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Sun 03 Mar 2013
Wenslydale
U17’s
22
41
All Round Maturity from Under 17’s
Michele Wilson9 Mar 2013 - 14:02
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To a man, the Bees showed plenty of effort, character and discipline as they built on last week’s promising display to run out deserved winners in this first round Yorkshire Cup tie in Wensleydale.
From the outset, this looked like being an open game. Bees kicked off and Wensleydale immediately cleared downfield for a Bees line-out. First blood went to Bees jumper Liam Hagerty and good distribution gave Harry Petyt a chance to hit the ball at pace. A knock- on by the home side gave Bees the scrum; a great take by Nick Gore got Ryan Wilson and Jack Meggit in a bit of space but an infringement in the tackle gifted Wensleydale a penalty and a chance to clear. Now it was the home side’s chance for a bit of possession and their forwards were recycling well and making ground until Big James Exley stole the ball and set up the counter attack. This time it was Andy’s turn to run at the opposition. A couple more line-outs to Bees were well won by Liam and a good drive by the Bees forwards saw them cross the line, but held up. No matter, from the scrum, the ball was through the backs for Matty Dilworth to score in the corner. Some confusion at the conversion with one touch judge giving it and the other not, the score was recorded as 0-5 (maybe it should have been 0-6). Jack Meggit claimed the kick off and was off; it was a great run but as it was away from any support, Jack inevitably became isolated and was pinged for not releasing in the tackle. Wensleydale kicked for touch but then knocked on in the line-out and Nick Gore was able to get in a good clearing kick for Harry Petyt to give chase. Another penalty to Wensleydale and some good recycling by their forwards got them into our 22 until a knock-on gave Bees the scrum. The ball squirted out of the side but the ref reversed the scrum (presumably for accidental offside) when Tony Butterworth brushed Joe Bashforth in his attempt to get the ball away. Some good driving by the home forwards made the scrum count as they rumbled over to level the scores at 5-5. The Bees response was immediate. A good kick off won us the line-out, Liam Hagerty claimed it again and the ball was with the backs. Jack Meggit chipped and chased towards the corner taking the Wensleydale winger into touch for another Bees line-out, won again for Nick Gore to try the chip over the top. More of a scuff really, it rebounded off a Wensleydale defender straight back into Nick’s arms for a welcome, if slightly fortuitous, score under the posts taking the score to 5-12. Both sides continued to play decent rugby but it’s fair to say that Bees were looking more dangerous. James Exley was doing some great ripping and Dom Walker and Harvey Craven were effective around the fringes. Wensleydale too were playing some nice rugby with their forwards patiently going through the phases and breaking gain lines but the scored remained at 5-12 at half time.
We fell asleep at the start of the second half. We didn’t deal with the kick off and allowed Wensleydale to charge through and then a knock on by Bees gave the home side a scrum 10m out. Desperate defence by Bees and Wenlsleydale were awarded a penalty, which was then converted to a penalty try as the visitors were adjudged to have infringed twice. That levelled the scores at 12-12 but more importantly for Airedale’s barmy army of travelling supporters, (aka the “Bingley Banter Boys”), it galvanised our team and the lads got their playing heads back on. A good charge from Pete Booth forced a Wensleydale knock-on at the kick off and some good aggression by Bees won us a penalty 10m out. Lewis Brook drove over to give Bees the lead again at 12-17. James Exley claimed the next kick off and was well supported by Pete Booth to set the ball up for the backs; it got as far as Andy Nicz who glided past the opposition defence to score under the posts. Nick converted and things were looking a bit more comfortable at 12-24. Further tries for Bees from Harry Brayshaw (showing great pace down the left wing) and Nick Gore (good awareness as he created then exploited a gap in the Wensleydale defence) but the try of the game was Pete Booth’s (following Corey Spencer’s champagne moment!). It all started from a Wensleydale line-out 5m from the Bees try line. Corey managed to steal the ball and then tried a clearing kick (never a good idea for a second row forward!). He did manage to get a get some boot on it as he was dragged down but the ball simply bobbled along the Bees try line until Jack Meggit was able to get a hand and then a more solid boot on it for a line-out in the opposition half. Bees stole that one too and Nick chipped into the danger area for Pete Booth to claim it and cross for his well-deserved try. Pete had been all over the park since he came on for Will Rix in the second half and was a strong contender for man of the match. The jury was out on that due to the number of good performances. This was a real team effort and one that we hope will provide the platform for further success in these latter stages of the 2012/13 season.
We fell asleep at the start of the second half. We didn’t deal with the kick off and allowed Wensleydale to charge through and then a knock on by Bees gave the home side a scrum 10m out. Desperate defence by Bees and Wenlsleydale were awarded a penalty, which was then converted to a penalty try as the visitors were adjudged to have infringed twice. That levelled the scores at 12-12 but more importantly for Airedale’s barmy army of travelling supporters, (aka the “Bingley Banter Boys”), it galvanised our team and the lads got their playing heads back on. A good charge from Pete Booth forced a Wensleydale knock-on at the kick off and some good aggression by Bees won us a penalty 10m out. Lewis Brook drove over to give Bees the lead again at 12-17. James Exley claimed the next kick off and was well supported by Pete Booth to set the ball up for the backs; it got as far as Andy Nicz who glided past the opposition defence to score under the posts. Nick converted and things were looking a bit more comfortable at 12-24. Further tries for Bees from Harry Brayshaw (showing great pace down the left wing) and Nick Gore (good awareness as he created then exploited a gap in the Wensleydale defence) but the try of the game was Pete Booth’s (following Corey Spencer’s champagne moment!). It all started from a Wensleydale line-out 5m from the Bees try line. Corey managed to steal the ball and then tried a clearing kick (never a good idea for a second row forward!). He did manage to get a get some boot on it as he was dragged down but the ball simply bobbled along the Bees try line until Jack Meggit was able to get a hand and then a more solid boot on it for a line-out in the opposition half. Bees stole that one too and Nick chipped into the danger area for Pete Booth to claim it and cross for his well-deserved try. Pete had been all over the park since he came on for Will Rix in the second half and was a strong contender for man of the match. The jury was out on that due to the number of good performances. This was a real team effort and one that we hope will provide the platform for further success in these latter stages of the 2012/13 season.
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