1st Team Match Report

SCUNTHORPE 3 ALNWICK 23

Once again The Greens had several changes from the previous week. Sam Green made his first start and Tom Alldridge made a welcome return at hooker as did Jake McKay on the bench.

It was clear from the start that the Alnwick pack were a force to be reckoned with and they made their presence felt from the first scrum. Scunthorpe could not keep hold of the ball as the game ebbed to and fro for the first twenty minutes. On 19 minutes Scunthorpe had a great chance to score first as Colin Chapman was involved twice in a lovely move. First off, the veteran winger fielded a high kick with a superb diving catch. The ball was controlled as Scunthorpe made good ground. Chapman then received the ball again and weaved through several players. Alnwick could only stop the onslaught by committing a penalty. Ethan Taylor made a great touch and from the ensuing catch and drive line out the ball went wide through the backs only to falter with a fumble giving the advantage to the defence. Ten minutes later Alnwick kicked a neat 3-point penalty through fly half Evan Moir. From the resulting kick off Alnwick went and scored a try through flanker Charlie Farmer. Poor tackling saw Alnwick run 50 metres without a hand being laid on. Farmer was in support as a good flanker does and rounded off the try. Moir converted. So, from almost scoring first Scunthorpe found themselves in familiar territory at 0-10 behind. The Greens came back at Alnwick with some decent rugby. They retained possession well and began to put the phases together which in turn raised the confidence of a team that is down on its luck. Once again Alnwick could only prevent the try by committing another penalty. From the 22m line Josh Clarke slotted the ball over and as half time came the score rested at 3-10.

Alnwick increased their lead with another Moir penalty. Scunthorpe were still making basic errors and giving away hard-earned possession. However, the home took some encouragement from a great period of defence. Alnwick’s forwards were now turning the screw and putting the defence under extreme pressure. The lads held fast and defended valiantly. This spurred them on to come back at the visitors from the North East. On the hour some good passages of play between forwards and backs saw the boys in green work their way up the field. Unfortunately, a knock on just inside the away team 22 gave away possession. Five minutes later they were back inside the five-metre line but could not convert this territory into points, again mistakes letting them down. The final nail in the coffin came when Alnwick converted another penalty on 72 minutes and then a try from hooker Smith in the final minute sealed the victory at 3 points to 23. During the middle of the second half Scunthorpe played with confidence and with pride and had they scored when they were in the ‘red zone’ the outcome could have been somewhat different. But when confidence is low and the turnover of players is so high it is difficult to build the winning mentality.  

Scunthorpe will now try regrouping to travel to Nottingham next week. They will play West Bridgford in what will be a clash of NLD rivals and of course the bottom two clubs in the league.

Scunthorpe kicked off the 2nd half with the breeze which had picked up behind them. Ilkey kicked away from a ruck and Josh Lugsden caught the ball and chipped ahead for the ball to bounce straight back into his hands and run over for a try under the posts. This converted by Connor Brewster. Scunthorpe 14 Ilkley 17.
Ilkley kicked off again Scunthorpe caught the ball and kicked into the Ilkley 22 the player then kicked forwarded only to be impeded by Nick Dyson who the referee then inexplicably gave a yellow card to. This seemed to galvanise Scunthorpe who after a couple of defensive sets broke with Colin Chapman leading the way. Further forward momentum and numerous penalties later found Scunthorpe on the Ilkley 5 metre line at a line-out. The ball was taken in the middle by Ben Hyde Scunthorpe drove on with Mick Dunk Jnr going over for a try. The conversion was missed. Scunthorpe 19 Ilkley 17 52 mins gone. The referee issued a general warning to Ilkley for their persistent infringing.
Ilkley kicked off again and after a passage of play Ilkley won a scrum from this a free kick was given for an infringement, a quick tap by the scrum half saw the ball passed down the line to the Ilkley winger who scored in the corner. Conversion missed. Scunthorpe 19 Ilkley 22. 60 mins gone. Scunthorpe kicked off once again and eventually got the ball back with Colin Chapman kicking a 50-22 setting Scunthorpe up with a line out just inside the Ilkley 22, Scunthorpe won the ensuing line out and were then given a penalty after further infringements by Ilkley. Their 18 received a yellow card as the latest culprit. Scunthorpe kicked for the corner and won the line out. Another penalty was tapped but some skullduggery from both sides led the referee to have words with both captains about discipline. A scrum was given to Scunthorpe as they were in possession, from this number of phases and a try was then scored from near to the line by Kane Linklater. Conversion missed. Scunthorpe 24 Ilkley 22. Ilkley kicked off and newly on the pitch Gav Hale caught the ball only to be high tackled giving Scunthorpe a penalty. The line out was lost and play they became fragmented with both sides giving the ball up. A penalty conceded by Scunthorpe saw Ilkley play from a line out and eventually after numerous drives through the forwards scored at the side of the posts.This was converted. Scunthorpe 24 Ilkley 29 with what appeared to be little time remaining. Scunthorpe kicked off, the ball was reclaimed by Ilkley who kicked the ball back to Scunthorpe this was picked up by Colin Chapman who danced his way into the Ilkley 22 leaving 2 players in his wake. More pressure was applied and Ilkley gave away a scrum from a knock on. The Scunthorpe pack held the ball and Ilkley tried to walk the scrum round as they had all afternoon, this time it was to their detriment as it took their defenders away, with Gav Hale picking the ball up and carrying two defenders with him pushed his arm out like Inspector Gadget to place the ball on the line to tie the scores up. The try was converted by Connor Brewster Scunthorpe 31 Ilkley 29
Ilkley kicked off and after a short passage of play. Scunthorpe kicked for touch and the referee blew for full time. Scunthorpe 31 Ilkley 29. Scunthorpe at last have a win in the new league with 5 points. MoM Gavin Hale

3rd XV Match Report

Goole 19 Scunthorpe 53