TRAINING AT WEST PARK TONIGHT, in advance of the NATIONAL TENS as per last week's announcement
15 Group v Durham, at Blaydon RFC
Durham 12 Lancashire 11
With 13 members of the two Lancashire squads contesting the EFE Challenge Cup final (congratulations to Ormskirk for yet another win for this year group) a somewhat depleted squad travelled to Blaydon to take on Durham.
Skipper Andrew Dauncey started like a man on a mission, disrupting every piece of possession the home side got and the pack warmed to their task. With strong runs from Nick Watson and Lewis MacKay driving the Durham pack backwards and James Morris, Chris Tribley and Dauncey foraging at the breakdowns, the initiative seemed to be swinging in the visitors direction.
Good breaks by Dauncey, centre Chris Schofield and Kelham O'Hanlon saw offloads land in the hands of scrambling defenders and the attacks break down. The pacey Durham backs exploited these turnovers to launch counter-attacks of their own. Excellent cover tackles, particularly by George Skofic (what did I tell you? hookers on the wing.....) kept the threat at bay until a loose ball at a scrum compounded by a wayward pass allowed the home side's flanker to touch down close to the posts. The conversion stretched their lead to 7 - 0.
As Lancashire sought to make amends the power of Kyle Manson-Kullin, Richard Newman and Ben Vernon were to the fore. As the pressure mounted the pack forced another penalty. This time the chance was taken to kick points, which was taken by Tom Lancaster. Despite dominating the final exchanges of the half they could not peg back any more of the deficit.
Following the re-start the introduction of the fresh legs of Chris Travis and Christian Cudd to the pack revitalised their efforts. The home side were penned back on their own line. George Skofic pounced upon a dropped pass and beat a couple of defenders before setting up a ruck. The forwards piled in and Louis Singleton released the backs. Slick handling moved the ball to the opposite wing where Nick Costello had too much gas for the cover. The tricky crosswind drifted Lancaster's conversion attempt agonisingly wide.
Durham's response was instantaneous as they broke down the field and piled on the pressure on the Lancashire line. Richard Newman produced a ferocious tackle in the corner but eventually the numbers told and Durham breached the line out wide. The wind played it's part again and now they led 12 - 8.
Lancashire felt somewhat aggrieved to have been caught on the counter and smashed their way back up the field. The ball came to the backs and stand-in full back Joey Luttrull saw the possibility of an overlap and were it not for a despairing intervention diverting his pass, to Skofic who had the line at his mercy, then Lancashire would surely have re-taken the lead. They had to settle for another penalty from Lancaster.
With only a single point deficit and a few minutes to go the visitors pressed for any score that would give them a hard fought victory. Unfortunately a couple of unfortunate decisions prevented them from achieving what would have been a creditable win.
The squad start their preparations for the National 10-a-side Festival with training at West Park on Monday, hoping to cap a slightly disappointing season with a good performance in this most prestigious tournament which is the highlight of the 15 Group season.
If anyone has any suitable action shots from either game, suitable to illustrate either match report, please contact lancsrugby@aol.com
Durham 'B' 7 Lancashire 'B' 29
The B squad faced an even greater task than the A squad. The unavailability of players and late-withdrawals robbed them of almost the whole three-quarter line. Drastic measures were needed. Why stop at hookers on the wing? Reserve prop Alexander Reilly was pressed into service in the centre and this proved to be a master-stroke. His strong running opened gaps in the midfield and drew defenders to open running channels for those around him.
Skipper Josh Beaumont at fly half controlled the game as the re-shuffled backline created an opportunity for Ben Stelmaszek to cross for the opening score. Beaumont added the conversion and Lancashire led 7 - 0. Although a missed tackled allowed Durham to level the scores just before the break, the signs were encouraging.
Max Ashcroft was dominant in the front row and Sam Davies like a leaping salmon in the line. Flankers Matthew Edgar and Adam Trinnick controlled the breakdown and Beaumont in tandem with scrum half Matthew Mahon set the tempo as well as pinning the home down with accurate kicking.
Reilly and centre partner Andrew Newton broke the line repeatedly and Jamie Henderson was able to exploit his lightning pace to finish on no less than three occasions. Josh Beaumont was able to convert two of his three tries as well as adding a penalty goal to leave the final score reading 29 - 7 to Lancashire.
The result was particularly pleasing for the lads who have trained throughout the season without getting much opportunity in the A squad. Many of them were part of a mauling in Yorkshire and the spirit and team ethic which they displayed at Blaydon will hopefully live long in their memory.
