Post by noddy on Nov 12, 2009 15:23:46 GMT
Match report courtesy of Castleford RUFC ........................ not sure who the ref was for this game. Maybe we should ask .......
CASTLEFORD RUFC 2 XV LAST MATCH REPORT - Saturday 7 November 2009
“Below Par Cougars Deliver Result”
scunny 27 v Castleford Cougars 30
Castleford travelled to league 1 scunny for a well deserved week off from league rugby, and despite going into the game full of confidence on the back of 3 hard fought victories and sitting pretty at the top of Yorkshire Merit League 2, they were made to fight to the death in order to grind out a result against a scunny side who were determined to send the Cougars home with their tails between their legs.
Castleford fielded a much changed side and were without 7 key players missing through unavailability and injury. They welcomed Club stalwarts Richard Davies and Neil Mattison into the back row and Brian McCarten onto the wing. The game saw the return of first team star Lee Land who was away from the club for the whole of last season. There was also a debut for athletic second row Phil Smith. Skipper Nathan Davies won the toss and decided to play down hill in the first half.
Castleford’s preparation was disrupted by a change of kick of time and this led to them starting the game sluggishly. scunny took advantage of this and spent the first 10 minutes attacking the Castleford line. The Castleford defence held solid but a penalty for holding on at the ruck allowed the scunny full-back to convert and give scunny a 3 nil lead.
This fired Castleford into action and following a good take at the lineout by Smith the backs were able to combine to break their opponent’s line. Controlled recycling allowed scrum-half Watts to feed his half back partner Ian Mattison who threw an inch perfect long ball to centre Land. Land broke the line and danced round 4 defenders before scoring his first try of the season. Mattison Jnr struck the conversion attempt just wide. Castleford led 5-3.
Castleford were now gaining control and the scunny pack were struggling to compete with the dynamic rucking of Richard Davies and Neil Mattison. Strong defence from prop Matty Fisher created turnover ball and Ian Mattison fired the ball deep into scunny’s half. Despite a good attacking position Castleford were unable to penetrate the scunny defence and the half came to a close with Castleford hoping that they would not come to rue their missed chances.
The second half started where the first ended but Castleford were now in a much more clinical mood. Several strong runs from Chris Reavely put Castleford on the attack and a knock on from scunny’s stand off gave Castleford an attacking scrum. Richard Davies picked up and linked with his backline. A strong drive by Gareth Grant-Mills took Castleford to within 5 metres of the try line. Controlled mauling by the forwards saw Davies dive over to the finish the move he began. Ian Mattison converted to give Castleford a commanding 12-3 lead which they appeared in no mood to relinquish.
The next try was an individual effort from Ian Mattison. He took a pass 15 metres from the line and faked to throw a long pass, he stepped and dummied and went threw 3 defenders untouched to score at the side of the posts. He converted his own try and added a difficult penalty five minutes later to give Castleford a 22-3 lead with 20 minutes to go.
Castleford then conspired to throw the game away as they took their foot off the gas and became drawn in by some very strange refereeing decisions. Despite being very consistent in the first half and not allowing either side to take quick taps, the referee mysteriously changed his stance and when the scunny scrum-half tapped from nowhere near the mark he was allowed to play on and scored under the posts. The conversion was missed and Castleford’s lead was reduced to 22-8. Castleford were perplexed and were still in shock five minutes later when scunny scored after the final pass appeared to be 5 metres forward. The conversion was added and scunny were on a roll.
Castleford appeared to have stopped the rot when Lee Land scored another superb individual try from 50 metres out to give Castleford a 27-15 lead. Despite this, scunny were again assisted by some dubious refereeing and scored another try from a blatantly forward pass. The try was converted and scunny were within 5 points of a shock victory.
A pinpoint kick off from Ian Mattison rolled into touch a metre from the scunny line. The home side cleared their line but they were then penalised for holding on. Mattison stepped up and slotted the pressure penalty from 30 metres out. The referee completed his hat-trick of comedy errors when he allowed scunny to score from another forward pass 2 minutes from time. Castleford showed their mettle and hung on to achieve a hard fought victory in adverse conditions.
Best for Castleford were Neil Mattison who was dynamic in attack and defence, Lee Land who scored 2 game breaking tries and man-of-the-match Richard Davies who scored a great try, led his pack well and kept a cool head in the face of severe pressure. A special mention must also go to Ian Mattison who marshalled his backs well throughout the game and achieved a personal points haul of 15 points.
