot again and again. Following an infringement at the breakdown York bagged another penalty bring the score to 7-6. Shortly after a poor defensive effort as a team allowed York to break down the middle, a good covering tackle was made but the ball was passed in the tackle to a supporting runner and York ran in their first try.

Despite changes in the pack set pieces remained solid through the game. Taking two or three scrums against the head in big 8 man efforts and making. Defensive line outs were on form and easily half a dozen York line outs were stolen or spoiled as a result of strong lifting and clever jumping.

The deciding score came unexpectedly when an Ossett player stepped up and charged down a York kick in the middle of the park. Unfortunately the ball ricocheted into the hands of a York player who was running back and couldn't believe his luck as he ran in a gifted try.

York came close again with a driving maul that crossed the line but was deemed as held up.

Enter Clinton North from stage left – the riot act was read. Some say the bollocking that was issued could be heard by gingers everywhere as a call to war. Others say that's just HYPERBOLE. Whatever it was it worked and Ossett stepped up I every position across the pitch. I may be wrong but the last fifteen minutes we seemed to be camped in the York half, whenever they could get their hands on the ball it was cleared but hard runners took it straight back to them. Constant pressure and repeated infringements by the defence saw York lose another man to yellow.

Ossett came close to the line a number of times here but that clinical last pass or catch or under committing at an important ruck allowed York to see out the game, not before Roberts added another three to Ossett total to gain them a bonus point –a wise call from captain Rob Young following an AUDACIOUS encroachment onto the pitch by Gary ‘the tactician’ Haywood.

At the end of the game it came down to that one lucky try, which on a different day cold have gone our way. However we shouldn't be allowing ourselves. To be in the position where a lucky try or score can cost us the game. We need to build comfortable leads so that when tries like that happen we can shrug them off and get on with the game. We have to work as a team to turn this round or next season may see Ossett in Y5.

A well deserved man of the match for Ossett goes to try scorer Mark Fisher who was consistent in defence, at one point using his kendo stick like frame as a weapon to cut down the hard running and tough to stop York captain. Well done mark.

Further points are
4 Dunbavin
3 Learie
2 Rotchell
1 Roberts

Let's get training Tuesday and Thursday and anyone who can make it we will have a curry and some beers after Thursdays session.