U16s - Barnsley Vs Chesterfield

BARNSLEY RUFC U16 MATCH REPORT

SHAW LANE, SUNDAY 9TH DECEMBER 2007, 11AM KICK OFF.
OPPONENTS – CHESTERFIELD RUFC.
REFEREE – TERRY SMITH – RFU SOCIETY
SCORE –BARNSLEY- 7 CHESTERFIELD - 29

CHECK MATE FOR CHESTERFIELD

On the previous occasions that the lads have played them, Chesterfield have proven to be powerful adversaries, having been beaten by a similar score line both home and away last season.
It was a perfect day for rugby, cool, dry, and the pitch having a bit of give after the recent rains.

The lads were down to a bare 15 due to injuries, other commitments and unexplained absences.

The game started in an energetic fashion, both teams clearly up for it, but our lads got trapped in their own half ,and had to commit to determined defence, holding the visitors at the line on one occasion, and Will O’Loughlin putting in a try saving tackle on the second occasion. However the visitors powered over from the subsequent 5 m scrum, the try being converted. 0 – 7

There was no lack of effort from the lads but the visitors were proving to be that bit stronger and faster, keeping Barnsley in a stranglehold.

Another attack from the visitors was held up at the line, but from the following 2 x ,5m scrums, the visitors crossed the line again for an unconverted try. 0-12

The home team were having a torrid time of it especially in the scrum, and had to dig deep.

The “nugget” Barnsley unearthed came from a line out on halfway, good ,quick ball was won, finding its way to Conor Egan who put in a superb, dynamic run to the visitors line, including a “goose-stepping” hitch kick reminiscent of Martin Offiah and David Campese. Having punched a massive hole in the visitors defence he off-loaded, and the move was finished in determined fashion by Keiron Holmes. Jack Churchill slotted a superb conversion from far out wide on the touch line. 7 - 12

Game on!

The half was coming to a close when Barnsley conceded another score, after further pressure from the visitors, a turn over gave a chance to one of their powerful centres who exploited space, and weak defence on the blind side to power over in the corner.

The conversion was missed and the half time whistle went. The lads could have done without that last score. 7 – 17
The second half started with the lads in good heart, and there was certainly no lack of effort, but you could see Chesterfield growing in strength.

Despite winning most of our own ball, the scrum was under immense pressure ,and the subsequent ball to the three-quarters was laboured, the visitors rush-defence frustrating our attacks. One attack almost succeeded with Rob Mynett putting in an intelligent chip kick, and just losing out in the race to touch it down.
Chesterfield ground away at the home team, with tired tackling and ragged defence, the gaps began to appear. The line out also began to creak badly under the strain.

This led, almost inevitably to another try for the visitors, which went unconverted. 7 – 22
Whilst the lads never gave up, this was rugby equivalent of losing your “queen” in chess, there didn’t seem to be any way back now.

However there was final glimmer, when another turn over instigated by “Mr Muscle” Marlon Wragg, unleashed the beast that is Stephen Lister, who I believed was definitely going to score. As Stephen powered to the line, he desperately looked around for support, that wasn’t there. The visitors turned over possession at the line to clear.
Stephen collapsed, exhausted, gasping for breath. A fantastic effort from Stephen, but equally good defence from the visitors.

The visitors then launched their final move to seal the win with a converted try. Check mate. 7 – 29
The lads still weren’t done, and a powerful driving maul, spearheaded by Grant Powell, ended with a line out being won on the visitors 5 m line, and James Green just being held at the line.
The game finished shortly after.

Well played Chesterfield. They took their chances well, and defended fiercely.

Barnsley MOTM chosen by the ref – MARLON “THE HIT MAN” WRAGG – tireless in both attack and defence, turn over possession to the team ,time after time.

Mention in dispatches –

Will O’Loughlin , very brave tackling, and some tricky running out of defence.
Robert Mynett , an all-round excellent game, under severe pressure for much of the game, another very brave tackler.
Stephen Lister, worked himself to a standstill, I still can’t believe he didn’t score.

Many thanks to ref. Terry Smith, much happier this week!

Quotation corner:

The Chesterfield Coach – (after Mark thanked Terry) “Mark can we borrow him please ‘cause we’ve had some right a***holes lately.” I stress that it was meant as a complement. Apparently I’ve had a bit of trouble in that department recently, I wouldn’t want anyone to get the wrong impression again. You never know who’s reading this.

TIME LINE:

11.02AM – KICK OFF (CHESTERFIELD)

11.11 – TRY CHESTERFIELD + CON. 0-7

11.21 – TRY CHESTERFIELD 0- 12

LONG BREAK – INJURY TO CHESTERFIELD PLAYER

11.37– TRY (KEIRON) +CON (JACK) 7 - 12

11.40 – TRY CHESTERFIELD 7 - 17

11.41 – HALF TIME

11.45 – RESTART (2ND HALF – BARNSLEY)

11.59 – TRY CHESTERFIELD 7 - 22

12.14 – TRY CHESTERFIELD 7 - 29

12.20 – FULL TIME