You don’t always get what you deserve...

A very committed opening from both sides saw Manchester edging it in terms of territory, but any attacks were well resisted by the home side. For a long period, the game drifted across the field with both sides secure in defence, limiting the game to between the 10 metre lines. The breakdowns tended to come as a result of knock-ons from Manchester as they looked for the telling pass.

Manchester clearly had the stronger pack however and any such indiscretions by the backs went unpunished as Tyldesley were unable to win clean ball from their set pieces. In fact, Amy Lees became frustrated when penalised for simply keeping up with the ball as Tyldesley were pushed backwards...but at least this provided some respite for the referee’s daughter behind her struggling pack!

Disappointingly, Manchester had arrived with just the one reserve available. With the front row of Charlee Chambers, Alyx Maw and Amber Smith having the measure of their opposite numbers, it was decided that Bethan Emuss and Emma Broadbent would interchange to keep the second row fresh alongside Amy Johnson. Jess Gurney provided excellent service from the back of the scrum to Amy L throughout the game.

Tyldesley looked as if they were going to be first to breach the defence,but an excellent cover tackle by Hannah Johnson hauled the isolated attacker to the ground, forcing a penalty. A long kick by Nieve Jones relieved the momentary pressure. Encouraged by the distance of the kick with the wind behind her, Nieve then tried another speculative kick from the line out which the backs surged after. This was the first real chance of the game, but a difficult pass was dropped as the line was reached and a 22 metre drop out resulted.

A rare venture deep into the Manchester half saw the visitors forced into defensive mode. Tyldesley kept working the ball along the backs however and finally a gap opened out wide for an unconverted opening try. 5-0 to Tyldesley.

The backs were by now playing superbly. Leanne Murray, Katy Morten, Emily Houghton and Hannah Johnson were a mobile unit that gave their opposite numbers no space whatsoever. If Nieve hadn’t already snuffed out an attack, then her three quarters who seemed to be hunting in pairs were certainly able to!

Finally it looked as if Manchester had opened the lock to Tyldesley’s stubborn defence. It was no great surprise that the player who found the way around them was Hannah. As she raced to within metres of the line a try seemed inevitable...unfortunately not when grabbed around the neck by a desperate defender, which put even Hannah off her stride. The ball was dropped as a result and Hannah left prostrate. Hannah’s health was the obvious concern, and while she was attended to it seemed that the referee had a difficult decision: whether to award a penalty try or just the penalty. Neither! Hannah had lost control of the ball over the line and the referee deemed that a 22m drop out was therefore appropriate! A touchline protest was responded to by the referee who justified his decision by saying that both sides had been guilty of high tackles during the game. Bizarrely, the one that had just denied an equalising try was going unpunished, some would say rewarded, allowing Tyldesley to hang on to their one try lead at the break.

Tyldesley restarted the second half and the ball was well fielded by Leanne who took it to half way with the pack retaining possession. A magnificent burst by Nieve caused chaos in the home side’s ranks. Katy, Emily and Hannah kept the momentum of the move going before a well taken pass to Harriet Parsons gave Manchester the try they deserved.

The try was a real confidence booster for Manchester. Some great passing between Amy L and Nieve moved Manchester straight back into Tyldesley’s half. A repeat of the first half then ensued with neither side giving any quarter, the 5-5 scoreline accurately reflecting just how close these teams were. Although Manchester had the territorial advantage, the home defence showed no sign of cracking.

Manchester’s pack continued to exert pressure on on the Tyldesley scrum however, and finally a strong drive from the forwards forced play to the Tyldesley line and beyond - the ball being held up by the stubborn defence. Tyldesley remained impressive as two more strong drives were held back and a telling point of the match had obviously been reached. Manchester had to score after all this pressure or the confidence would be with the brave defence. Amy J was the next to go for the telling drive, only to be held up again. At least the lengthy break as four Tyldesley defenders then received treatment allowed Manchester to plan the next onslaught. This turned out to be a short one thankfully, as Amy L forced her way over to give Manchester the lead at last, 10-5.

Tyldesley reacted positively to this disappointment and were clearly not going to let their 100% record go without a fight. Some rare scrappy play followed with Tyldesley having the better of it and camping in the Manchester half for an extended period. Nieve took a heavy knock on her leg causing a reshuffle of the backs to allow her to try to play through the injury.

Manchester then successfully resisted a fierce attack near their line by stealing possession and characteristically trying to run out of defence. As the 22 was reached, Hannah, in support, was penalised, apparently for holding on, when in actual fact she was not the player tackled. This decision really was Tyldesley’s get-out-of-jail card and they gratefully played it - a quick penalty was ran through the confused Manchester defence to level the scores. An excellent conversion followed to give the home side a 12-10 advantage with just five minutes plus injury time remaining.

The final try of the match soon followed, in a similarly unjust way, at least in the view of the travelling support. Tyldesley’s home touch judge had moved to behind the posts to check the conversion but had not returned to his position for the restart. Manchester, now chasing the match, kicked off smartly but the ball was well collected by the Tyldesley wing who launched a rapid Tyldesley counter attack down the right touchline. It seemed from the indications of the spectators along that touchline that as Leanne clattered her opposite number, play had been forced to the wrong side of the touchline. Unfortunately, the referee, without his absent assistant, did not make the call himself (or rely on those nearer the ball) and the break was allowed to continue. Katy tracked across with her usual determination to almost drive the move into touch for a second time but it wasn’t enough. A killer try had been scored to the disappointment of the Manchester’s contingent. With only injury time remaining, the win that seemed likely only a few minutes earlier had been snatched away from them.

At this point the home support understandably began calling for the end of the match. The away support knew that the game was up and that a strong Manchester performance, which could have put them in touching distance of their hosts at the top of the league, had been thwarted.

In truth, there was yet again very little between these two excellent teams. The difference on the day depended on a few decisions by the officials; sometimes these even themselves out, sometimes they don’t.

Some great pictures by Liz here>>>

https://picasaweb.google.com/115231797605651435788/RugbyManchesterGirlsU18sVTyldsleyWaterlooSun06Feb11?feat=email#