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Thornton Cleveleys RUFC 12 - 6 Trafford MV

Thornton Cleveleys RUFC 12 - 6 Trafford MV

Chris Clapp2 Feb 2015 - 08:55
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A round up of this weekends action

After a winter hiatus rugby action finally returned to the Windmill Ground with the Thornton team desperate to arrest their recent run of performances. They welcome Trafford MV who sat 4th in the table at the start of play and a team who are well drilled in all aspects of their play. Thornton knew that a tough afternoon lay ahead.
Coach Hanson and Cpt for the day Chris Clapp rallied the team pre kick off ensuring the boys knew that this was the last chance to get the season moving in the right direction.
With the pitch in a wet condition it was no surprise that the opening salvo's were an even affair with both teams testing and probing. The conditions led to numerous handling errors which set the first stage for Thornton dominance. With Gorrie and Hanson in the front row the dark arts of scrummaging were in full display and Trafford struggled to live with the Thornton power.
The first opportunity of the game fell to Thornton. A penalty conceded on the half way line saw number 10, Dan Orwin, despatch the ball to the Trafford 22. A catch and drive, following Dom Griffiths precission throw in who excelled all game, saw the ball find its way to the tail with Michael Docherty. The Thornton forwards rumbled forward and broke the Traffor MV response however the quick thinking Trafford MV 9 noted that Docherty had broken free of the back of the maul and tackled him on the 5mtr line. Docherty hoped up and dived the rest of the way however the referee called a double movement and a penalty was conceded.
Trafford responded and although they scored the first points of the game, via a penalty from the number 9, they should have been a try up. Quick work around the fringe of a ruck saw the 9 break clear. Covering defence from Clapp managed to halt the 9 in his tracks however the offload was made but the onrushing number 8 was unable to collect the ball with the line at his mercy and the opportunity missed.
The penalty sparked Thornton into life and quickly Thornton scored the first try of the game. Good work from the pack saw Docherty scoot around the blindside and into the 22. He again made it as far as the 5mtr line before he was tackled. In the process of the tackle he attempted the offload however the covering Trafford defence managed to knock the ball free and backwards through a defenders legs. As the ball trickled over the line Clapp reacted first and dived on the loose ball to score. Conversion missed and Thornton led 5-3.
The rest of the half continued very evenly with both sets of players giving everything in cold and wet conditions. The pitch was presenting issues however both teams coped well. Trafford continued to try and force the issue through strong running from their forward pack however the Thornton defence stood strong. Hanson and Hoddinott typifying this time and again with crunching tackles that drove Trafford back.

As the half time whistle went the message was simple to Thornton boys. Continue to work hard and continue to be disciplined and manage the game.
With the words ringing in the ears Thornton set about scoring next and the second try showed the versatility that courses through this Thornton team. Good work got Thornton into the Trafford 22 and quick ball found Orwin who shipped on to Meekins tying in the defence. Holder-Williams reached the ruck, and with the 9 instinct still intact he shipped the ball out to Cockroft occupying the first receiver position, which he does so well. He drew a defender and found the supporting run of Holland who took the ball to contact almost on the line. Hanson, the human bulldozer, through his considerable presence into the tackle and took Holland and the defender over the try line with Holland doing particularly well to wriggle free and score the try. Orwin scored the conversion and the tie was stretched to 12-3.
Trafford responded as any top 4 team would and began to try and influence proceedings and as the game wore on the intensity of the Thornton pack increased. Gorrie, who had scrummaged his heart out and made numerous tackles, made way for Peter Keay who again impressed in the loose. Hanson was at the heart of everything making huge hits and carrying expertly. The 2nd rows of Holland and Cockroft, along with Tom Bailey when he entered proceedings, dominated the line out ensuring that Thornton had excellent ball all day. The flankers of Docherty and Holder-Williams (again showing his versatility) disrupted Trafford all day and made breakdown after breakdown with Simon Hoddinott rounding off another barn storming performance carrying Trafford MV players down the park both in attack and defence.
With the game reaching the last quarter Trafford implement a familiar game plan of getting the ball out wide to their flying back three but Thorntons own back line stood strong. Orwin, Meekins and Ellis all ensured that the middle of the park was a fortress with only one break being made through the middle all game and in Dave Beardsall and Ross Mellor-Clark on the wings they made it equally difficult for Trafford to get around the outside. When breaks were made Pete McCauley was in fine form covering off all the angles and in one phase of play when the ball was chipped over the last man Clapp was found covering as the ball ran over the try line with three Trafford players in pursuit.
From the away encounter we know that Traffords main weapon in the last stages as the tiredness kicks in is a winger who could give Carlin Isles a run for his money. As the game ebbed away the ball found its way out to the winger more and more but Thornton shackled him well. That said he did escape the attentions of the Ross Mellor-Clark once only to be shut down on the 22 by Dave Beardsall who had tracked across field to cover in.
Thornton then looked to kill the game off keeping the ball tight around the rucks and operating in the fringes. This wore away the Trafford resistence as they struggled for the ball and were shut down at every opportunity. As the whistle went Thornton let out a collective roar of celebration as the team realised the fruition of not only 80 minutes of hard graft but a coming together of the numerous training sessions on structures that the boys have worked through.
The forwards deservedly got a combined man of the match for a performance ground out of hard work but credit must be given to the backs who stuck to task all day and ensured that they learnt the mistakes of the last performance vs Trafford. The result was made all the sweeter by the presences of some of the great names who have graced the Windmill Ground and the Thornton shirt and the boys would like to dedicate that performance to them, and the old boys who are unfortunately no longer with them. We know they would have been proud!

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