U16s - Barnsley Vs Morley

BARNSLEY RUFC U16 MATCH REPORT

SHAW LANE, SUNDAY 20TH JANUARY 2008, 11AM KICK OFF.
OPPONENTS – MORLEY
REFEREE – BRYN GREY – RFU SOCIETY
SCORE –BARNSLEY – 12 MORLEY - 19

BARNSLEY RECEIVE A SECOND HALF MAULING!

On the last two occasions we have met Morley we have emerged as winners by a comfortable margin, even though the games themselves were far from comfortable, with Morley showing a fighting spirit similar to our own.

Those wins being 20-5, and 33-14,respectively. What a difference a year makes.
Today I inadvertently added to the coaches’ headaches by turning up late with “junior” to a packed car park. All that was missing were the camper vans, and flying arrows.
As a result Robert and several others started on the subs bench. I have no problem with that (it won’t do them any harm), perhaps he’ll communicate what time we’ve been told to meet in future.

The lads’ tepid warm up did not fill me with confidence, just what do Mark and Andy have to say to them to get them fired up? Perhaps some earlier bed-times, and more appropriate dietary intake may be required for some of the lads of a weekend, before match time. Plus, turning up at the appointed time.

Today the old football managers’ cliché, “It was a game of two halves Gary” was never more appropriate.

First half, much to my surprise, we started off quite positively, in fact so positively that Morley barely got into our half at all! They did not mount a single attack!

Stand out players for me were Matthew Tilson, Miles Brooks, Jack Churchill, Jordan Hulme, and especially Marlon Wragg.
However, the old problems started to creep in now and again, failing to clear rucks, and release quick ball to the backs, and failing to support the ball carrier running at the opposition.

We got one good try from Wragg, after a well supported drive (Churchill converted), and almost another from Brooks, but otherwise we stand back and allow our player to become enveloped by 2 or 3 tacklers before we decide that he may need some help.
Anyway, what does an over-weight, knackered, 47 year old know.

Morley had 3 stand out players for me, their 10,12, and full back (15), who put in some superb defence, tackles, sleight of hand and kicks ,and collectively Morley dug in and slugged it out.

Towards the end of the half two significant events occurred, the first was Conor Egan’s, yellow card for some illegal tap dancing at a ruck, unusually poor discipline, which lost us some momentum, and big Grant Powell leaving the field with a mystery injury, which lost us even more momentum.

The half ended with Barnsley amazingly only 7 – 0, to the good, but there appeared to be no cause for concern.
Second half the coaches rung the changes to get the subs on, which shouldn’t, and wasn’t problematic in itself, but a creeping lethargy appeared to engulf the team.

A few minutes into the half some slack Barnsley play which Morley intercepted resulted in their fullback streaking away and scoring under the posts. 7 – 7

It was their first attack of the game!

This seemed to galvanise the lads into collective action and 8 minutes later Churchill chipped through superbly for a certain try, but was deliberately taken out by the defender as he was about to touch down.

I thought a penalty try had been awarded with the consequent conversion in front of the posts, but either I don’t know the rules (entirely possible), or the ref believed a touchdown had been made. In any case the con was missed from wide out. 12 – 7.

It seemed that the lads would start to turn the screw, but no, Morley were the ones eager for the win, and they began to dominate every facet of play, whilst we began to sink into the mud. Our line out was poor (It was windy, and throwing difficult),but our scrum was disintegrating before our eyes.

Morley had an attacking scrum in our 22, struck quick ball, out to their backs, try time. 12 –1 2 Still no need to panic? Yes there was, there was only one team going to win this now and that was Morley. Quicker in thought and deed, more precise, and more dynamic, we were a shadow of our first half performance, it was like Leeds West Park all over again. Morley capped their revival with another superb try from an attacking scrum, by their big centre(12), touch down under the posts with ease. 12 – 19

The game ended with Morley dominant, Barnsley rarely threatened.

Defeat grasped from the jaws of victory by Barnsley.

One final note, I have never seen the team so quiet, no-one was urging their team mates on, and I don’t mean just one person, but all 20 of them. Where has the team spirit gone?

ALL of you owe Mark and Andy a big game, make it the game against Huddersfield next Sunday.
Man of the match for Barnsley – Marlon “the hit man” Wragg.
Our thanks to the ref.

TIME LINE:

11.02AM – KICK OFF (M)

11.19 – TRY (MARLON) – 7 - 0

11.35 – HALF TIME

11.39 – RESTART (2ND HALF – BARNSLEY)

11.42 – TRY + CON (M) – 7 -7

11.50 – TRY (JACK OR PENALTY?) – 12 –7

11.53 – TRY (M) – 12 – 12

11.58 – TRY + CON (M)- 12 – 19

12.10PM –FULL TIME.