Firsts v West Park Bramhope
Knottingley 19
West
Park Bramhope
22
22nd October
2005
Knottingley started slowly,
probably disrupted because the referee made them play on the second team pitch
as he said the first team pitch was not in good enough condition, but defended a
lot of pressure in the first 20mins, only to be 5 points down to a well worked
try by the visitors. After Knottingly had got onto their stride, they camped on
the visitor's line for 15mins, but could not find a way through. Carl Langton
was held up over the line, the closest the home side came to scoring.
Knottingley must learn to be patient in this are of the field and not squander
possession in the opponents 22. The last act of the half saw WPB go up the other
end and kick a penalty to leave a halftime score line of 8 0 to the
visitors.
However, in the second half
Knottingley turned up the heat and scored tries through P Rocket and S Coutts,
both goaled by Coutts, to lead 14 8, and looked like they were on the way to a
great result against the league leaders. However WPB fought back and, after some
dubious referring, scored two tries in 5 minutes to steal the game. One try
looked to be a clear knock on, the other a blatant forward pass. Score now 22
14. However with 2 mins left Knottingley scored again through P Rocket which set
up a tense finish. Knottingley caught the kick off, moved the ball wide and
looked to have created an overlap, however, somewhat ironically, the ref gave a
forward pass to end the game.
Knottingley must take heart
from this performance as all the players gave 100%. Knottingley's best were S
Rocket, C Langton, S Coutts and the ever
dependable Mick Ash, and with the bounce of the ball could have won comfortably
against the top two in the last two weeks. Knottingley must keep believing in
themselves, have more control when they have the ball, and learn to concentrate
for all of the game, in all areas, and one win should give the lads the
confidence to string together a good set of results.
| Firsts v West Park
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Knottingley 19
v
West
Park 1st XV 22
Quietly, unobtrusively, stealthily, perhaps even surreptitiously, West
Park slipped into top place in Yorkshire 2. Results elsewhere played a
vital part but 6 league wins out of 6 speaks volumes. However, Coach Andy
Stewart is the first to admit that his charges are moving towards the
toughest month of the season so far.
Knottingley is never the easiest place to seek a result and a
reshuffled back division did not make West Park's task any easier. Still
they tried to play an expansive game but early tilts by Jason Whitehead,
released by Matt Ingram and new boy James Barnett came to
nought.
Good driving play by the forwards took play deep into home territory.
The defence spilled a chip to the corner but the resulting touchdown by
winger Dan Barker was ruled offside. Urged on by skipper Glen Kilvington,
the pack drove back upfield, the ball being spun out wide for the first
score, by winger Jason Whitehead. A n excellent penalty strike by
full back Richard Lye gave West Park an 8-point half time
advantage.
The hosts replied with a well taken converted try by winger Steve
Rockett as West Park were reduced to 14 men with the sin binning of prop
Craig Hardy. The alarm bells were ringing on the hour mark as missed
tackles in midfield allowed Knottingley through for another converted
try.
West Park responded through their formidable pack, No 8 Joel Whitehead
touching down following a concerted forward drive, Lye converting. Prop
Mark Shepherd's attempt to join the fray was delayed by a frantic search
to find a pair of shorts of appropriate dimensions. Yes Shep, your bum
does look big in those!
With ten minutes to go fly half Barnett broke from a scrum, his well
timed pass allowing supporting centre Ingram to score. Lye's conversion
appeared to have sealed matters but another defensive lapse gave the
Rocket man the chance to grab another well taken try, narrowing the gap to
three points and ensuring a nervous final few minutes for the visitors. On
this form, it is difficult to envisage Knottingley remaining at the wrong
end of the table for long. |
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