First Loss On The Road

Due to injury and unavailability Bongs ended up travelling without a backs replacement and by half time this came to haunt them as they played the majority of the second period with only five backs on the field.

An inauspicious start saw Bongs collect the kick off but their clearance kick was charged down, the ball was then knocked on and Bowdon took their opportunity when, with a penalty advantage, dropped a goal for an early lead.

With ten minutes played the home side extended their lead when a kick of no real menace took a fortunate bounce for Bowdon and they raced in out wide for a try.

The remainder of the half was more about the official than the teams and not surprisingly stoppage after stoppage meant 8 minutes of added time were played however on the stroke of half time fly half (less fat) Dicky picked the ball from the back of a ruck and crashed over to pull Bongs back into the match.

H/T Bowdon 8 – 5 Tyldesley

As was proven last season these two teams are very evenly matched, but considering the loss of full back Corby at the break and inside centre (more fat) Dicky within 5 minutes of the re-start Tyldesley can think themselves unlucky they didn’t even manage a bonus point in defeat.

The first 10 minutes were dominated by Bongs but Bowdon, with bongs camped on the hosts line, managed to turn over Tyldesley and breakaway for a converted score.

When Bowdon converted a penalty to move out to a 13 point lead with less than 20 minutes remaining the writing seemed to be on the wall for Bongs.

With Pully and Deano out of position but not out of sorts in the centres Bongs managed to drag themselves back into the game. With Bowdon reduced to 14 men after a extremely harsh yellow card, Tyldesley set about pounding the home teams line and when less fat Dicky executed a runaround with one of our second row/back row centres he raced over for a converted score to put Bongs within a converted score.

With 10 minutes remaining Bongs sniffed an unlikely victory but it was not to be as Bowdon converted a penalty 3 minutes from time to secure victory.

Although losing was a disappointment Bongs showed some great character pulling together in the face of the backline crisis.

Damo was once again immense in the pack and, before his injury, Corby was having an inspired game at full back. The entire team however showed super spirit after the enforced changes, where lesser players may have crumbled and shipped 2 or 3 more tries.

A week off next week for Tyldesley, might be a bonus such that we can get some of the missing lads fit and available for the visit of Glossop to SGP in a fortnight, one of only two teams to win at SGP last season.