Yorkshire 8 Lancashire 8
On a pleasant spring day the War of the Roses had its latest encounters at Sandal Rugby Club near Wakefield. The home side started extremely fired up, playing up the slope and into a stiff breeze. They drove into the Lancashire 22m area on several occasions but the Red Rose defence held firm. The boot of fly half Josh Stratton repeatedly sent them back down the hill. On the end of Ryan Glynn's assured passing, Stratton was able to begin to exert control on the game.
The back row worked well as a unit with Alisdair Sutherland breaking down attacks by the physically imposing home side and turning the ball over for the tireless warriors, Ben Vernon and skipper Andrew Dauncey, to drive the ball beyond the gain line. With Ryan Glynn snapping at everyone's heels the backs could be released. Chris Schofield used possession intelligently to release the pace of Nick Costello and Ross O'Neill on the wings.
Dave Markham, James Morris, Kyle Manson-Kullin and Lewis McKay worked unstintingly to secure ball at the ruck and in the lineout. As Josh Stratton broke the defensive line a desperate cover tackle aggrivated a knee injury and he had to be helped from the field. As he departed Tom Lancaster lined up a penalty kick, which he converted with some aplomb, and Lancashire took a slender 3-0 lead into the break.
Chris Tribley replaced Chris Thompson, who was struggling with a finger injury, at hooker and James Morris swapped with Nick Watson. Yorkshire began a sustained assault on the visitors line with searching kicks being dealt with by John Pape who was growing in confidence. Tom Lancaster's trusty boot cleared the lines on several occaisons. The pressure told and the penalties began to be conceded. Yorkshire managed to convert one of these oppotunities to level the scores.
Staunch defence and some lack of polish in the final pass meant that the deadlock seemed unlikely to be broken and the now almost obligatory 15 Group draw in the Roses match would be the result. The impressive Yorkshire centres smashed down their right wing and Pape's heroic last ditch tackle prevented a score in the corner but as play switched back the other way Lancashire ran out of tacklers and conceded a try with only 10 or so minutes left.
Uphill and into the wind the task was daunting. The fresh legs of Christian Cudd and Richard Newman were added to the pack and Lazarus Stratton returned to the fray. The pack forced penalties and the boot of Stratton drove them back into the corners. The resulting lineouts gave the forwards chances to drive and Glynn the opportunity to relase the rejuvenated back division. With 3 minutes to go a planned move saw Chris Schofield in space and his cut-out pass allowed John Pape to fashion an opening for Nick Costello to score in the corner. The conversion was just too difficult an angle and into the wind. The score was tied at 8-8.
Neither side wanted to make the mistake as the clock ticked down. In a frenetic few minutes both sides had chances to clinch the game but the draw was probably a fair result for a pulsating game of rugby. Any result in Yorkshire has to be savoured but the most important element was a much-improved performance compared with recent matches and the panache coupled with steely determination displayed by the lads.
Yorkshire B 48 Lancashire B 0
Reflecting the home county's substantially greater player base, shown in pre-Christmas sixty point margin at 16 Group, the 15s went down to a one-sided scoreline. However, the B fixtures always prove an important development exercise, some players coming to the fore - even in defeat.
The first half was a fairly even affair with Yorkshire only leading 15-0 at the break. Three quick tries following the resumption, reminiscent of Scotland versus Italy, sealed the victory for the home side. The reshuffled B team battled bravely but were guilty of a degree of defensive niaivity and any poor decisions appeared to be punished with scores.
Adam Trinick, Louis Singleton on his debut and Max Ashcroft, who left the field nursing a shoulder injury, were the pick of a side who depite being well beaten never gave up and showed some promising glimpses.
