Guisborough’s Forward Power Too Much For Redcar’s Defence

By Dave Pearson

Redcar faced a Guisborough team who last season were two leagues above them and it was a reality check for them.

Guisborough kicked off with the slight wind behind them, they applied pressure from the start with some driving forward runs and some hard tackling on Redcar’s backs. There had been a very heavy rain storm just prior to the kick off and it must have made the grass slippy and the ball greasy, as Guisborough dropped or knocked the ball on numerous times and on 25 mins, from one of the dropped passes the ball was hacked on and chased by Redcar centre Josh Dixon, who beat the retreating Guisborough defence, to touch the ball down, for the opening score, the attempted conversion by Danny Addison was missed by a country mile, 0 – 5. Guisborough’s relentless attack finally paid off after 32 mins with a converted try, 7 – 5. They increased their lead just before half time with a penalty.

Half Time Guisborough 10 Redcar 5

Redcar restarted the second half and soon Guisborough kicked another penalty to take the score to 13 – 5. Redcar’s plight was made all the harder on 47 mins, when Josh Dixon was shown the yellow card for a supposed dangerous tackle as he lifted the player in the tackle, the referee, who was generally very fair and concise, deemed it dangerous, but all game ignored the Guisborough winger No.11, was constantly leading with his elbow, rugby league style.
On 53 mins Guisborough scored another try, their big forwards barged and battered the Redcar defence and the ball was slipped out to the wing, who ran round behind the line and nearer to the posts to score, this was also converted, 20 – 5. With the game drawing to a close, Redcar rallied and fullback Danny Addison finished off a fine backs move as he easily outstripped the Guisborough fullback and scored. The conversion was missed and the final whistle blew.

Final Score Guisborough 20 Redcar 10

Redcar’s heroic defence was working overtime throughout the game, but was battered and bruised, (just look at Neil Young’s face), this will be a feature of the season as there are lots of big bruising teams in this league and we will have to learn to cope with them, our backs can still score if we give them enough good ball. Some notable performances Josh Dixon, Dibsy, Steve Johnson and Brad Stovell, but well done to the whole squad who stuck manfully to the task.