PRESTON GRASSHOPPERS 74 – SCUNTHORPE 7
Scunthorpe made the trek across the Pennines to Preston Grasshoppers, and their artificial grass track. An early kick off at 2:30 didn’t cause any ill effects to the warm up and on a lovely day for Rugby Scunthorpe were enthused going into the game.
That enthusiasm was dampened on just minute three where the ball was skillfully kept in by the Preston wing, after what appeared to be a decent clearance kick from scrum half Will Dark, the ball was sent east to west and back again and exploiting the Scunthorpe winger went, an easy 2 v 1 executed to start the game. 7-0 to Preston.
Scunthorpe were well in the game defending valiantly and keeping the ball through several phases, the man in the middle deciding not to ref the high tackle this week or play any advantage from penalties which may have seen Scunthorpe able to kick for corners or utilise the boot a little more.
It was Preston who scored next following a scrum on their own 5 meter deciding to run out, a couple of missed tackles on the big 12 saw a scramble tackle first by Will Robinson and then James Dyson but it was to be too much to keep them out and they went over for their second try.
Scunthorpe hit back on 31 mins when Laurence Pearce took the ball on a powerful carry and this was recycled to Dan Longden who went over under the posts and the conversion brought us to 12-7.
However, it was Preston who rounded off the half with a catch and drive try and also a kicked penalty to leave half time at 20-7. At this point the greens felt we were well in the game.
Scunthorpe suffered again from a second half curse they are hoping they shake. As Scunthorpe collected injuries, Preston collected tries, First James Dyson (knee), Ben Hyde (hamstring), Keir Gosling (Head) Tom Davies (ankle) and Laurence Pearce (Knee) all succumbed to injury as Preston ran in 8 unanswered tries to secure a thumping win. 74-7.
If Scunthorpe could keep their back row together for more than 10 mins they have shown they have the ability to create any team in this division problems but with the chop and change it becomes difficult for continuity.
Scunthorpe will need to lick their wounds, dust themselves off and prepare for high flying Fylde coming next weekend. They have the ability and skill level to compete and will no doubt be now digging into the trenches to find the will to drag out a win. In the words of Ted Lasso “Believe”…
Match Report written by Tony Wilkinson
MoTM – TBC
STAGS (2ND TEAM)
SCUNTHORPE 75 – GAINSBOROUGH 12
inDevs XV
SCUNTHORPE 47 – 0 MALTON 3rds
On a day made for running rugby Scunthorpe development team welcomed Malton and Norton to Heslam park.
Both teams asked questions of their opponents but it was Scunthorpe who came out on top with some powerful forward runs combined with great support resulting in the ball being spread wide for Charley Aitkinhead to finish in the corner this was expertly converted by Fell.
This lifted Scunthorpe who added to their total with a try by Gavin Hale who broke through a number of tackles from 20 yards to add to the total.
Malton then rallied but could not break through a well organised and determined Scunthorpe defence, the power and pace of the Scunthorpe team was again to much to cope with and added a couple more tries again through Charlie Aitkinhead and Gavin Hale both converted by Fell.
HT 26-0
The second half continued in the same vein as the first, Malton making a number of changes to freshen up their team seemed sharper but still could not break the Scunthorpe line.
Scunthorpe played a high risk expansive game from all areas stretching the Malton defence and gaps started to appear in the back field, this was exploited by a kick through the Josh Samuels retrieved and out paced the defence to score.
Colin Redhead added to the scoring receiving the ball in his own half he glided through the opposition line and accelerated away from the would be tacklers to score a glorious try.
As the teams tired the game opened up but Scunthorpe were determined to keep anyone from crossing their line and threw everything they had in to defence.
The scoring was Completed by some clever play by Ricky Smart picking the ball up from the back of an unguarded breakdown to run in from 20 yards unopposed.
Fell then hit what was probably one of the worst conversion attempts ever witnessed from straight in front the ball ended nearer the corner flag that the posts.
Final score 43-0 a great all round performance getting what it deserved.
*Disclaimer Some bits might be made up
Match report from Colin Redhead
MOTM-Gavin Hale
PATRIOTS
SCUNTHORPE 7 – 24 MOSBOROUGH 2
Match report pending