Blast from the Past #12

Rewind almost 14 years and a fair chunk of this ridiculously young current Sedge squad would have been in First School, spending breaks and dinner times playing Beat the Letter, Bulldogs Charge and Duck Duck Goose...but not all. A few familiar faces were knocking about playing in the National Cup...pay special attention to Gary being referred to as a "veteran"...he kept on playing for another 6 or 7 years after this!!
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Match Date: 20/01/2001

Competition: BARLA National Cup (Round 2)
Result: Odsal Sedbergh 6 Normanton Knights 32

Sedbergh give the Knights a battle!
Report by Bradford Telegraph & Argus

The second round of the League Express National Cup was badly hit by the weather but two local sides pulled out all the stops to stage their games in far from ideal conditions.

Odsal Sedbergh's frosty pitch was just about playable against Normanton Knights but this in no way deterred either side who threw caution to the wind and provided the large crowd with an exciting hammer and tongs old fashioned cup tie.

Sedbergh, playing uphill in the first half, had a chance to take the lead in the opening minutes when the Knights were caught offside but stand off Shaun Flynn pulled his effort wide. They rocked the Conference outfit with enterprising runs from centres Mark Gregory and Jason Crowther which had the visitors' defence working overtime to keep their line intact.
Normanton managed to hold out and took the lead against the run of play when full back Lee Maskill made the extra man in the line.

Loose forward Paul Seal added another from a well executed move and stand off Simon Hill crossed for a converted try just before the break to close the half 14-0.

Sedbergh continued to look anything like a side that is anchored in the basement area of Pennine Division One and caused the Knights considerable discomfort through their beefy forwards, well marshalled by ex-Dudley Hill loose forward Bob Chapman.

The introduction of veteran player-coach Gary Preistley came just at the right time with the Knights having extended their lead to 26-0. Second row forward Chris Walsh was unlucky to be held over the line on his back and from the resulting set of six heavyweight prop Alistair Swanston powered his way over from 15 metres out, Flynn adding the conversion.

The visitors had to work like Trojans in the final quarter against a very fit Sedbergh side and were mightily relieved to post a converted try in the dying minutes to make the final score 32-6 in their favour.

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