League Match-Midlands 5 West North
1 Mar 2008
Aldridge vs Cannock
.
Not just any
old win but a thoroughly deserved victory based on a solid team effort.
It was the forwards who laid the foundation. They had all the shove throughout,
won more than a fair share of lineout ball and with an impressively effective
break away back-row, provided the backs with more opportunities to make
a statement than they’d had all season.
The territorial advantages were influenced by the strong wind blowing down the pitch and with this behind us from the start we wasted no time in forcing play into the visitors 22. A penalty by Ashley after just 7 minutes provided an early reward but also provided a wake up call for Cannock who, capitalizing on a series of elementary penalty infringements drove the ball up to our line. Some sterling defensive work kept it intact but slow reaction to a quickly taken 5 metre penalty once more proved our undoing and opened up a clear path to the line for Cannock scrum half James Murphy. Ryan Lindsey (No10), provided the extra points. We hit straight back from the re-start and following a short period of forward activity in the right corner, whipped the ball out left to Ben in the centre who pierced the defence and with a well weighted pass put “Barney” away to the try line. The wind was making it difficult for the visitors to clear their lines and with our forwards increasingly getting on top we progressively started to dominate. A series of 5 metre scrums, full of commitment, had the visitors back pedalling. The ball was eventually released to Ashley who went blind and squeezed over in the right hand corner just inside the flag. Another Ashley (again!) penalty just before the break provided a comfortable 16-7 lead at the whistle.
We had the wind to face in the second half and Cannock wasted no time in using it to good effect to keep our backs to the wall. Our defence remained unwavering though and mid-way through the half, after riding out the challenge, some adventurous handling allowed us to break out and win a penalty just inside the visitors half. This was quickly taken by “Forest” who with a slashing run broke through the defensive line up and fed Tony Jaep, who’s well timed supporting run beat a path directly to the try line. The remainder of the half was played out in our territory. The visitors worked hard to find a way back but our defensive effort remained impressive. A try from Cannock's Lindsey with 10 minutes to go provided them with some optimism but in the end proved merely a consolation.
The only problem is, we need a repeat of
the same next week.
Final score:- Aldridge 21pts - Cannock 12pts
Aldridge : - Tries: - Chris Balmforth, Ashley Shingler, Tony Jaep. Penalties:- Ashley Shingler (2)
Cannock:- Tries: - James Murphy, Ryan Lindsay. Conversions:- Ryan Lindsay
3,2,1
3 pts - Ben Vaughan
2 pts - Ben Pittam
1 pts -Jim Arnold
(Eddie O'Neil - Yellow Card - minus 1)
Second Team Result:-
Telford 27 pts v Aldridge 5 pts
Scorers - Tries: Alex Reed
Third Team Result:-
No fixture
Next week Aldridge have a league fixture vesus Griffinians at Home
KO 2.30pm