If spectators have photos to share of either match, please e-mail lancsrugby@aol.com
| 15 Group 'A' Squad vs Yorkshire - kick off 2.30 |
| 15 |
John |
Pape |
Rainford HS |
Ormskirk |
| 14 |
Dare |
Eludoyin |
Stonyhurst College |
- |
| 13 |
Ross |
O'Neill |
Merchant Taylors |
Ormskirk |
| 12 |
Christopher |
Schofield |
Liverpool College |
Widnes |
| 11 |
Nicholas |
Costello |
Arnold |
- |
| 10 |
Josh |
Stratton |
Ormskirk |
Ormskirk |
| 9 |
Ryan |
Glynn |
Sedbergh |
Ormskirk |
| 1 |
Lewis |
MacKay |
William Hulme |
Manchester |
| 2 |
Christopher |
Thompson |
Merchant Taylors |
Ormskirk |
| 3 |
Kyle |
Manson-Kullin |
Clitheroe Royal GS |
Preston Grasshoppers |
| 4 |
James |
Morris |
Stonyhurst College |
Leicester Academy |
| 5 |
David |
Markham |
Rainford |
Ormskirk |
| 6 |
Andrew |
Dauncey |
Manchester GS |
Sedgley Park |
| 7 |
Alasdair |
Sutherland |
Burscough Priory |
Ormskirk |
| 8 |
Ben |
Vernon |
Hutton GS |
Preston Grasshoppers |
|
|
|
|
|
| 16 |
Christian |
Cudd |
Stonyhurst College |
- |
| 17 |
Chris |
Tribley |
Hutton GS |
Preston Grasshoppers |
| 18 |
Richard |
Newman |
Bolton School |
Sedgley Park |
| 19 |
Nicholas |
Watson |
St Michael's Chorley |
Preston Grasshoppers |
| 20 |
Danny |
Oliver |
Wade Deacon HS |
Liverpool Collegiate |
| 21 |
Kelham |
O'Hanlon |
King Edward & QM |
Fylde |
| 22 |
Tom |
Lancaster |
Hutton GS |
Preston Grasshoppers |
|
|
|
|
|
| 15 Group 'B' Squad vs Yorkshire - kick off 1.00pm |
| 15 |
Thomas |
Richardson |
King Edward & QM |
Fylde |
| 14 |
Jamie |
Henderson |
Audenshaw |
Aldwinians |
| 13 |
Joey |
Luttrull |
QEGS, Middleton |
Rochdale |
| 12 |
Tom |
Ellis |
Hutton GS |
Preston Grasshoppers |
| 11 |
Jamie |
Do Rego |
Hutton GS |
Tarleton |
| 10 |
Josh |
Beaumont |
Arnold |
- |
| 9 |
Louis |
Singleton |
Manchester GS |
Sedgley Park |
| 1 |
Robert |
Power |
St Edwards College |
- |
| 2 |
Sam |
Pape |
Rainford HS |
Ormskirk |
| 3 |
Scott |
Knibb |
Sharples HS |
Bolton |
| 4 |
Sam |
Davies |
Bramhall HS |
Manchester |
| 5 |
William |
Furnell |
King Edward & QM |
- |
| 6 |
Nathan |
Smith |
SFX |
Liverpool Collegiate |
| 7 |
Adam |
Trinick |
Audenshaw |
Glossop |
| 8 |
Jacob |
Nelson |
St Bede's College |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
| 16 |
Conor |
Wright |
Great Sankey HS |
Ormskirk |
| 17 |
Max |
Ashcroft |
Hutton GS |
Tarleton |
| 18 |
Freddie |
Liddel |
Stonyhurst College |
- |
| 19 |
Mathew |
Johnston |
LancasterRGS |
Preston Grasshoppers |
| 20 |
Ben |
Stelemeszek |
Audenshaw |
Aldwinians |
| 21 |
Robert |
Bolton |
Bolton School |
Bolton |
| 22 |
Andrew |
Newton |
St Joseph's, Bolton |
- |
| 23 |
George |
Skofic |
Hutton GS |
Tarleton |
The venue for the two matches on Sunday 11th March is Sandal RUFC, Near Wakefield. Following discussions with Yorkshire, at the request of the host club, the B XV will kick off at 1.00pm, the A XV at 2.30pm.
For directions, Click here...
LANCASHIRE KIT
The outstanding 15 Group kit, additonal to that already distributed, should be available on Sunday for collection on the coach. The county asks for a contribution to offset a proportion of the overall cost. It would be appreciated if players would therefore arrange to bring a cheque for £40.00, payable to "Lancashire County RFU", with the player's name clearly stated on the reverse. Mr Wu will be travelling from Preston; Mr McMillan joining at Sedgley Park.
Freight transport problems may delay the arrival of one garment, but this will be available - if not on Sunday - as soon as possible thereafter.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Depart 9.45am prompt from Preston Grasshoppers with a 10.15am pick up at Sedgley Park. Please note there is no space available on the coach for other than the players and coaches/managers.
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