BackSat 12 Mar 2011 · Bateman BMW Conference A
2nd XVVale of Lune 2
Tries: N WROEConversions: A MORTONPenalties: A MORTON (3)
16
15
2s 16 v Vale of Lune 15
Roger Hooley14 Mar 2011 - 22:47
A game of 2 halves!
For the 2nd week running, and for the 2nd time against VoL at Headlands Rd this season, we enjoyed a competitive game played in great spirit by both teams. Whereas in our first meeting we were edged out by a single point, this time it was our turn to return the favour.
The tempo for the game was set from the off, as we endeavoured to run the ball out wide from deep in our half. What we should have remembered from the first meeting was that Vale are a well organized team both in defence and attack, and they were soon controlling possession and territory so much so that we hardly broke into their half for the first 40 minutes. We were finding it difficult to keep hold of the ball in the tackle, and were uncoordinated in the line out and consequently just didn`t establish a platform from which to respond to the Vale pressure. It was no surprise therefore when Vale took the lead through a well taken drop goal shortly before a try in the corner , then followed by a long range 2nd try by taking advantage of a loose ball in one of our rare forays into their half, to bring about a half time score of 0-15.
The 2nd half was almost a carbon copy of the first half, but with the critical difference being that it was our turn to dominate - the forwards, with Kieran Hibbs and Josh Cammis leading the way began to play as a pack allowing the backs, who were also by now showing much more enthusiasm for the game, to make some incisive breaks, not least of all by Thommo - a very late call up to the team - (before fatigue set in!)
Our first score came from the pressure the forwards were now exerting and a break from the set piece with Greeny and Hugo involved was finished off from all of 5m by Strowey, with Andy Morton adding the extras.
Whilst we didn`t cross the try lane again , we were very much in control of the game and Andy Morton was able to put on an accomplished display of kicking to score a further 9 points to allow us to take the lead for the first time with only 6 minutes remaining.
From the restart, we then spurned the opportunity to put a size 10 on the ball and instead knocked on the ball on the 22 m line. The last 5 minutes of the game saw Vale camped on our line and it was only some very controlled and determined defence that kept their forwards out. To our great relief when they passed the ball out along the line they too knocked it on to allow the ref to call a halt to the proceedings.
So this really was a game of two halves – our performance in the second half much more akin to that we`d been producing in the first half of the season. We can look forward to our next fixtures with growing confidence ahead of our third meeting with Vale in the final round of fixtures.
RJH
The tempo for the game was set from the off, as we endeavoured to run the ball out wide from deep in our half. What we should have remembered from the first meeting was that Vale are a well organized team both in defence and attack, and they were soon controlling possession and territory so much so that we hardly broke into their half for the first 40 minutes. We were finding it difficult to keep hold of the ball in the tackle, and were uncoordinated in the line out and consequently just didn`t establish a platform from which to respond to the Vale pressure. It was no surprise therefore when Vale took the lead through a well taken drop goal shortly before a try in the corner , then followed by a long range 2nd try by taking advantage of a loose ball in one of our rare forays into their half, to bring about a half time score of 0-15.
The 2nd half was almost a carbon copy of the first half, but with the critical difference being that it was our turn to dominate - the forwards, with Kieran Hibbs and Josh Cammis leading the way began to play as a pack allowing the backs, who were also by now showing much more enthusiasm for the game, to make some incisive breaks, not least of all by Thommo - a very late call up to the team - (before fatigue set in!)
Our first score came from the pressure the forwards were now exerting and a break from the set piece with Greeny and Hugo involved was finished off from all of 5m by Strowey, with Andy Morton adding the extras.
Whilst we didn`t cross the try lane again , we were very much in control of the game and Andy Morton was able to put on an accomplished display of kicking to score a further 9 points to allow us to take the lead for the first time with only 6 minutes remaining.
From the restart, we then spurned the opportunity to put a size 10 on the ball and instead knocked on the ball on the 22 m line. The last 5 minutes of the game saw Vale camped on our line and it was only some very controlled and determined defence that kept their forwards out. To our great relief when they passed the ball out along the line they too knocked it on to allow the ref to call a halt to the proceedings.
So this really was a game of two halves – our performance in the second half much more akin to that we`d been producing in the first half of the season. We can look forward to our next fixtures with growing confidence ahead of our third meeting with Vale in the final round of fixtures.
RJH
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