Reports from Greg MacMillan
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15 Group v Durham ('A' XV & 'B' XV)
Monday 16th: Durham have confirmed the location of the weekend's Under 15s (A & B) fixture as being Blaydon RFC, Crow Trees, Hexham Road, Swalwell, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE16 3BN
Click here for the location... the club's website... the local weather forecast...
The kick off for both matches is 2.00pm.
The coach will leave Preston Grasshoppers at 9.15pm. Players to wear the Lancashire 'cricket shirt' to travel; and take a white shirt and 15 Group (or school) tie for the post-match meal. The pre-match warm up will be in the red & white training shirts. and rain jackets. Players who have not yet made an appearance this season will be presented with a tie at the post-match meal; and ALL players are requested to stay until this takes place.
Click on the Churchill Cup image to see details of Lancashire's special offer to the junior sides, including the 2006/07 15 Group squad.
Also, in response to a number of enquiries, planning for the introduction of the new Schools of Rugby to be be managed by Lancashire in association with Sale Sharks, is well underway. For more information, Click here...
An announcement about the arrangements for the 2007/08 season will be made towards the end of this month.
| |
Lancashire 15 Group vs Durham |
Away, at Blaydon RFC |
| 15 |
Joey Luttrull |
QEGS Middleton |
Rochdale |
| 14 |
George Skofic |
Hutton GS |
Tarleton |
| 13 |
Kelham O’Hanlon |
KES & QM School |
- |
| 12 |
Chris Schofield |
Liverpool College |
Widnes |
| 11 |
Nicholas Costello |
Arnold School |
- |
| 10 |
Tom Lancaster |
Hutton GS |
Preston Grasshoppers |
| 9 |
Louis Singleton |
Manchester G.S. |
Sedgley Park |
| 1 |
Lewis MacKay |
William Hulme GS |
Manchester |
| 2 |
Chris Tribley |
Hutton GS |
Preston Grasshoppers |
| 3 |
Kyle Manson-Kullin |
Clitheroe Royal GS |
Preston Grasshoppers |
| 4 |
Richard Newman |
Bolton School |
Bolton |
| 5 |
Nicholas Watson |
St Michael's Chorley |
Preston Grasshoppers |
| 6 |
James Morris |
Stonyhurst College |
Leicester Academy |
| 7 |
Andrew Dauncey (captain) |
Manchester GS |
Sedgley Park |
| 8 |
Ben Vernon |
Hutton GS |
Preston Grasshoppers |
|
|
|
|
| 16 |
Christian Cudd |
Stonyhurst College |
- |
| 17 |
Chris Travis |
Kirkham GS |
- |
| 18 |
Dare Eludoyin |
Stonyhurst College |
- |
| 19 |
Andrew Newton |
St Joseph’s HS |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Lancashire 15 Group B vs Durham |
Away, at Blaydon RFC |
| 15 |
Tom Richardson |
KES & QM School |
- |
| 14 |
Jamie Henderson |
Audenshaw School |
Aldwinians |
| 13 |
Tom Ellis |
Hutton GS |
Preston Grasshoppers |
| 12 |
Robert Bolton |
Bolton School |
Bolton |
| 11 |
Jamie De Rego |
Hutton GS |
Tarleton |
| 10 |
Josh Beaumont (captain) |
Arnold School |
- |
| 9 |
Matthew Mahon |
Hutton GS |
Preston Grasshoppers |
| 1 |
Max Ashcroft |
Hutton GS |
Tarleton |
| 2 |
Chris White |
St Thomas Boteler |
Warrington |
| 3 |
Matthew Johnstone |
Lancaster Royal GS |
Preston Grasshoppers |
| 4 |
Freddie Liddel |
Stonyhurst College |
- |
| 5 |
Sam Davies |
Bramhall HS |
Manchester |
| 6 |
Adam Trinick |
Audenshaw School |
Glossop |
| 7 |
Matthew Edgar |
Kirkham GS |
- |
| 8 |
Jacob Nelson |
St Bede’s College |
- |
|
|
|
|
| 16 |
Robert Power |
St Edward’s College |
- |
| 17 |
William Furnell |
KES &QM School |
- |
| 18 |
Tom Boardman |
Hutton GS |
- |
| 19 |
Alexander Reilly |
Bolton School |
Sedgley Park |
| 20 |
Ben Stelmaszek |
Audenshaw School |
Aldwinians |
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