Saturday 24th November
Gainsborough All Blacks 5 Horncastle 17
Gainsborough entertained local rivals Horncastle for the second time in three weeks on Saturday hoping to reverse the previous result. Whilst the all Blacks played well and this wasn’t the try fest the last game produced they were just not able to turn dominance into points, the points that would give them the win their efforts certainly deserve.
There is a determination amongst the players to support each other, defensive work and holding onto the ball give them dominance but the team does lack a try scorer.
The home side totally dominated the first 15minutes of the game, team changes meant that Wayne Sendall moved to stand off, Mark Waterland came in to Full Back from the wing and injuries to other forwards meant captain Vernon Goude played in an unfamiliar position of Number 8 and new comer Daniel Dodsley came in on the flank.
After 15 minutes of the game and just as things started to settle, totally against the run of play Horncastle were awarded a penalty 30 metre from the Gainsborough line, as the home side were organising themselves the visitors took a quick tap and touched down foir a try, the try was converted to give them a 7 point lead., Horncastle were to score twice more before half time, the pattern of play was no different All Blacks had the territory , couldn’t turn it into points and a very talented Horncastle stand off engineered another try which was converted alongside a penalty kick and the half time score was 13 – 0
The home side continued to give everything in the second half and in terms of points did win this half of the game, Vernon Goude had good runs at the opposition, this inspires his players and eventually these runs create space for others to penetrate the gaps. Gainsborough battered the visitors up to the 70th minute of the game and eventually their reward came. Following several penalties the forwards powered over the line for the referee to award a touch down, from the side lines there is some confusion who scored the points either Daniel Dodsley or Sam Hirst but the All Blacks were pleased to have the points.
Horncastle were able to keep their noses in front and prevent any further scoring by the All Blacks, they were clearly concerned that the home side could get back into the game and kicked rather than run a penalty with 5 minutes of the game remaining, this gave a final score of 17 – 3 to Horncastle.
Man of the match had to be Mark Waterland who ran well caught the high ball and joined the attacking line whenever possible, Full back is a position that he will grow into and experience will only make him better.
Next week sees the All Blacks travel to Ollerton for a 2.30 KO.
