Match Report. Scunthorpe v Blaydon 10.02.24.
On a bright and windless afternoon the wet and heavy pitch prevented it being ideal conditions for rugby. In the early exchanges it was the home side that dominated the possession and set a blistering pace. Before the Blaydon side had ‘got off the bus a Scunthorpe driving maul enabled flanker James Dyson to score the games opening, unconverted, try. The Greens’ tight scrum was dominant, stand off Ethan Taylors’ kicking game was working well and although the line out was beginning to falter the home side exerted most of the pressure. Several chances were missed and the determined Blaydon defence held out for twenty minutes before the pressure forced a penalty that Will Robinson converted. However, in the closing minutes of the first half the visitors gained enough possession to show the form that has earned them ten try bonus points so far this season. Swift and strong moves, combining forwards and backs, stretched and finally overlapped a good Greens’ defence and right winger Lewis Williams opened their scoring. After being dominant for most of the half the home team had only an 8-5 advantage to show.
Whatever was said in the Scunthorpe dressing room it had the desired effect. They stormed into attack and a penalty and a catch and drive saw the dynamic Dyson score his second try. It was converted by Will Robinson to give a 15-5 lead. The home line out was faltering and Blaydon were showing some threatening moves. But ten minutes later, yet another Green penalty to touch followed by a catch and drive produced a scrum that the home pack drove over the Baydon line for scrum half Joey Mowbray to touch down his sides third try. Another Will Robinson conversion gave a 22-5 scoreline. Another Scunthorpe score, it was felt, would seal the game. Blaydon again showed their ‘never say die ‘ spirit and again put together a series of beautiful moves that, this time, resulted in their left winger, Jack Appleton, racing over in the corner. Six minutes later increasing visitor pressure enabled them to show they too could deliver effective catch and drives. One of these, the referee ruled was collapsed by the defenders. This gave them a penalty try and Scunthorpe’s captain Grant Elliot a yellow card.
For the last nerve jangling fourteen minutes the visitors tried desperately to snatch the win. However, the Greens matched their efforts, playing some good possession rugby and tackling with a ferocity that held Blaydon at bay until the final whistle confirmed a 22-17 scoreline.
With the four points gained today Scunthorpe move up to ninth in the division. With another home game next week, against Alnwick, we must take the opportunity to climb even higher.