Firsts v Old Brodlians
Old
Brodlians 33
v
Knottingley 16
Saturday
19th November 2005
Following
last weeks fine performance and result Knottingley came out second best to a
more determined old Brods side that put them to the sword with four unanswered
2nd half tries.
With
the advantage of the slope on a freezing cold afternoon Knottingley were quick
to put the home side on the back foot pressuring them into defending deep in
their own half. From one such foray
and the forwards pressing no 10 Willy Stanfield chip kicked the defence for
winger Brad Rowlandson to get on the end of, only for Brods to recover and
bundle him into touch.
Brods
only answer at this stage was to put boot to ball in clearing their lines. However, they at times were gifted easy
metres when Knottingley were guilty of turning over easy ball, albeit though
Brods were just as guilty at times.
Knottingley went close again, when using the chip kick once again for
Rowlandson who was denied by the covering fullback who himself was tackled into
touch. From the line out
Knottingley winning the ball through the sharp throwing of Duncan Barbour and
catching of Andrew Lund set the platform for their first try. A pin point kick from Stanfield found
Ian Atack and drawing the cover handed on to Steven Coutts to waltz in at the
corner, who also landed the conversion.
At this stage of the game, although not playing brilliantly Knottingley
were on top bossing it through the forwards with Dave Sonia, Paul Sutcliff and
Mark Woolford showing a good lead.
But
on twenty eight minutes and against the run of play, and in broken play Brods
centre went in for a try that was also converted. Their heads up, Brods were clawing their way back into the
game but right on half time Knottingley went further in front the platform set
by the forwards brought the reward, Coutts
linking
into the backs released Rowlandson who running a great angle zipped in for a
well taken try with Coutts landing the conversion Knottingley were good for
their half time lead.
Although
with their lead there was still room for improvement and facing playing up the
slope play smart. However they
allowed Brods to bring the scoring level when they scored under the posts and
also land the conversion.
The
returning from injury of Paul Rockett, who replaced the injured Ian Atack,
caused problems for the opposition showing his pace and awareness to create the
opening for the forwards, Mark Sutcliff and Brother Paul to take them close but
the defence stood firm. Brods on
sixteen minutes went in front when they turned Knottingley over, who were guilty
of, instead of clearing their line, attempted to play it out, with the try and
goal were in front for the first time.
Going
completely off the boil, dropping off tackles and what appeared to be showing
them far too much respect, their stand off half Jamie Blogs started to dictate and began to struggle up the
slope. Brods sealed the game with a
further two tries and conversion, as Knottingley were left to reflect on what
could have been following an industrious first half only to capitulate in the
second.
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