1st XV back to winning ways

Some games the result is the most important, and an Aldridge side still missing a number of regular players and hampered by a virus which resulted in the The Rock (Big Jim) join The Platform (Ed O Neill) on the bench instead of starting and joint leading try scorer Brad Russell still missing, battled to a fully deserved victory over a strong and youthful Barton-Under-Needward 1st XV.

Barton started strongly and spent most of the first 15 minutes in our half, but the defence and discipline was superb - let by some massive hits by number 8 Ben Husthwaite, and Lee Stokes (who returned to his favoured position in the back row). The Aldridge set piece was superb, with the lineout especially good pinching 3 or 4 off the Barton throws. However with 17 minutes on the clock Barton took a fully deserved lead with a converted try which came from a loose pass from Aldridge.

The Barton defence was equally as strong through and the Aldridge back line were getting little or no joy as we started to get a foothold in the game. An early knock to James Turner happered him a little, but with him and Dan McKenna we have the makings of a very exciting midfield combination to take us through the rest of the season. Working off each others strengths they combined to slowly open us the strong Barton defence and for most of the rest of the first half Adridge dominated possession and field position. Eventually a moment of magic from Fly Half Josh Atkins got Aldridge on the scoreboard, after breaking through 2 tackles before being felled, he regained his feet, stepped two more players and dived between the posts - with James Turner converting the scores were level as we went into half time.

The second half was almost a repeat of the first. Aldridge played to the far corner, but for once the lineout failed to function and 2 or 3 good opportunities were wasted. With both defenc

es on top - Barton crept into the lead with a penalty with 10 minutes to play , but Aldridge didn’t panic. With the bench now fully utilised, and Ben Pittam moving into the centres as James Turner finally left the field due to injury, Aldridge found themselves 10 metres out from the Barton try line… Unlike the previous week where 4 or 5 good scoring opportunities were wasted from similar positions, Aldridge’s pack were patient then with Ben Drinkwater running a superb dummy line, Lea Ross spun the ball out to Josh Atkins who glided in untouched for his second try. Somehow Dan Mckennas conversion was charged down - 12 points to 10 with 7 minutes to play.

The forwards experience then came to the fore, Big Jim caught the restart kick off and then a big punch run from Ed O’Neil was followed by a kick to the corner again - with both defences holding firm the game was won as the forwards controlled the ball for most of the final minutes - the whistle blew - Aldridge win in a real battle.

Head Coach Jon Arch:

“We beat a form side in a really tough hard game - so we have to be happy. It wasn’t perfect - it wasn’t free flowing rugby - but it did show we can grind out a result when we need to. There are plenty of work ons for the team; In the first half against the wind we turned the ball over four or five times by trying to force silly passes and our lineout which has been superb recently didn’t quite click.

I believe when the wind is coming across the pitch to the far corner that it is a 15-20 point wind, so its credit to both sides defence that neither leaked a lot of points - it was two good physical sides really going for it in great spirit… I am not disappointed not to get a bonus point - i will take a simple win every week please.

Some of the guys were outstanding today, in Josh Atkin i think we have one of the best players in the league, defensively he was superb and his two tries were just class. But other players really stood up today; recalled winger Ben Tal worked his socks off and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, as was Nick Yates who we all thought had scored in the corner, young Tight head prop Ellis Garratt did everything we asked of him and more, and then when we rolled the bench on, the old boys didn’t disappoint with Jim Arnold, Ed O Neill, Tony Harbutt and Alex Reed putting in a shift to finish the match off.

In speaking to their coach this is the strongest squad Barton could put out, they have been on a great run of form recently and i think they expected to turn us over - so to get the win was great. Today we listened instead of talked, our discipline was excellent, and we trusted in our process. The winning try was scored after working on that exact scenario in training this week - so from a coaching team perspective that is really pleasing.

We have a break from league action this weekend, we are still putting two sides out though most of the 1st XV will be resting. Its a great chance for Harry and I to look at the next generation again."