U16s - Leeds Corinthians Vs Barnsley

BARNSLEY RUFC U16 MATCH REPORT

LEEDS , SUNDAY 21ST OCTOBER 2007, 11AM KICK OFF.
OPPONENTS – LEEDS CORINTHIANS RUFC.
REFEREE – Supplied by Corinthians

SCORE – CORINTHIANS - 5 BARNSLEY- 15

BARNSLEY BATTLE THE 300 “CORINTHIANS”

If Barnsley expected an easy ride in this game they were very quickly disavowed of any such thoughts straight from the kick off.

Our defence allowed the kick off to bounce and the bounce favoured the attackers, who put in some tremendous follow-up support running, and quick hands, try time. 5 – 0

Hopefully, a lesson learned. Think about it lads.

This spurred the visitors into action, and they proceeded to lay siege to the home team’s goal line, the ferocity of the attacking being matched by the ferocity of the defending. The ref’s refusal to implement the 10m offside rule at the set piece, ruck and maul, for the home team, also had an influence.
It was like being on the film set of “ 300 Spartans “.

Barnsley had a succession of 4! X 5m scrums, on the Corinthians line, and drives held up, before Stephen Lister finally crashed over to score. It had taken the visitors 32 minutes of almost continuous pressure to equal the scores. 5 – 5
Whilst the home team’s forwards gave as good as they got, their backs didn’t look very confident, but we failed to make the most of that situation, by not moving the ball wide as often as we might.

Half time came a few minutes later, the half being lengthened by breaks for injuries.

The second half started off pretty much as the first ended, but the home team’s pack still battled away, not making life easy for the visitors (I can only recall Dinnington shoving us around in the scrums as much as the Corinthians.).

A Barnsley attack ended with a 5m scrum on the home line, Keiron Holmes struck for the line, and scored what, to me, appeared to be a perfectly good try. Decision, knock on, no try!

Barnsley were not long in re-applying the screw, and from a scrum, and tap penalty in the home team’s 22 (They were finally called offside!) a stop/start, attack with a couple of turn-overs, resulted in Grant Powell bludgeoning his way over the line to score, with several defenders hanging onto him. 5 –10 (Jack Churchill had an off day with the boot.)
A “bit” of a Corinthian revival ended with an attack stopping in the Barnsley 22,with visiting Captain Jim Haigh believing that he was an unofficial starter for Sunday Lunch.

The ref examined the forearm where the would-be “Vampire” had struck, had words in some of the home teams ears, as did their coach, and we continued with the rugby.

Well done to the ref and the home coach, and well done to Jim for not losing his discipline, and rallying his troops to keep playing rugby.

Signs of a home revival were effectively snuffed out by uncompromising Barnsley defence. With Barnsley on the attack, Stephen Lister was held up on the line yet again, surely some kind of record was set by the home team today.
Unrelenting Barnsley pressure finally involved getting the ball wide, quickly, into the hands of debutante, Jamie Linacre, who showed speed and strength to power over in the corner for a try. 5 –15

Jamie was immediately nick-named “Forrest” by Garry Smith, The Bard of Cudworth, in honour of his powerful running, nothing to do with looks or personality.

The game finished with Barnsley still in the ascendancy with no further scores.

Barnsley MOTM chosen by the ref – Keiron Holmes , an awesome display at 8, once again George who? I hear you cry. No doubt inspired by the Boks fortuitous win over our unlucky English boys. We’ll have to hope no one tries to tempt him away at this rate.

Mention in dispatches goes to Adam Walshaw, who played the first half at flanker before getting injured, and got stuck in. Also a mention to Tom Lodge, who also got stuck in when he came on. Well played lads.

The return of Quotation Corner : Brett Moss ( to Mark at the end of the game)
,” Mark, have we won?” Draw your own conclusions.

TIME LINE:

11.07AM – KICK OFF (CORINTHIANS)

11.08 – TRY (CORINTHIANS) + CON. MISSED 5 – 0

11.39 – TRY (STEPHEN) + CON MISSED (JACK) 5 – 5

11.43 – HALF TIME

11.47 – RE-START (BARNSLEY)

11.59 – TRY (GRANT) + CON MISSED 5 – 10

12.17 – TRY (JAMIE) + CON MISSED 5 – 15

12.24 – FULL TIME. The halves were longer due to stoppages and injuries.

12.13– FULL TIME