BackSat 22 Oct 2016 ·  Division 3 North
Thornton Cleveleys 2
1st XV
22
29
Tries: M Short, J Short, d blenkharn (2)Conversions: M Short (2)Penalties: M Short
Thornton Cleveleys 2nds 22 Carnforth 29
alan hardy23 Oct 2016 - 08:57
Great victory claimed
Saturday saw Carnforth back to league action with a trip to Thornton to face a strong 2nd team squad of players. Again a tough week for skipper Shane Weed to rally round enough to travel to Thornton but 18 players took the journey and came back with a great victory. Lack of front row options saw centre Joe Harrison pack down at prop and he did a superb job throughout the 80 minutes. Nathan OConnor returned to full back, Liam Hall came in at Number 8 with Sam Tomlinson linking with Matti Davenport in the second row. There was also a club debut for Archie Rich - another family member playing in the green and black shirt following on from father Brendan and uncles Graham and Shane.
The last time these two teams met Carnforth won convincingly in a fiesty affair and the Thornton squad had a strong look about it (by their own admission 4 regular first teamers were part of it) - if Thornton could keep this squad of players each week they will surely climb the league table.
Carnforth got off to a great start as they kept TC back in their own half, Hall and OConnor made some excellent breaks and 5 minutes into the game and the lead was taken, Hall, Olly Murray and Nick Hamer linked up to allow centre Mathew Short to receive the ball on half way - he cut back inside before rounding the full back to score a fine solo try, his conversion went over for a 7 - 0 lead. Thornton had plenty of support on the side line and most of them seem to know the rules, Carnforth had their own travelling support as the banter flew down the touchlines.
20 minutes in and on came Rich for Davenport, Rich took the line out immediately before Carnforth moved down the pitch, a quickly taken penalty from hooker Dave Hones saw flanker Jason Short barge through before grounding the ball in the far corner, up stepped Mathew Short to slot the conversion from the touchline.
TC made their first break into the Carnforth half and with the visiting defence working well, TC received a penalty in front of the posts and rather than than run the ball they took the option of a kick at goal - up stepped the skipper but he skewed his kick wide of the posts. Minutes later and Carnforth made them pay when flanker Dan Blenkharn took the ball and from no where he was away down the pitch and he cut through the defence to score under the posts, Mathew Short converted for a 21 - 0 lead. Carnforth maybe should have had a few more points on the board, Hall, Hamer, Hones and Harrison all making breaks, winger Jack Dorsett made a couple of great runs but the score remained at 21 - 0 at half time.
Hamer and OConnor made a couple of early breaks as Carnforth looked to finish the game off early in the second half but back came TC and after they made a couple of replacements they looked stronger !!. The home winger finished well in the corner to reduce the gap, kick again missed. 5 minutes later and Carnforth regained a 21 point lead, home hooker Neil Wright threw the ball in the line out, Blenkharn happily took the catch to take the ball clear and score his second try of the day for a 26 - 5 lead.
Surely now the game was in the bag but TC refused to lie down, they came well at Carnforth with the defence standing firm, however the home support/referees were baying for yellow cards every time a Carnforth tackle was put in. Their efforts were rewarded when Jason Short went in the sin bin on 65 minutes, followed two minutes later by Mathew Short, to make matters worse a third yellow card to Murray on 69 minutes saw Carnforth down to 12 men against 15 TC players. Three man overlap and there is only so much Carnforth could have done, 3 tries were scored whilst the 3 man advantage was used to full extent, luckily the TC kicker missed two of the kicks and the score was now at 22 - 26 with 2 minutes to go.
The initiative was now with TC and the home crowd were now in full voice but Carnforth took control of the game and Harrison, Rich and Weed took the ball on. In the last minute a penalty was awarded to Carnforth and up came Mathew Short to slot the kick between the uprights to seal a well earned victory at 29 - 22.
Thanks to the Thornton XV for a great game - keep this squad each week if you can and the climb up the league will be there, also thanks for the hospitality in the Ashley afterwards.
Carnforth - lets please get to training on Tuesday night - another tough fixture this week at home to Preston.
Man of the match - Joe Harrison
The last time these two teams met Carnforth won convincingly in a fiesty affair and the Thornton squad had a strong look about it (by their own admission 4 regular first teamers were part of it) - if Thornton could keep this squad of players each week they will surely climb the league table.
Carnforth got off to a great start as they kept TC back in their own half, Hall and OConnor made some excellent breaks and 5 minutes into the game and the lead was taken, Hall, Olly Murray and Nick Hamer linked up to allow centre Mathew Short to receive the ball on half way - he cut back inside before rounding the full back to score a fine solo try, his conversion went over for a 7 - 0 lead. Thornton had plenty of support on the side line and most of them seem to know the rules, Carnforth had their own travelling support as the banter flew down the touchlines.
20 minutes in and on came Rich for Davenport, Rich took the line out immediately before Carnforth moved down the pitch, a quickly taken penalty from hooker Dave Hones saw flanker Jason Short barge through before grounding the ball in the far corner, up stepped Mathew Short to slot the conversion from the touchline.
TC made their first break into the Carnforth half and with the visiting defence working well, TC received a penalty in front of the posts and rather than than run the ball they took the option of a kick at goal - up stepped the skipper but he skewed his kick wide of the posts. Minutes later and Carnforth made them pay when flanker Dan Blenkharn took the ball and from no where he was away down the pitch and he cut through the defence to score under the posts, Mathew Short converted for a 21 - 0 lead. Carnforth maybe should have had a few more points on the board, Hall, Hamer, Hones and Harrison all making breaks, winger Jack Dorsett made a couple of great runs but the score remained at 21 - 0 at half time.
Hamer and OConnor made a couple of early breaks as Carnforth looked to finish the game off early in the second half but back came TC and after they made a couple of replacements they looked stronger !!. The home winger finished well in the corner to reduce the gap, kick again missed. 5 minutes later and Carnforth regained a 21 point lead, home hooker Neil Wright threw the ball in the line out, Blenkharn happily took the catch to take the ball clear and score his second try of the day for a 26 - 5 lead.
Surely now the game was in the bag but TC refused to lie down, they came well at Carnforth with the defence standing firm, however the home support/referees were baying for yellow cards every time a Carnforth tackle was put in. Their efforts were rewarded when Jason Short went in the sin bin on 65 minutes, followed two minutes later by Mathew Short, to make matters worse a third yellow card to Murray on 69 minutes saw Carnforth down to 12 men against 15 TC players. Three man overlap and there is only so much Carnforth could have done, 3 tries were scored whilst the 3 man advantage was used to full extent, luckily the TC kicker missed two of the kicks and the score was now at 22 - 26 with 2 minutes to go.
The initiative was now with TC and the home crowd were now in full voice but Carnforth took control of the game and Harrison, Rich and Weed took the ball on. In the last minute a penalty was awarded to Carnforth and up came Mathew Short to slot the kick between the uprights to seal a well earned victory at 29 - 22.
Thanks to the Thornton XV for a great game - keep this squad each week if you can and the climb up the league will be there, also thanks for the hospitality in the Ashley afterwards.
Carnforth - lets please get to training on Tuesday night - another tough fixture this week at home to Preston.
Man of the match - Joe Harrison
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