| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
arufc
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
288 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Oct 2008 : 00:11:39
|
Why can't Ashbourne produce such one-sided match reports? Bring back Andy Birch!
Passion returns but Mannerians can't match Ashbourne teamwork
Mannerians 15-Ashbourne 25
THE pride and passion so noticeably absent last week returned to Mannerians' performance, but they couldn't match Ashbourne's cohesion and teamwork.
Make no mistake: whatever Ashbourne have been taking is good stuff, and they are showing that they're a force to be reckoned with in this league.
The first half was very evenly matched territorially but the warning signs were there in terms of Ashbourne's total domination of the set pieces.
Only heroic tackling from the back row, where man-of-the-match and Henry Boot player-of-the-month for September, Josh Bagshawe, was outstanding, kept Mannerians competitive. He was abetted by Peter Fearn and Sam Loxley, and in creating a good deal of turnover ball this triumvirate gave the backs much needed possession.
Rob Wells and Will Moroney showed deft touches in the centres, and wings Tom Elsworth and Alex Ashton always looked threatening.
Restored at full back, Alex Graham performed with his customary aplomb and quickly became a target for the visitors, spending a fair bit of time procuring the powers of the Magic Sponge.
Skipper Ed Hutchinson's kicking was back on form, and he countered Ashbourne's opening penalty with one of his own to keep the scores level for much of the first period.
But the muttering on the touchline was that Mannerians could only weather so much and this proved all too accurate as Ashbourne finished the half with two well-taken tries as their pressure bore its inevitable fruit.
Their third, just after the interval, came after an error as Bakewell tried to counter attack, and with a second penalty giving the visitors a 25-3 cushion it looked as though Hutchinson's side were out of it.
But to their credit their heads never dropped and the resolve as they tried to claw their way back into the game bodes well for a tough November.
In a popular move, the long-awaited return of David Boam from injury and into 1st XV colours gave Mannerians a psychological lift, and he was soon charging around looking for things to clatter.
Veteran Paul Webster put in an action-packed display, and even made the first pass of a long, illustrious career as Mannerians began to attack.
The shock of this caused him to leave the field, being replaced by another energetic veteran, Denzil Bowyer.
Bowyer's brute strength – together with the referee turning his attention to that side of the scrum – shored up the Bakewell set piece and they had a platform from which to work.
John Moroney was giving quick service to his backs, and as they swept up the field the ball found its way into the sticky palms of Rob Wells.
As he weaved, twisted and turned his way to a fine try under the posts, Wells could easily have been mistaken for Peter Carr.
Mannerians were now showing flashes of the rugby of which they are capable, and the handling improved, with Max Crampton, the burly David Greagsby and Tom Spencer to the fore.
And the effort was further increased as Carr took his place in the sin-bin after exchanging a few choice words with the referee.
George Hutchinson's tackling was weaselish in its tenacity, and he assisted in thwarting Ashbourne's attempted attacks. Brother Ed spotted a gap in the visitors defence and launched a searching kick.
Tom Elsworth sped round from his wing to chase the ball, before winning the race to gather and touch down.
Unfortunately though, the game was limited to 80 minutes – not nearly enough to overturn the Ashbourne lead.
The visitors again deserved their win, but Mannerians showed enough quality in patches to suggest that they can go into the upcoming fixtures with growing confidence.
|
|
|
M-Love
Moderate!
United Kingdom
376 Posts |
Posted - 28 Oct 2008 : 00:27:46
|
| "Denzil"???????????!!!!!!!!!!! |
 |
|
|
Moog
Don't call me Shirley
Iraq
44 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2008 : 12:55:17
|
| Although, without wishing to detract from this excellent performance and start to the season, this puts the firsts joint third, not second as there are two teams on more points. Yes I am a bit pedantic. |
|
|
|
arufc
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
288 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2008 : 14:54:58
|
| Fair point. I've updated the article accordingly. |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Another Bakewell match report
