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YORKSHIRE SILVER TROPHY
LEEDS CORINTHIANS 13 – OLD OTLIENSIANS 18
(AFTER EXTRA TIME)
Having produced a
comprehensive League victory over the
Leeds side in
September, even with their mounting injury list, ‘Ensians did not expect too
many problems in coming out on top in this Trophy match. In the event,
Corinthians threw everything at them and pushed the game into extra time where
a second try from newcomer Matt Garrett eventually clinched a hard-earned win.
The game started well enough
for the visitors with the pack producing clean possession against their heavier
opponents and half backs Rob Lofthouse and Kristian Keinhorst putting their
backs away. Centres Dale Kennedy and Matt Garrett made headway in midfield and
good backing up saw lock Alan Harker drive over to open the scoring on 12
minutes for a 5 – 0 lead.
Corinthians had some lively
backs who made good use of clean ball from their tall lineout expert to make
inroads into ‘Ensians territory. This coupled with good progress from rolling
mauls put the visitors under pressure and an off-side offence gave the hosts a
penalty on 20 minutes to narrow the deficit to 5 – 3. ‘Ensians fought back with
some good drives by the back row of Tom Dyson, brother Jim and No.8 Lee
O’Donnell, but when the ball was moved wide, too often hurried passing meant
chances went begging.
The heavier home forwards
showed signs of tiring, but instead of producing quick ball to run them around,
too often ‘Ensians became involved in scrappy forward exchanges which played
into the hands of Corinthians. On 36 minutes, the visitors showed what they
could do when quick ball found its way to centre Garrett who cut through in
style to score half way out making the half-time score 10 – 3 in favour of
‘Ensians.
At the break Rob Lyon came on
at hooker, but there were injury setbacks for the visitors when lock Alan
Harker and prop Greg Jones had to leave the field, removing valuable experience
and weight from the pack. Sensing they might now have the edge, the Corinthians
pack set about their opponents and drove play into the ‘Ensians 22 to supply
quick ball for their backs to produce a well-worked try on 44 minutes, the
conversion levelling the score at 10-10.
Using clean lineout ball
from Jim and Tom Dyson, the visitors then did their best to make use of their
pace out wide, but time after time passes went to ground or the referee halted
play for some minor skirmish resulting from an earlier tackle. With the clock
ticking, ‘Ensians looked to have sealed victory when Keinhorst landed a penalty
on 75 minutes to create a 13 – 10 lead. The
Leeds side were far from finished and their re-invigorated pack took a ball
against the head to put their backs away. Although a chip ahead was fielded,
instead of kicking for touch, the visitors tried to run the ball out of defence
and ended up in an untidy maul where they were penalised. The Corinthians’
kicker levelled the scores at 13 – 13 as the whistle went for the end of full
time.
In the ten minutes each-way
of extra time, the visitors benefited from their superior fitness, but still
tended to play into their opponents hands by getting involved in too many
scrappy forward exchanges. When ‘Ensians did manage to move the ball wide, Matt
Garrett again showed his pace by slicing through to score his second on 85
minutes to take an 18 – 13 lead.
Replacement forwards Tom
Twist and Pat Cowdell worked hard alongside prop Ben Copley and No.8 O’Donnell
to keep the home pack at bay until the final whistle.
Although ‘Ensians deserved
this hard-fought victory, they were unable to find ways of using their pace and
skill out wide and allowed Cornithians to slow the game down into an untidy
forward battle. They will have step up their efforts next week as they travel
to face League-leaders Old Grovians in a crucial promotion contest.
The 2nd XV Merit match
away at
North Ribblesdale 2nds was called off due to a waterlogged pitch.
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