University of Salford League 2 South

Sefton RUFC 2^nd 15 - 16 New Brighton 2^nd

Report by Doug Thorpe

Adam Pitt could easily claim the Man of the Match title in this second team game against Sefton on Saturday as he recorded four successful goal kicks out of four attempts and his break in the first half set up the try which Andy Signal finished off in great style.

With Pitt’s conversion the Blues were ahead by 7 points on 15 minutes and went further ahead when the same player wacked over a penalty 5 minutes later. Sefton exploited their considerable weight advantage with driving mauls and only some ferocious tackling by the Blues, with scrum half Lex Freeman very much in the van, kept the line intact. On 24 minutes Sefton did find a way through to reduce the deficit with an unconverted try but the Pitt man set them back again with his second penalty goal on the half hour.

Half Time Score:  Sefton 2^nd  5 – 13  New Brighton 2^nd

The New Brighton defence was put under intense pressure for the greater part of the second half from Sefton’s driving tactics. On 50 minutes Sefton crossed the line only to be unable to ground the ball but did make a breakthrough some 5 minutes later with a try, again unconverted, to reduce the Blues lead to 3 points.

Some promising attacking build ups from the visitors raised the expectations but the finish was not there to cross the line, however, Pitt was not going to waste the opportunity for a penalty goal and again maintained his 100% record. That was 2 minutes before the referee yellow carded him for what was left of the game following and ill considered comment. 

A try by Sefton on the last move of the game brought the home side within a conversion of winning the game but the Blues’ luck held and the kick went wide.

Final Score:  Sefton 2^nd 15 – 16 New Brighton 2^nd

Raging Bull Trophy
Edgeley Road, Whitchurch

 

Whitchurch 2nd XV 29 – New Brighton 2nd XV 22

 

Report by Stephen Owen

 

Teams:
Whitchurch
15. Ben Dodd, 14. Jed Towers, 13. Chris Hares, 12. Will Simpson, 11. Tom Thornton, 10. Scott Woodland, 9. Ricky Allman, 1. Daz Blackhurst, 2. Jack Giddings, 3. Tom Hale, 4. Andy Douglas, 5. Rob Tilley, 6. Tom Hollins, 7. Noel Speed, 8. Tom Hares (Capt)
Replacements: Ben Charmley, Henry Gong

New Brighton
15. Vinnie Dutton, 14. Mike Markey, 13. Sean Ellis, 12. Brett Williams, 11. Byron Power, 10. Adam Pitt, 9. Luke Thompson, 1. Conan Grehan, 2. Mike Smith, 3. Aaron Jones, 4. Mark Bennett, 5. Andy Wall, 6. Tom Brie, 7. Charlie Ward (Capt), 8. Neil Murphy
Replacement: Joe Cardus

 

A strong Whitchurch 2nd XV, six places above their opponents New Brighton in the league, showed why they are currently leading the way in Division 2 South of the University of Salford Leagues with a closely fought 29 – 22 victory in the Raging Bull Trophy. Some early slick handling took Whitchurch into the New Brighton 22 from where their solid looking forwards drove over the line with a try for skipper Tom Hares. New Brighton then came into the game with some strong defensive play whilst looking to release a pacy looking backline at every opportunity.

 

Over the next 20 minutes New Brighton powered into a 15 points to 5 lead after full back Dutton scorched over for a couple of tries. Not to be outdone, the Whitchurch forward juggernaut then rumbled upfield once again and two penalties later, both scored by fly half Woodland, brought them back into the game for a half time score of 8 – 15.

 

Whitchurch began the second half strongly and with New Brighton attempting a breakout from their own territory, Whitchurch winger Thornton intercepted to race away under the posts to put Whitchurch back in the lead at 16 – 15. Whitchurch then stretched their lead to 21 – 15 as a series of missed tackles by New Brighton culminated in Whitchurch scrum half, Allman, scoring a try. With the game poised to go either way New Brighton broke out of defence, Ellis offloaded to fellow centre Williams who raced away to score under the posts. With the try converted by scrum half Thompson, New Brighton lead 21 – 22.

 

A sustained period of pressure saw New Brighton struggle to clear their lines and with the Whitchurch forwards dominating up front, Whitchurch captain and No 8, Hares, drove over the line for a crucial try to make the score 26 -22. A further penalty scored by fly half, Woodland, saw the score move on to 29 – 22 to Whitchurch which, despite a late attempt by New Brighton to gain a converted try, was how the game finished.