Match report Saturday 4 October 2008

By John Sheppard

Adwick-le-Street 9 versus Old Grovians 12
Yorkshire League Division 5b
Carcroft Park Saturday 4 October.

Adwick paid the penalty quite literally on Saturday when a disputed last minute penalty gave Old Grovians a win which even they agreed was fortuitous. Despite having the majority of the possession, the territory and two disallowed tries Adwick had to accept their first league defeat of the season.

Throughout the game almost every phase of play ended in a penalty. The strong wind made goal kicking very difficult which certainly kept the score down as both sides missed with a lot of attempts. Playing against the wind if the first half Adwick opened the scoring when Shaun Flaherty (Stand off) successfully slotted home from just outside the 22. Old Grovians replied in similar fashion on their first incursion in to the Adwick half. The home side then launched a sustained siege on the Old Grovians try line with the pressure being regularly relieved by penalties which Old Grovians cleared well downfield so that Adwick had to start rebuilding again. Shortly before half time with two Adwick players in the sin bin a succession of penalties took Old Grovians down the pitch and into scoring range to kick another penalty goal so that they lead 6 points to three at half time.

In the second half the penalty count began to rise even more steeply as both sides struggled to meet or understand the referee's expectations around the ruck. Flaherty kicked two more penalties to put Adwick ahead and then Old Grovians equalised with a kick which did not appear to go between the posts. After Paul Maskrey (Number 8) saw a second try disallowed Old Grovians used a series of penalties to get into the Adwick 22 and with the last kick of the game scored another 3 points to run out winners.

Next week Adwick travel to Marist (Hull) with the hope that this demoralising defeat can be quickly rectified.

Sheffield Tigers III 57 versus Adwick-le-Street Bedouins 12
South Yorkshire Merit Table

Adwick's second team hit an unexpected problem when they visited Sheffield Tigers. They had selected a strong pack and had a game plan to keep the ball tight in the wind and rain of Dore Moor but Sheffield Tigers were unable to field an experienced front row so after a couple of scrums the game went to uncontested scrums and so Adwick were unable to use the power of their scrum to put pressure on Tigers and sap their energies. The Tigers back ran the ball well and converted most of their tries. Adwick scored through Beatson and Canning and veteran Mick Flanagan converted one of the tries.

Where next?

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Results
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a
The Nomads Heath II
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L
Sat 27 Aug
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Friendly 12 – 29
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