This was our first game for 3 weeks we should be used to inpromptu breaks by now.
A 2nd round cup game against Ince Rose Bridge who are a very good team in form after getting to the semi finals of the national cup, showing they are one of the top teams at this age in the country.
1st half - IRB kicked off to Saddy and we came out of the traps full throttle resulting in a try from an IRB spilled ball, Tyrone (TC) reacting first and sprinting away to score in the left corner, difficult conversion pulled just wide. [0/4].
IRB reacted as you would expect and ran in 3 tries in the next 18 minutes the first 2 from flat hard line ball at pace which is almost undefendable against some of the big IRB players and the 3rd coming from a knockdown on the IRB 10, with a good pick up and clean break from the front rower to go full length, Tyrone was very unlucky not to get the tackle in and got there just as they crossed the line. Score on 20 minutes [18/4].
On 25 minutes Tyrone diffused a high IRB ball in goal for a Saddy drop out. IRB pressed home thier advantage and crossed twice more in the 1st half again flat hard ball at pace with the pack leading the charge to end the first half at [28/4].
1st half summary - In summary Saddy competed well in the first half but got sucked into defensive errors and repeatedly got hit with the flat pass into space at pace and the speed with which IRB play the game told as Saddy didnt work the ground as they should have. Some good individual performances from Tyrone and Liam in particular with the rest of the pack following suit and on the whole some good play.
2nd half - Saddy kicked off to IRB, some good competitive rugby for the first 13 minutes with Saddy crossing and being held up twice with no score from either side.
A 6 minute blitz from IRB saw them cross twice by the 20 minute mark through sheer pace of play of the ball and momentum, Saddy just didnt work the floor enough and allowed quick play and payed the price. So at 50 minutes score was [40/4].
Saddleworth reacted well and pressed close time and time again for the next 2 sets resulting in a well deserved try for Liam Parfitt on the IRB right hand side, showing good strength and power to go over under constant attention. Unfortunately LP missed the conversion, score [40/8].
Saddy tired badly in the last 5 or 6 minutes to see IRB go in for 2 further tries to leave the final score at [50/8].
2nd half summary - Overall the score is not indicative of the game, the Saddy lads showed glimpses of what they can do and should be proud of the game they played today on the whole. Sometimes the result does not tell the story and this was a clear game where that was the case. Again some good individual performances from the Pack and some good half back play and kicks in open play. This was a hard game but IRB are always good value and play the game in the manner in which it should be played, clean, hard, tough and just get on with it, no niggles a good team who we should aspire to emulate going forward.

Its most unfortunate that towards the end of the game 2 of our own players had an altercation which resulted in some unacceptable exchanges and the main protagonist should be disappointed with thier behaviour as they really let themselves down and they need to think before they open their mouths in the future. There is no room in the team for arguing and calling each other we are a team and thats it, end of story.

SORT IT OUT !



Overall - If we can keep up this level of performance we should be competitive with most teams in this division.

T.