U16s - West Park Leeds Vs Barnsley

SHAW LANE, SUNDAY 13TH JANUARY 2008, 11AM KICK OFF.
OPPONENTS – LEEDS WEST PARK RUFC.
REFEREE – HOME TEAM COACH
SCORE –LEEDS WEST PARK- 40 BARNSLEY - 7

BARNSLEY’S NEW YEAR START GOES WEST

I have reflected on this game on Sunday afternoon and I cannot find any crumb of comfort or consolation from it.
As usual certain individuals put in their normal tireless performances, but as a team we were never in this game, nor looked likely to be.

The first half was the poorest half of rugby the lads have ever played, and the second half was the second poorest.
We more or less held our own in the set piece, but all our possession was slow and laboured, and the home defence (albeit probably offside for most of the game) was all over our half backs like a rash. Our passing was dreadful, our running aimless, our support play non-existent for most of the game, our tackling varied from the heroic to the shambolic, Decision making was poor and our ball retention was truly appalling.

I could not believe that this was the same group of players knocking lumps out of each other at Tuesday nights rucking practice, nor the same players from the Chesterfield game.

Conversely it was the opposite situation for West Park who won this encounter with ease, when it should have been a nail-biting contest. With all due respect, West Park are no Chesterfield, and the lads were a pale shadow of the team that they really are.

I cannot think of a time when the opposition half backs have ever had such an armchair ride, they totally controlled this game.

We turned around at half time 25 – 0 down, 4 x tries ,and 1 x penalty kick.

We started the second half (with the strong wind at our backs) far more brightly, and it looked as if the coaching staffs’ motivational words may have had the desired effect. However,10 minutes into the game after Barnsley had had most of the possession and territory, LWP struck again with a try. 30 – 0

They followed up with a further try 6 minutes later 35 – 0. Our tackling on both these occasions was woeful, but worse was yet to come.

However, before that we had a bright interlude, when a tapped penalty, and a series of forward drives to the LWP line resulted in a try for Grant Powell. There was speculation that it was awarded out of sympathy, but it was a try nevertheless. Jack Churchill converted. 35 – 7

Five minutes later LWP had a tapped penalty of their own in the Barnsley 22, which was moved swiftly and precisely, popped to their impressive full back who ran across the face of the entire Barnsley midfield, and wing defence. No one got, or had any real intent, to get anywhere near him to tackle him, and he cantered over for the most embarrassing try I think we’ve ever conceded. It summed up the game for us.

It’s always been the parents’ and coaching staffs’ proud boast that no matter what the result is, our lads NEVER GIVE IN. Today, collectively if not individually, we gave in.

I sincerely hope I never have to write such a report again.
Time for reflection, some home truths, and a lot of hard work.
“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

We KNOW you can do it, SO JUST DO IT – ram these words back into my computer.

I don’t know if we asked for a MOTM to be nominated, and to be honest I don’t care. Collectively we don’t deserve one, and I will not mention any names in dispatches.

Our thanks to the ref, who despite looking as if he may be more at home at the Lakeside, did a pretty good job today, and streets ahead of the “proper” ref we had last week.

TIME LINE:

11.09AM – KICK OFF (LWP)

11.12 – TRY LWP – 5 - 0

11.19– PEN KICK (LWP) – 8 - 0

11.25 – TRY +CON (LWP) – 15 – 0

11.31 – TRY (LWP) – 20 - 0

11.45 – TRY (LWP) – 25 - 0

11.46 – HALF TIME

11.52 – RESTART (2ND HALF – BARNSLEY)

12.02PM – TRY (LWP) – 30 – 0

12.08 – TRY (LWP) – 35 – 0

12.13 – TRY (GRANT) + CON (JACK) – 35 – 7

12.18 – TRY (LWP) – 40 - 7

12.24 – FULL TIME