Pennine League Division 1

Saturday 3 February 2007

Park Amateurs 26 v Crigglestone All Blacks 28

The boot of Tom Malyan was the difference in a very tough game for high-flying Crigg as both teams scored five tries.

Park got off to a flyer and had all the early ball, but resolute defence from Crigg kept them out.  Having weathered the early storm, it looked as though Ryan Horsley had got the first score, but the unsighted official ruled a knock-on, much to the frustration of the Crigg player-coach.

Despite some good handling and pressure, Crigg failed to score and on 20 minutes Park broke through some weak defence in the middle to race away and score a converted try.  Minutes later a flowing move from Damian Horsley, Tom Andrews and Malyan saw Nick Ementon unable to take the final pass with the line at his mercy.

Next it was Andrew Webber to almost score, but great defence from Park, saw the ball ripped in the act of scoring and Crigg had to settle for the ball back from the drop out.  The missed chances increased the frustration of the Crigg players and a series of penalties for dissent helped Park to clear their lines without too much trouble, and on the half hour they extended the score as a result of two missed tackles.  The conversion made it 12-0.

Crigg finally got on the scoreboard themselves just before the break.  First Malyan was held short on the last tackle, and then just minutes later, Webber went on a diagonal run through three defenders to cross the line.  Quick thinking meant he returned to narrow the angle, and Malyan was able to convert.

Coach Horsley was satisfied with a deficit of 12-6 at the break, and rallied his team for the second half.  However it was Park who scored first, after a series of handling errors put Crigg under pressure and a great break by Park, saw the ball got through several pairs of hands before they scored, crucially too far out for the goal.

Further pressure kept Park at the Crigg line, but good defence kept them out.  A strange drop-goal attempt on 50 minutes was missed, and acted to rally the Crigg boys, who sensed that Park were running out of steam.

Just two minutes later Tom Malyan broke Park’s defensive line and ran 25m before putting Haydn Luke in for the try, which Malyan converted.  Crigg were now on a roll and further chances came.  Firstly as Joe Meecham burst down the wing, and fed Luke, who was this time hauled down.  Park tried to slow the ball down, to prevent the inevitable try from a quick play the ball, and had a man dispatched to the sin bin as a result.

Webber took full advantage of the extra man, by running hard at a gap, and drawing both centre and wing, before slipping a pass to Meecham who dived over in the corner.  Malyan’s excellent touchline conversion made it three from three and put Crigg ahead for the first time.

Whilst good with the ball in hand, Crigg continued to look suspect to a quick play the ball, and allowed Park to make too many easy yards.  As soon as they were back to 13 men, Park showed fine support play to score an unconverted try in the corner, to put them back in front.  They should have increased the lead just two minutes later, but knocked-on over the try line, and Crigg were grateful for the feed at the scrum.

Back in possession, Crigg once again looked a fine side, and as the ball found its way to Mick Wood, the young stand-off showed surprising pace to race through the home defence and sprint over 50m to the line, just squeezing in at the corner, much to the delight of his team mates and the travelling support.  Malyan was unable to convert and Crigg held a slender two point lead.

This time Crigg worked the ball back up field from the kick-off with some quick play the balls, as the Park defence tired.  Three drives from Dale Tilford, Paul Townend and Ryan Horsley made plenty of yards before Park were caught offside, as Crigg’s superior fitness began to tell.  More yards were gained from the penalty and soon Crigg were back in the danger area, where Damian Horsley showed his class with a fine dummy and sprint to break the defence before passing to put brother Ryan in under the sticks to make Malyan’s conversion a formality, and put Crigg eight points ahead, with just minutes remaining.

To their credit Park never gave up, and after Crigg had knocked-on near their own line, some good hands from the resulting scrum, allowed them to go over for a try, however as the ball sailed over the bar for the conversion, the final whistle went to signal that Crigg had won 28-26.

Next match – Saturday 10 February – St Josephs (home)