2^nd Team match report

 

New Brighton 2^nd v Wigan 2

 

Result 48 - 12

 

Team: 1. Conan Grehan, 2. Colin Jones 2. John Williams, 4. Dave Malone, 5. Gareth Taylor, 6, Ste Patten,7. Matt Wells, 8. Paul Roberts, 9. Nick Cawley, 10. Jim Yarrington, 11. 12. Dan Jones, 13. Adam Pitt, 14, 15. Dave Lewis

 

 

The seconds traveled to Wigan and for the second week had to play with reduced numbers. Despite the score line the team played with determination and spirit. It was a hard game from the beginning but New Brighton never gave up. In a game were we had to continually change tactics in the set pieces we held our own in the scrum and competed well in the lineout. The home side took a commanding lead through the first half which became frustrating for New Brighton who felt had they had the numbers could have easily coped defensively with Wigan's attack.

 

By the second half New Brighton came out with more determination and started taking the game to the home side with forwards and back linking well. With continued pressure from the forwards Gareth Taylor (the old work horse!) received the ball in Wigan's 5 metre to score an easy but well worked forwards try. This spurred the visitor on and continued to play with more belief and and was rewarded with a second try which came straight from the training field from the base of the scrum through 3 sets of hands and with still half a pitch to go. Ste Patten in his 2nd team debut ran in a great individual try, which was converted by Jim Yarrington. Unfortunately later in the half Dan Jones suffered a bad injury to his shoulder and had to be taken to hospital. The whole team wish Dan well and hope he has a speed recovery. This now meant New Brighton were down to 12 men against 14 and the home side took full advantage of this and pressed on and scored further to extend their lead.

 

This was a game which was hard to single out players as everyone who took the field played with pride and never gave up and was led well by Paul Roberts.

 

Colin Jones' message is simple....absent players need to make a decision. They either commit to playing and training or inform the club they do not wish to play. This situation cannot continue. We need players training and we need players, who like the 13 who played today willing to put on the shirt and do their best for the club. So come on lads the club needs you!

2^nd Team match report - by Colin Jones

 

New Brighton 2^nd v Wilmslow 2^nd

13 Sept 2008

 

Result 10 - 43

 

Team: 1. Conan Grehan, 2. Dan Corfe, 2. John Williams, 4. Paul Roberts, 5. Adam Baird, 6,,7. Dave Lewis, 8. Sean Ellis, 9. Alan Hesketh, 10. Jim Yarrington, 11. Charlie, 12. Martin Carham, 13. Adam Pitt, 14. Nick Cawley, 15. Dan Jones

 

 

The second teams first home match did not get on to the best of starts with 2 late cry off on Saturday afternoon. This meant only fielding 14 players with many players having to play out of position. Despite this the lads started the game very positively and played after about 10 minutes took an early lead with a superb try scored by Adam Pitt, he took a pass out wide and still with virtually half a  pitch to go shrugged of a tackle and headed for the line, he could quite easily scored in the corner but took the more difficult option and side stepped and scored closer to the posts.

 

Unfortunately soon after that we seemed to go to sleep and allowed Wilmslow  to sort out their early handling mistakes and did not apply any pressure. This allowed them to play. Both the scrum and lineout were being dominated by the visitors and the home side was giving away too much possession. Before too long Wilmslow scored 2 tries in quick succession. Dan Corfe who stood in at hooker injured his neck. So for a time the game had to go to uncontested scrums which did actually favour the home side but Colin Jones could not resist temptation and came on at hooker and it meant New Brighton had 15 on the field. Wilmslow finished the half with a good lead and certainly by now on top of their game.

 

The second half started with some New Brighton players carrying injuries and this certainly effected us in defence, with far too many first tackles being missed and basic handling errors. Despite this the home side dug in and didn’t give in and with forwards being bossed by Hesky did start to counter ruck better and trun over ball. Wilmslow were now in full stride and were able to put together some good phases as the game went on were able to increase their lead with some well worked tries. When the game is going wrong it inevitable mistakes where going to happen and this was no exception. New Brighton had a ruck on their own 5 metre and Hesky gave a low pass to Jim Yarrington who couldn’t control it and tried to kick clear. It was here the “knubbler” was born. The ball came off his knee and one of Wilmslow back row grounded it for a try. (See Jim Yarrington for techniques of the Knubbler!) By now New Brighton were playing for pride and were determined to score again and it wasn’t long before it happened. Hesky picked up the ball and broke through and had a lot of ground to cover, he chipped on and the defence could control it, Hesky picked up again off loaded to Martin Carham who took it on and was able to off load in the tackle again to Hesky who remained in support. Hesky picked up the pace and ran in a very well worked try.

 

With the game over it was Wilmslow who were obviously the worthy winners. Colin has pleaded with the players to attend training more regularly to ensure improvements can be made. Recognition needs to go to players who had to play out of position and without them we would not have had a game. Dan Corfe at hooker, Paul Roberts at 2^nd row, Dave Lewis at back row, Sean Ellis at back row, Nick Cawley on the wing.

 

Adam Baird is looking for big improvements going into next weeks game which is at Wigan and is calling on all players to get down training!