U16s - Thorne Vs Barnsley

BARNSLEY RUFC U16 V THORNE RUFC U16’S
FINAL SCORE: 33 - 21
BARNSLEY, SUNDAY 8TH OCTOBER 2007
REF. Steve Lumb

BARNSLEY REMOVE THE THORN(E) FROM THEIR SIDE

What a difference a couple of weeks make, again just like England in the RWC, we are finally getting the rugby together with a wonderful display of power and passion.
The Thorne coach remarked that his side may have been a bit too “cocky” after the previous win against us, and thrashing Corinthians last week, but in truth they were well beaten, despite having fought Barnsley all the way.

The game started with Thorne dominating field position with their accomplished stand-off using the boot intelligently. Barnsley defended fiercely but found it hard to get out of their half. In the early exchanges the home team had the edge in the scrum, but the visitors edged the lineouts.

A quarter of an hour into the game Barnsley finally put together a positive attack from good lineout ball on the Thorne 22. Josh Woolhouse made a superb break for the line, and at long last had support there when he was held up, in the form of “man mountain” Grant Powell, who powered over the line in the corner.

Jack Churchill slotted a superb conversion. 7 – 0

The action ebbed and flowed until a few minutes later when Marlon Wragg powered over for another score. The conversion was missed. 12 – 0

Thorne appeared to be a little rattled, but under the direction of their stand off, they kept probing into the Barnsley half, and were still very much in it.

This culminated in sustained Thorne pressure overcoming a ragged Barnsley defence to score a converted a try on the stroke of half time. Game on. 12 – 7

The second half started with the home team nullifying a Thorne attack, to counter attack with superb off-loads and support play, finding Wragg bursting through the middle of the shell-shocked Thorne defence, beating several defenders with searing pace, and side steps, to score beneath the posts. A superb team try, superbly finished. Churchill converted. 19 – 7

Thorne finished? Not a chance, both teams proceeded to knock seven bells out of each other in an extremely exciting contest which see-sawed between the sides.
Sustained Thorne pressure resulted in a further well-taken converted try for them.
19 – 14

Self belief flowed back into the visitors and their powerful backs began to exploit the space left by a tiring Barnsley defence, resulting in a further try, a few minutes later.
A very powerful run by the Thorne full back, from in his own half brushed aside some poor attempted tackling. He was tackled, dispossessed, but regained the ball, to power through woeful defending to score a very good converted try. 19- 21

Thorne were worthy of their lead, and it was a question of how Barnsley would respond.
Shortly after the try the Barnsley stand off, Rob Mynett (who’d had his usual solid game) was clattered by a high tackle that left him with a superficial cut and bruising to his forehead but left the tackler concussed. Both had to leave the field. Rob’s alright; hopefully the other lad is too.

Churchill missed the penalty in front of the posts, after slotting 3 difficult conversions! It happens to the best of players Jack – ask Stirling Mortlock.
These set backs appeared to galvanise the team into vigorous action, led by the Captain Jim Haigh.

The Barnsley forward power began to tell on the visitors, the rucking and support play at last getting together.

A home attack ended with the ball out on the wing with James Green, the line within reach, but two defenders to beat. The shock of receiving the ball in such a position appeared to put him in two minds, so instead of dipping his shoulder and powering through to score, he checked inside, stood upright and was stopped. Believe in yourself James. (Lets get the ball out wide more often.)

However Thorne knocked on and from the resulting 5m scrum, Mr “all-action”, Kieron Holmes powered over to score. Churchill converted. 26 –21

At last Barnsley attacked the re-start positively, the ball being slipped to Powell, who swept all before him, like a run-a-way express train to score next to the posts from halfway. Churchill converted. 33 – 21

The game finished with the Barnsley pack on top, but Thorne did not give up attacking the Barnsley line to the full time whistle.

To have lost a substantial lead, lose a key player, and come back to win the game all over again, against a good team, was absolutely marvellous. What’s more, they can play a lot better than this. It’s up to you boys.

Credit must go to Thorne who certainly played their part in this game, and never gave up.
Barnsley MOTM – Keiron HOLMES

Dynamic in the set piece and in the loose, both in attack and defence (George who?)
Mention in dispatches –Other lads who impressed were Marlon Wragg, back to his buccaneering self, and Jack Churchill, both with his kicking and general play.
Pressure defence? – Barnsley held 2 Thorne attacks at the line, subsequently winning the 5 m scrum and lineouts to clear – the whole team, especially the pack can give themselves a pat on the back.

Well done to débutantes John Selby and Nathan Bates, both playing in their first game ever, and both did well.

Our thanks to ref. Steve Lumb.

TIME LINE:

11.01am - BARNSLEY KICK –OFF.

11.15 – BARNSLEY TRY + CON (GRANT AND JACK) - 7 - 0

11.21 – B TRY NO CON (MARLON) - 12 – 0

11.36– THORNE TRY + CON – 12- 7

11.38 – HALF TIME

11.42 – RE - START

11.44– B TRY + CON (MARLON + JACK)– 19 - 7

11.54- T TRY + CON – 19 – 14

11.57 – T TRY + CON – 19 –21

12.07PM – B TRY + CON (KEIRON + JACK) – 26 – 21

12.10 – B TRY + CON (GRANT + JACK) – 33 – 21

12.17 – FULL TIME - There were several lengthy breaks for injuries.