Match Report, Saturday 28th March 09 Gainsborough 22 Ollerton 48
Gainsborough entertained Ollerton in wet, windy cold conditions, they are currently in the league Gainsborough left last year, this was not a pre arranged fixture, due to league and cup competitions both sides had a blank week and the meeting came about quite by chance.
Gainsborough showed two significant changes from the sides of recent weeks, Grant Bell and Howard Russell were not available but the current All Blacks squad does have strength in depth and unavailability gives opportunities for others who have been waiting their turn.
The first half started with Gainsborough attacking the visitors at every opportunity whilst the Ollerton pack was strong the initial challenge looked like the home backs would maintain the advantage, ball was won and worked through the backs and despite the elements Gainsborough took the lead through a well taken try by Aaron Dawson who gets stronger week by week, the wind interfered with the conversion but Gainsborough were 5 – 0 in front. Ollerton came back at the All Blacks, they had some experienced players in the side and their first points were put on the board by a very fast full back who caught a ball kicked out of the All Blacks defence and ran back at them, the try was converted Ollerton were then in front a lead that they were to keep for the rest of the game.
Ollerton elected to keep the ball in hand, working possession through their backs The All Blacks kept the visitors at bay by strong tackling and good kicking, efficient catching by Mark Waterland , excellent cover by Paul Hooton and Albert Parker but the pressure eventually brought Ollerton their due reward the ball was passed through the backs and on 25 minutes the ball was touched down on the right wing the try was converted and the visitors were 14 – 5 in front.
Despite weather the game was providing good entertainment. Daniel Chadwick was having a very good game his size and speed meant he was testing the visitors defence at every opportunity and from one of his many runs against the opposition he took the ball into contact and the resultant second phase led to a try for Dan Hipkiss, the home side were dominating play, Chadwick and Humphrey attacked the opposition and good hard tackling from Humphrey and Mark Ellis kept the visitors at bay until just before half time when the Ollerton. Pack stole a ball at the line out and crashed over to make the half time score 10 – 19 to the visitors.
The first twenty minutes of the second half was very much the All Blacks, they had all the possession and were camped in the visitors half, Gainsborough were playing with the elements and there is no doubt that they expected to win the game from this point, when Ollerton did manage to clear their lines the ball was returned, good runs by Dan Hipkiss and Chadwick kept them under pressure until the visitors moved the ball skilfully they kept ball in hand over several phases and eventually touched down and converted 10 – 26 . Ollerton’s greater experience told from this moment of the game and previous ideas of a home side win were long gone, they dominated the scrums and passed the ball superbly in their backs, Gainsborough’s credit came from their tackling particularly Humphreys, Hickson, Hooton and Mark Ellis. With he game lost and thoughts centred on next week’s cup game the home side made changes and brought on all of their replacements, The resultant play brought 2 more tries to the visitors but Gainsborough never give up these days and man of the match Chadwick broke clear and ran the full length of the pitch to touch down.
Good runs by Sam Hirst playing his first game of the season and a nice break by Shaun Parker who was returning from injury kept the Gainsborough spirits high but they were still to concede another try from Ollerton again after good work by their backs.
Mark Ellis rounded things off for Gainsborough, fitting reward for all his efforts on the day he touched down for a converted try, the final points came with minutes to go the Ollerton scrum half rounded off a good day for the visitors by scoring a converted try to make the final score 22 – 48. Not a win but a spirited performance that gave the All Blacks much to think about and the game was excellent preparation for the Lincolnshire cup game against Cleethorpes next Saturday 4th April.
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