Baildon End Season With Consecutive Away Wins

Baildon must rue missed opportunities and poor form at the start of the season, but sign off the season in positive form.

Baildon needed a bonus point away win to put any pressure on the other teams at the bottom of Yorkshire Three. Even coming off a six try win away at Hemsworth, few neutral observers gave the visitors any hope of winning, let alone securing the winning bonus point. The mandatory rest for Ollie Williams (concussion) did not help Baildon's cause.

Baildon showed dominance in the set piece, securing their own line out ball and pinching or disrupting a decent share of opposition ball through John Pickersgill, Andy Magee and Zack Orrell. However it was the scrummage where the visitors reigned supreme. The front row of Adam Hewitt, Matty Dixon, Joe Robinson destroyed Medics scrummage and rendered them incapable of maintaining a straight push. The bench front row of Tom Massey, Guy Price and Chinny Tomlinson proved no less destructive later in the game.

It was the home side who scored first through a penalty for a Baildon tackler failing to release. (3-0)

Baildon played fluent rugby, going through eight phases and creating gaps that Harrison Strauss exploited with a typically explosive line break. Having made the break and finding himself in space Harrison Strauss then brilliantly slowed down to await a support runner, before drawing the last defender and putting Luke Strauss in under the sticks. Converted Matty Robsinson
(3-7)

Medics responded with fluent rugby of their own and some brilliant off loading out of the tackle, dotting down in the corner.
(8-7)

Baildon kicked the restart out on the full and Medics opted for a scrummage that found a rapid reverse gear, yielding Baildon one of many scrum penalties.

Baildon conceded penalties at the breakdown and gave Medics an attacking opportunity, that was held up over the line. The resulting scrum was taken by Baildon against the head.

Meds had a player shown the yellow card for a deliberate knock on. Baildon took advantage. Dan Cookson picked up at the base of the scrum, found space and made yards. Robbie Hill took the ball on and released Luke Strauss, before running a support line and taking the return pass to score. The extras were added by Matty Robsinson. (8-14)

Less than half the match gone and halfway to a try bonus point.

Neither side could improve their score before half time (8-14 HT)

The second half saw more promising rugby from Baildon. Switching the play from one side to another Baildon found themselves with a five on two attacking opportunity. The looped pass was cynically swiped down one handed by a Medic, conceding a second yellow card but denying the scoring opportunity.

Baildon scored when Josh Strauss pounced on ball that squirted out from a retreating Medics scrum. (8-19)

Within sight of the bonus point try, Baildon wilted slightly under pressure. The referee had by this stage given Medics' front row a general warning about not pushing straight at scrum time. Awarded another penalty at an attacking 5m scrum, Baildon tapped and knocked on when taking another scrummage might have been the better option and yielded yet another yellow card or even a penalty try.

Medics might have stolen it at the end as they scored under the post and were awarded a penalty at the restart for Baildon foul play in the process of scoring. (15-19)

When the final whistle sounded neither side celebrated. (15-19 FT)

Many thanks to our match official Mr Andy Morton, our Medic hosts, our travelling supporters, coaches and players. Medics clearly take post match carbohydrate loading seriously, offering ALL the carbs in the post match hospitality. Chinny Tomlinson was awarded President's Player of the Season in the pub after the game.

Well played Baildon. Stick together.