37 Dinnington 2nds 22
Knottingley
fielded a strong team on Saturday and it led to a thrilling pulsating game,
which was greatly appreciated by the supporters of both
sides.
From the kick
off Knottla attacked and Steve Seed tackled his opposite number. From the
resultant loose, stand off Mick Ward kicked through and went over for an
opportunist try giving the hosts a 5-0 lead within five
minutes.
Knottla kept
up the attack, but a mid field breakdown allowed Dinnington to relieve pressure
by kicking through the loose ball. They collected and recycled the ball across
the backs for the winger, Shaun White, to go over to even the
scores.
After the
restart, Knottla again rampaged forward through the impressive Dave Stead, but
rapidly gave away two penalties. From a scrum the visitors gained possession and
released their speedy backs. Missed tackles by the defence allowed Andrew Hopkin
to score on the right. Though having had much of territorial advantage Knottla
now found themselves 10-5 adrift.
Knottla were
stung into attack and set up a period of sustained pressure, which resulted in a
penalty in front of the sticks, converted by Ward after 25 minutes. Score 10-8.
Dinnington
failed to restart correctly and from the scrum on half way, Knottla brought
their backs into play, both Ward and Walsh breaking the line before passing to
winger Danny Fox, who kicked ahead and recollected to go over for a superb try
in the corner, goaled by Ward. Score 15-10 to
Knottla.
The visitors
were undaunted and continued to tackle incessantly. Knottla again gifted the
visitors when a spilled pass was collected by Dinnington stand off, John Ross,
who exchanged passes with his flanker, before taking the return to go over for a
well worked score. Score 15 all.
Just before
half time Ward goaled another penalty to give a slender 18-15 lead to the home
side.
Into the
second half, Knottla forwards, marshalled by Stead, started to assert
superiority. After an evenly fought quarter, Matthew Lunt collected the ball and
ran from defence, passing to Stead. He collected a return pass and was ably
assisted by forwards,Dave Williams and Rory Haigh, finally setting up a maul on
the visitors 22 before passing along the backs for Fox to go in at the corner
for his second try, goaled by Ward. A true team effort. Score
25-15.
Just about
this point Knottla lost their superb scrum half, Seed, to an unfortunate
accident, falling awkwardly in a tackle and breaking his collarbone. This forced
a realignment of the backs with Ward moving to scrum half. Shortly afterward,
Dinnington were reduced to 14 when their prop was sin binned for using his knees
in a tackle, a momentary lapse in what was a good hard clean
game.
The visitors
balance was disturbed by the loss of their prop, and this signalled sustained
pressure from Knottla. The forwards advanced 35 yards in a rolling maul, the
ball was passed to Ben Holmes now at stand off, who broke through and scored
under the posts. Ward failed with the conversion. Score
30-15.
Back at full
strength, Dinnington pressed forward and from the Knottla 5 yard line Andy
Hopkin broke through for a try, converted by Darren Cannadine. Score
30-22.
In the final
minutes with both sides giving their all, Knottla produced the best move of the
match. Stead stole the ball on his own 10 yard line, starting a passing frenzy
involving most of the team:- Stead -Fox -Haigh - Lunt - Wright - Holmes - Lunt -
Holmes - Fox and back to Lunt for a thrilling final score, converted by Ward.
Score 37-22.
Dean Ackroyd,
at hooker, is showing solid promise, and Jamie Hayter at lock made some fine
forward carries in his first match as captain.
