Worms v Barnsley 110306
Worms v
Barnsley 2nds 110306
The Worms reversed their early season defeat by Barnsley with a workmanlike display of attacking rugby
played in freezing conditions.
The first quarter was evenly
fought, both sides creating chances only for the defences to hold firm. Barnsleys' much larger pack thwarted
Knottingley until an infringement by the visitors gifted Knottingley an easy three points kicked
by scrumhalf Ward.
Barnsley lost their hooker through
injury and this disrupted their play. With the biting wind at their backs, the
home side were gaining the ascendancy and camped in their opponents 22, forcing
Barnsley pack on the back foot. A good pass
to standoff Cootes following a
collapsed scrum saw him run through the cover to score a well earned try, again converted by Ward,
on the half hour.
Immediately after the turn
round, Barnsley went on attack and were repaid
with a simple three points from Pete Exley following a Knottingley
offside.
Knottingley came back
immediately, and Steve Ligier broke from a 5 yard scrum to force his way over for an unconverted
try.
Entering the last quarter
with Barnsley attempting to break out into attack, centre Jamie Liversedge intercepted and
run 40 yards before being brought down just short of the line. The loose ball
was picked up by Matthew Lunt who went over the whitewash and also added the
conversion for 22-3.
To their credit Barnsley
continued to attack Knottingley, but
the home side had the last word when substitute standoff Andrew Dickinson, who
brought a fresh dimension to the back
play with some deft touches, sent
centre Matthew Haigh over for the final try, goaled by Danny Fox for a 29-3
result.
For Knottingley the front
row of Graham Harrison, John Thompson and evergreen Dave Williams had immense
games in a hard working pack who were pushed all the way. Jamie Liversidge and
Matthew Haigh were the best of the backs, while Andrew Dickinson showed immense
promise.
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