Match Report Sandal v Scunthorpe 21.10.23.
Despite the ravages of storm Babet the playing surface at Sandal’s Milnthorpe Green ground was excellent. This was largely due to the slope East down to West which the visitors chose to play down in the first half. The early exchanges were fast and furious with the Greens setting the early pace. But it was the home side that took the lead when, after 6 minutes , they created an overlap for left winger Bainbridge to score a try in the corner well converted by full back Hodson.
The visitors soon replied. Sustained pressure led to Lewis Talbot being obstructed. The penalty by Stand off Tom Foster set up a catch and drive and a try by number eight Ben Hyde who converted his own score.
After Sandal forced another Hodson penalty the Greens started to put together some good play. Although some promising moves were stymied by frustrating errors, on the 25th minute of play the ball was worked out to first team debutant Ross Gresham on the right wing who sped over for an unconverted try. The last quarter of an hour of the first half saw both sides defending better than attacking and unable to please the referee. Hodson, however, struck over another penalty to make the half time score 13-12 to the home side and one had the feeling that whichever side could please the referee would win the game.
The second half started badly for the visitors when a Sandal attack resulted in a yellow card for Green’s flanker and captain Grant Elliot for a tackle the referee judged to be high and late. The home team pressured and despite stout defence they were able, from a central scrum on the Scunthorpe 22, to move the ball smartly right for winger Fawcett to score with Hodson again adding the extras.
Another Hodson penalty and the score at 23-12 with the slope in their favour the home side and their support were growing in confidence. The Greens however hit back. A good move saw Ross Gresham grub kick through and the scrambling home defence only just managed to beat the attackers to the touch down. Tom Foster maintained pressure with kicks to the corner. Desperate defence first resulted in a yellow card for the influential home scrum half Allen and then, finally, a successful catch and drive brought Ben hide his second try-not converted.
The Sandal side kicked off determined to peg the Greens back but the dynamic James Dyson received the ball and weaved and powered his way up the slope to turn defence into attack. Yet another kick to the corner, a catch and drive and Ben Hyde completed his hat trick.
With the score 23- 22 the home side rallied and this time did manage to gain possession following a couple of penalties against the greens. They moved the ball well until centre Adams scampered through the tired defence to seal a 30- 22 win.
A disappointing afternoon for Scunthorpe that leaves us at the foot of the table. On the positive side we are improving, getting more savvy and playing some good rugby. We scored four tries. Scrum and lineout are solid and our catch and drive is becoming very effective.
We can improve our fitness. The new fitness suite at Oglesby is provided for this very reason.
When we found ourselves short of props last year we set up a prop school maybe we need a kicking school
We can improve our discipline. The penalty count is too high and we must learn the art of ‘pleasing the referee’. I wonder if Owen Farrell would help us with this!!