1st TEAM
SCUNTHORPE 44 – BLAYDON 14
The Greens quickly dispelled the demons and started like a house on fire. Good ball retention from the off saw them edge their way down the pitch, ending up with a penalty. Ethan Taylor kicked the ball to the corner bringing the catch and drive line out into play. The forwards have perfected this aspect of their play, and they peeled off storming over the line with Matty Mason claiming the touchdown. Taylor converted, 7-0.
After 10 minutes play Scunthorpe broke away again and had a guilt edged chance to score but it just didn’t quite come off. The encouraging thing was their clear intent to grab this game by the horns. Blaydon showed real intent with their strong running centre Ewen Greenlaw asking questions of the defence – which to be fair they answered with gusto. Blaydon were awarded a penalty for a high tackle and their fullback Rory Foster stepped up to take what looked like a certain three points. Unfortunately, the kick hit the post and bounced back Marcus Payne galloped down the field and cleared the lines. A great break from Joey Mowbray put play back into the Blaydon half. The Greens kept the ball and their patience, recycling it several times and then the colossus that is Ben Hyde burst through tacklers to score just wide of the posts, Ethan Taylor converted, and the Greens were on fire at 14-0.
Five minutes later Scunthorpe were given another penalty this time wise heads dictated that Taylor was going for goal, and he slotted the ball over with ease, 17-0.
There was a steely determination from the boys in green as they were playing sensible, match winning rugby. Blaydon were not done and came back at Scunthorpe forcing them to concede a penalty try, Nick Dyson took the yellow card for the team, 17-7.
Scunthorpe responded and from yet another penalty this time the yellow card went to Blaydon. Ethan Taylor went for goal but missed however Scunthorpe continued to batter the North Easterners line but couldn’t convert into points. Then Scunthorpe were down to 13 men as Matty Mason was sent to the bin for a technical offence. As half time came around Tim Robinson would have like to have seen at least one more score on the board and fifteen players back on the pitch.
One minute into the second half and Lewis Talbot scored yet another try after a Blaydon mistake. Joey Mowbray pounced on the error and two or three phases later Nick Dyson fed Talbot who twisted and turned to dive over the line, Ethan Taylor converted, 24-7.
Five minutes later a try from Will Robinson lit up Heslam Park and in essence sealed the victory. It came from another Blaydon error this time a not straight in the line out. From the scrum to Scunthorpe the ball went wide, and Will cut an exquisite line straight through the middle. He sprinted 40m with not a finger laid on him to go under the posts, Ethan Taylor converted, 31-7.
The home side then were under the cosh as Blaydon came back with five minutes of pressure and a momentary lapse of concentration allowed Blaydon centre Alex Clarke to score, Forster converted, and it was now 31-14.
A second try for Will Robinson came on the hour after Blaydon had another five minutes of quality play where they asked questions of the home defence. However, the visitors continued make errors as they tired, they fumbled the ball and Lewis Talbot hoofed it on and got a lucky bounce, he passed to Will Robinson, who still had a lot to do. The speedster played with the defence dancing backwards and forwards as if auditioning for ‘Strictly’ and then using his pace he dived over in the corner, Ethan Taylor missed the conversion, 36-14.
Scunthorpe could have had another try after 63 minutes when Will Robinson kicked to the corner after a penalty, but the line out went south. Blaydon had one last effort from a penalty, the line out just inside the 22 saw them on the attack but the heroic Scunthorpe defence kept them at bay as they forced the penalty and exited their half. Will Robinson kicked a three-point penalty and then at the death the drama evolved. It came in the form of a second try for Lewis Talbot. Scunthorpe were given a penalty and kept the ball moving left and right. Man of the match Robinson scooted towards the corner; he fed the ball to Talbot who dived over in the corner to score the try. As the referee consulted the touch judge, he also showed Blaydon No8 a red card much to the confusion of those around. The match official later clarified that the red card was for verbal abuse of a player which no one could quite believe. A nice touch saw Nick Dyson take the final conversion on his final home game and believe it or not the ball hit the bar, and it bounced back out. The referee blew for time and the final score of 44-14 turned out to be a resounding victory.
The players really wanted this, and they played some of the best rugby seen at Heslam Park this season. Next week is rest day and in two weeks the Greens make the trip to Cleckheaton where a win of any description will see them crowned champions of Regional NE1.
Match Report written by Steve Williams
MoTM – Will Robinson
Photos – Thanks go to Freddie (Track Through The Lens), Maria & Bill Rhodes, Gary Lugsden
WOMEN’S TEAM
KESTEVEN 39 – SCUNTHORPE 15
Scunthorpe Women’s team travelled to Kesteven to play their penultimate league game of the season . Kesteven got the upper hand early on from some broken play and lose defence to get them on the score board . We let them play too much in our 22 and the constant pressure on our defence showed and allowed them to get a few scores ahead . When we had possession and played smart we did have some good phases 🙌🏻 Our scrum is a massive asset for us going forward and the players that had to front up did well and we had a great platform to work off 👍🏻Unfortunately a loss was the end result 39-15 but lots of positives to take forward 💚💚 We return to league action in two weeks against Mansfield at home and look forward to the challenge 💪🏻
Tries
Ewa 🏉
Ella 🏉
Tatty 🏉
Players of the match
Ewa – Opposition
Louise – Forward
Jorja – Back
DEVELOPMENT TEAM
POCKLINGTON 3RD’S 26 – SCUNTHORPE 12
Match Report Pending
COLTS
SCUNTHORPE 17 – DRIFFIELD 47
Driffield win the Colt’s League.
Match Report Pending
(Some of the ) MINI JUNIOR GAMES
Under 16’s …… Scunthorpe 32 – West Bridford 12 – Scunthorpe through to NLD final
Under 15’s …… Mansfield 14 – Scunthorpe 19
Under 14’s ….. Kesteven 0 – Scunthorpe 45 – Scunthorpe through to NLD final