SCUNTHORPE 26 SANDAL 33
Scunthorpe could have have won this game, but Sandal probably came out deserved victors in a game between two evenly matched sides at Heslam Park.
Sandal received a yellow card within 2 minutes of the kick-off when flanker Adam Hopkinson deliberately knocked on to prevent a Scunthorpe attack. From the ensuing penalty Josh Clarke hoofed the ball 40m straight between the posts. The Greens have got into a poor habit of late by conceding immediately after they have scored From the resulting kick-off Sandal collected the ball, retained it well when scrum half Cam Allen evaded several tackles to dart to the line and score a well taken individual try. Adams missed the extra two points. 3-5. Sandal then took advantage of a Scunthorpe transgression at the tackle. The penalty, for holding on, was kicked from 50 metres by Josh Adams. On 20 minutes the Greens showed the crowd what they were capable of. James Dyson broke through and raced 50 metres only to be half tackled two metres out. As he stumbled to the ground, he flipped the ball up to his brother Nick in support, who scored near the posts. Clarke converted and Scunthorpe went ahead 10-8. It was deja-vu all over again when from the kick-off Sandal scored again. This time it was centre Joe Allott who was in support of Scott Macgregor to score. The burley centre ran through several tacklers to feed Allott who scored under the posts. Adams converted 10-15. Sandal conceded a penalty for offside just inside the home side’s half. Ethan Taylor kicked a great punt deep into the opposition 22. From the resulting catch and drive line out good ball retention saw James Dyson weave over for a well taken try. Clarke missed the conversion15-15. Scunthorpe were now playing their best rugby for some time. A great move saw the ball transfer quickly down the backs, good support play developed into what everyone thought was a classic try only to be thwarted by the match official who deemed the final pass forward hence denying the five pointer. However Scunthorpe kept Sandal in their own 22 and came back with another try from the catch and drive line out. This time it was Kane Linklater who rumbled over, once again Clarke was unable to claim the extra two points. Scunthorpe were back in the lead at 20-15. The two teams then exchanged penalties, firstly Adams nudged for 3 after the Greens were pinged for not rolling away. Josh Clarke replied and at half time Scunthorpe were justifiably in the lead at 23-18.
It was looking very much like another home win. All the Greens had to do was keep the ball, use the massive boot of Ethan Taylor and pin Sandal back in their own half. However Scunthorpe were not able to build on their slender half-time lead. Adams who was looking like the class player on the field converted another penalty. From the kick-off a poor chase allowed Sandal to counterattack. Wingman Dom Fawcett galloped down the wing avoiding several tackles to score unopposed.23-26. Josh Clarke brought the scores level with another well taken penalty. Scunthorpe just could not reproduce their first half form. They had a great chance from a huge 50-22 punt from Ethan Taylor. This gave the Greens the throw in at the line out 5 metres out. They gathered the ball and drove over but the referee decided that the ball was held up. Unfortunately the new law states that when this occurs the defending team are given possession with a try line drop out. The influential Ben Hyde had to leave the field with what looked like a serious injury. The chance was gone and on the hour Sandal sealed the victory with man of the match Josh Adams scoring a try in support of his fellow team mates who ran through the home defence without being tackled. Adams converted his own try and the score stayed at 26-33 despite Scunthorpe making every effort to redress the balance.
The players will be very disappointed with their second half performance with a meagre 3 points their only score. They will work hard during the week, particularly on their defence, to try to rectify their mistakes as they face high flying Alnwick at Heslam Park next Saturday. This is a must win game as Scunthorpe sit second from the bottom of the league in the relegation zone.