The Cougars travel to Bradford Salem for their 3rd game away from Willowbridge Lane in 3 weeks and a victory will see them remain top of the league.
CASTLEFORD RUFC 2 XV LAST MATCH REPORT - Saturday 7 November 2009
“Below Par Cougars Deliver Result”
scunny 27 v Castleford Cougars 30
Castleford travelled to league 1 scunny for a well deserved week off from league rugby, and despite going into the game full of confidence on the back of 3 hard fought victories and sitting pretty at the top of Yorkshire Merit League 2, they were made to fight to the death in order to grind out a result against a scunny side who were determined to send the Cougars home with their tails between their legs.
Castleford fielded a much changed side and were without 7 key players missing through unavailability and injury. They welcomed Club stalwarts Richard Davies and Neil Mattison into the back row and Brian McCarten onto the wing. The game saw the return of first team star Lee Land who was away from the club for the whole of last season. There was also a debut for athletic second row Phil Smith. Skipper Nathan Davies won the toss and decided to play down hill in the first half.
Castleford’s preparation was disrupted by a change of kick of time and this led to them starting the game sluggishly. scunny took advantage of this and spent the first 10 minutes attacking the Castleford line. The Castleford defence held solid but a penalty for holding on at the ruck allowed the scunny full-back to convert and give scunny a 3 nil lead.
This fired Castleford into action and following a good take at the lineout by Smith the backs were able to combine to break their opponent’s line. Controlled recycling allowed scrum-half Watts to feed his half back partner Ian Mattison who threw an inch perfect long ball to centre Land. Land broke the line and danced round 4 defenders before scoring his first try of the season. Mattison Jnr struck the conversion attempt just wide. Castleford led 5-3.
Castleford were now gaining control and the scunny pack were struggling to compete with the dynamic rucking of Richard Davies and Neil Mattison. Strong defence from prop Matty Fisher created turnover ball and Ian Mattison fired the ball deep into scunny’s half. Despite a good attacking position Castleford were unable to penetrate the scunny defence and the half came to a close with Castleford hoping that they would not come to rue their missed chances.
The second half started where the first ended but Castleford were now in a much more clinical mood. Several strong runs from Chris Reavely put Castleford on the attack and a knock on from scunny’s stand off gave Castleford an attacking scrum. Richard Davies picked up and linked with his backline. A strong drive by Gareth Grant-Mills took Castleford to within 5 metres of the try line. Controlled mauling by the forwards saw Davies dive over to the finish the move he began. Ian Mattison converted to give Castleford a commanding 12-3 lead which they appeared in no mood to relinquish.
The next try was an individual effort from Ian Mattison. He took a pass 15 metres from the line and faked to throw a long pass, he stepped and dummied and went threw 3 defenders untouched to score at the side of the posts. He converted his own try and added a difficult penalty five minutes later to give Castleford a 22-3 lead with 20 minutes to go.
Castleford then conspired to throw the game away as they took their foot off the gas and became drawn in by some very strange refereeing decisions. Despite being very consistent in the first half and not allowing either side to take quick taps, the referee mysteriously changed his stance and when the scunny scrum-half tapped from nowhere near the mark he was allowed to play on and scored under the posts. The conversion was missed and Castleford’s lead was reduced to 22-8. Castleford were perplexed and were still in shock five minutes later when scunny scored after the final pass appeared to be 5 metres forward. The conversion was added and scunny were on a roll.
Castleford appeared to have stopped the rot when Lee Land scored another superb individual try from 50 metres out to give Castleford a 27-15 lead. Despite this, scunny were again assisted by some dubious refereeing and scored another try from a blatantly forward pass. The try was converted and scunny were within 5 points of a shock victory.
A pinpoint kick off from Ian Mattison rolled into touch a metre from the scunny line. The home side cleared their line but they were then penalised for holding on. Mattison stepped up and slotted the pressure penalty from 30 metres out. The referee completed his hat-trick of comedy errors when he allowed scunny to score from another forward pass 2 minutes from time. Castleford showed their mettle and hung on to achieve a hard fought victory in adverse conditions.
Best for Castleford were Neil Mattison who was dynamic in attack and defence, Lee Land who scored 2 game breaking tries and man-of-the-match Richard Davies who scored a great try, led his pack well and kept a cool head in the face of severe pressure. A special mention must also go to Ian Mattison who marshalled his backs well throughout the game and achieved a personal points haul of 15 points.
The Cougars travel to Bradford Salem for their 3rd game away from Willowbridge Lane in 3 weeks and a victory will see them remain top of the league.
