Warriors fall just short against Acorn

Myton came out second best against York Acorn in this NCL 1 fixture - but only just! The main trend of the season so far has been for the Warriors to be competitive in every game, but just fall short at the final knockings in several matches, and so it was again in this one. In recent weeks, Myton have run the league leaders, Pilkington Recs, very close for most of the game, and it was a similar – indeed even closer story - against second placed Acorn, but once again the scoreboard doesn’t lie.

Despite being hampered by absentees due to holidays and late withdrawals, Myton started the game particularly well, bucking the trend from recent weeks where they’d had to claw their way back into games. In defence, Riley “the Is-that-fringe-making- something-of-a-return” Anderson led the way with a couple of big early tackles; Joe “Sicknote” Dewsbury made three on the bounce and Ash James and Liam Price both stormed in with bone crunchers against the much larger Acorn opposition. In attack, the half-backs were martialling their troops superbly, with the Warriors completing first three or four sets with deep kicks to keep the visitors on the back foot. It was no surprise then, when the Warriors took the lead on 5 minutes. Kris Walker put up a high kick to the corner for which Lee James leapt to challenge the Acorn winger. Although unable to take it, “Sid” did enough to force the defender to fumble and Kris Walker followed it up to score, Ash James adding the extras. Another solid set from the kick-off, and the home side were looking good. Ryan Walker showed some great defence from square marker to stop the York pack getting a roll on and Jimmy “The Human Dynamo” Jennison was his usual self with some big hits up the middle. Adam Piggott showed safe hands under the early kicks and was running back well, but was the first of Myton’s injury problems on the day, suffering a nasty cut above the eye on the day he’d chosen not to wear the head bandage he’d usually been wearing since the last time he got a nasty cut above the eye! Though he was replaced by eighteen years-17 weeks-and 6 days old Dan Precious, it was a sign of what was to come for the Warriors, with the club’s glamourous physio Norman Pidd being kept busy all afternoon – and not just because of looking after the opposition players either! Nevertheless, as opening quarters go, it was probably Myton’s strongest of the season, exemplified by further big hits from Liam Welham and Sam “Rambo” Hoggard (off the bench and still with a Pina Colada in his hand having just flown in from sunnier climes).

It’s an often acknowledged “truism” that good teams will always capitalise on their opposition’s mistakes. The Warriors had played an almost fault-free 20 minutes, but when a Myton pass couldn’t be taken, Acorn immediately capitalised on the gifted possession and advantageous field position. They played the set before putting a kick to the corner that was pounced upon by winger Josh Parker who’s try was improved by Anthony Chilton to bring the scores level. It was a set-back for the home side, but the ship was steadied, and they regained the lead a few minutes later. Kris Walker put up a high kick but was then taken late. The young touch-judge rightly entered the field of play as the game continued, the referee eventually spotting him and, after conferring, awarded Myton a penalty from where the ball alighted. The Acorn players were somewhat aggrieved, with second rower Jordan Hyde voicing his opinions too forcibly for the referee’s liking and thus being invited to get splinters in his bum for ten minutes. Ash James kicked the penalty to put the Warriors back in front and, with the opponents a man down, the Warriors had ten minutes to press home their advantage. Unfortunately for Myton (and it’s uncanny how often this happens) it was the 12 men who stepped up. The visitors’ big forwards had been running hard all game but, in adversity, they now stepped up a further notch. Liam Welham made some massive tackles, as did Ben Bradshaw, though injury problem number two arose when he had to leave the field with a nasty looking injury to his sternum – and best wishes go to Ben for a speedy recovery. The Warriors were defending resolutely but conceded a penalty to give Acorn another piggy-back and again they took full advantage. Spreading the ball from right to left, winger Ryan Gallagher went in at the corner. The young touch judge (who should be complimented for taking the responsibility for making tough calls at such a young age) immediately signalled for the final pass to have been forward. Sadly for the Warrior Faithful, this time the referee chose to overrule him and the score stood, with Chilton slotting over an excellent kick from the touchline to rub salt into the wounds. Acorn’s tails were up, and they began to turn the screw. Just before the interval, they attacked down their right side and took advantage of a hole in the Myton line, Reece Rushworth eventually touching down and Chilton again converting.

Although ten points down at the break, there was no panic in the Myton team talk. They returned to the pitch knowing that if they could continue to minimise the errors, and just be a bit smarter with some of the play options, they were still in with a chance. Dan Precious led the charge with a superb early carry, as did Liam Price and Joe Dewsbury, both making good yards after contact. Ryan Walker showed great strength in the tackle on another excellent defensive set, and Ash James’ grubber forced an early Acorn drop out. A fine Dan Spencer break just added to the positivity and things looked good when he fed Ellis Wray in support. That positivity waned a little when it was clear that “Elvis” had injured his ankle in the tackle. To add injury to injury, Dan Precious then had to leave the field with a possible cracked rib. Fortunately, Adam Piggott had passed a head test (apparently he answered all the questions wrong, which is how the medical staff knew he was fine as that is the normal state of affairs) and bravely took to the field, but with Sam Hoggard still trying to unload his earlier Pina Colada, Myton’s bench was now looking decidedly thin. When Acorn made a break, it was only a superb chase back and tackle from Liam Welham that thwarted them. The Warriors were showing real grit in the face of injury adversity. John Hobman chopped and changed positions to fill the gaps left by those around him and Mike Ward took his carries from deep to give the bigger lads a breather. Myton pulled one back with a fine handling move that was finished off by Ash James, though not without the cost of him too having to leave the field (temporarily at least) with a real wallop to the face that should make him look windswept and interesting to the ladies! The conversion was missed, but The Warriors were giving it everything. A Jimmy Jennison catch and break took them forward on one occasion. On another, it was Liam Welham, Coaches’ MOM for the third week running and this week adding the players’ player award as well, with an outstanding break, feeding John Hobman whose quick hands in turn put (the now returned) Ash James away. Credit must go to Acorn’s scrambling defence who dragged him down agonisingly short of the line. Then an interchange of passes between Liam Welham and Kris Walker almost put the latter in, only for the skipper to be held up over the line. Despite the great effort, the home side just couldn’t force their way over and once again, sadly, fell short in another valiant effort.

The defeat means that, at the half-way point of the season, The Warriors sit in 8th place in the table with stats that read P11, W4, L6, D1, F251, A232, (diff +19) Pts 9. Whilst not ideal, there’s real hope that turning those narrow defeats into narrow wins could still mean a strong second half of the campaign could see a rapid rise up the table. Certainly Head Coach Dave Wray was not too down hearted when speaking to the world’s media who’d not gone to Madrid to see Liverpool win, or New York to see Anthony Joshua lose.

“You couldn’t fault our effort and commitment today,” he said. “We were solid for most of the game and were probably conceding a good stone a man in the pack. Our ‘smarts’ could have been a bit better at times but playing last half hour with a bench full of injured players didn't help."

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