Ashby 47 - 22 Sileby Vikings

It should not be underestimated the task that faced Sileby this week. The objectives were clear – first score four tries, earning what could be a vital bonus point come season end; then take it from there. The opposition to be overcome in the achievement of this objective was formidable. Not only had only one team this season come away from their home ground with a bonus point, but Ashby were one victory away from securing promotion to Midlands 2. Like I said, formidable. Furthermore Sileby’s last game away from Platts Lane was a 70-5 loss against Sleaford, a club that find themselves lower in the table than this week’s opponent.

That is not to say there was any defeatism on behalf of the Vikings. There was great energy heading into the fixture, buoyed by better numbers attending training. This allowed the coaching team to expand on the skills, disciplines and approach needed in the final stretch of the season. Furthermore there were a number of returning players. In the pack Captain Gareth Love and Hooker Chris Wright; in the back-line Dan Riley, Lee Robinson, Kieran Plant and Player/Coach Rich Rees.

The first 10 minutes of the match were a dichotomy. Having chosen to kick off the Vikings were excellent in defence; not allowing their lofty positioned opposition any territorial gain through their ball in hand play. The back line was well organised and proactive … until it was not. Off the first scrum of the game Ashby scythed through the Sileby back line. A hint of crossing? Perhaps. A hint of disorganisation? Almost certainly. Regardless the home side took their chance well, excellent support play ensuring that the covering defensive efforts were in vein. It if was not clear before then it certainly was now, Ashby’s well drilled slick backs would be dangerous from first phase possession.

A strong response was required; and a strong response was delivered. For the next 10 minutes Sileby dominated possession, inroads being made through the set piece and some excellent off-loading play. A rip from Number 8 Ash Rideout turned defence into attack. A break down the left from fellow back rower Paddy O’Callaghan established position; only to be foiled by holding on at the ruck after a strong run from Centre Riley. The Vikings however would not be denied. Having regained possession and the territory a penalty saw the opportunity to attack a fractured defence. A lovely offload from Openside Flanker Callum Spencer released winger Kieran Plant; the back completing an excellent diving finish in the corner.

The next 5 minutes would see two Sileby players leave the field. First the aforementioned Spencer succumbed to a shoulder injury picked up a training during the week; replaced by ‘16/’17 Player’s Player of the Season winner David Walker. Second was a Yellow Card administered to Riley for a no arms tackle. The run of play was firmly with the home side at this point. Although the individual and collective defence was strong a series of infringements allowed Ashby to drive towards the line. Eventually the referee tired of the consistent Penalties; a Penalty Try awarded when Wright dived over the top of a ruck. The score stood at 14-5.

Within 5 minutes Sileby would be metres away from taking the lead. First the kick off was returned with interest by Rees, rolling out on the opposition’s 10 metre line. Having collected the Ashby Wing looked to pick out his Full Back with a long, quick throw in. Showing the determination that often epitomised the day’s performance from the travelling side (and pace even he did not know he had in him) Rees picked the Full Back’s pocket. His reward was a stroll to the line. Off the restart Sileby again were exerting pressure. A strong carry and offload from the returned Riley make space for Centre partner Lee Robinson. Only excellent defence from Ashby prevented the score; the ball eventually turned over.

Unfortunately for the Vikings the rest of the half saw the momentum switch the other away. First a scrum centre field offered an excellent attacking opportunity. The Ashby Fly Half, having ignored a number of dummy runs, slipped through a gap in the Sileby midfield. With excellent support play the score was inevitable. They followed up with a second score, this time through a missed tackle. A simple two on one was executed as you’d expect by a team now 40 minutes away from Midlands 2 rugby next season. With no further scores in the half at the interval the score read 28-10. Sileby were two tries away from completing their objective.

The start to the second half was less than ideal. First the ill-discipline that had led to the Penalty Try reared its head again (a theme for the half). Scrum Half Jamie Muggleton received 10 minutes on the side lines from the referee for failing to retreat from a quickly taken tap penalty. This followed by a brace of tries akin to those of the first half. First the Ashby axis of 10, 12, 15 managed to find space through the Sileby midfield to score. Buoyed by their considerable score board advantage the home side were beginning to take the opportunity to run from anywhere on the pitch. Off the resulting restart they created an overlap to break down the left-hand side. Sileby’s covering defence was weak; the opportunity converted.

The Viking’s rejuvenation in the fixture’s final quarter started with some excellent defensive play. First Jon Griffiths and substitute Josh Freer, whom had replaced the injured Rees, turned the ball over from a break by the home team. Moments later the Sileby pack turned the screw at the scrum, something that they had been threatening and achieving throughout the game. Marching backwards the Number 8 picked up the ball, only to be smashed by Second Row Ben Smith. This defensive effort galvanised the Vikings. First Freer, excellent throughout his stint, provided space for Jamie Robson and Plant to stretch their legs. With territory established the set piece became a focal point of the attack. There was only going to be one result from the scrum; the referee obliged with a Penalty Try. With the run of play Sileby struck the final and most significant blow. An excellent run from Robinson established the opportunity; Ashby’s tiring defence slipping off tackles. Pick and go, pick and go, pick and go; penalty, penalty, penalty. By the time Number 8 Rideout crossed the line no one could say that the away side deserved anything less.

What could have been in this fixture? Lessons to be learned will focus on two aspects. First, that no side is likely to be successful playing a quarter of the fixture with 14 men. Furthermore the number of penalties given away for entirely avoidable offenses, late tackles and back chat, was incompatible with a victorious outlook. The second is that training is imperative if relegation is to be avoided. Too many times Ashby slipped through a defensive unit that has had minimal time to gel outside of match conditions. Throughout the year a number of individuals across the squad have stepped up when the need has been dire, either making themselves available for selection, playing out of position or heading down to training in the cold, wet Winter months. Now it is time for the whole squad to stand up and be counted with only a small handful of fixtures and training sessions remaining.

Try Scorers:

Kieran Plant
Rich Rees
Ash Rideout

Yellow Cards:

Dan Riley
Jamie Muggleton