Old Brodleians 46 Skipton 5: Brods give a virtuoso showing - with slide show
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See the slide show from the game
Published Date:
14 April 2008
By Ian Rushworth
IT has been a case of Brods first, the rest nowhere in Yorkshire Two this season.
That was confirmed by happenings in Saturday's battle of the two promoted sides, a scintillating performance from the home men taking them 12 points clear at the top of the table.
Nick O'Connor's men head to Ripon for their final match next weekend and if they can remotely produce the form they showed against Skipton, a full house of 22 wins from 22 league games this season looks a formality.
Brods really turned on the style in front of Yorkshire president Gordon Brown in some rare spring sunshine, running the visitors ragged after Skipton had taken the lead with an eighth minute try wide on the left from speedy winger Liam Ray.
The visitors, who included a couple of Kiwis and have been strengthening their hand with captures from National Two side Wharfedale, looked dangerous at this stage with their blind side flanker Moa Meki punching holes in the home defence. Skipton might well have been 8-0 up, their fullback Darren Howson having the misfortune to see the ball blow off the tee as he ran up to strike a kickable penalty.
However, a Brods side playing in their white change strip to avoid a colour clash drew level on 13 minutes with a classy try from Gareth Standeven, who combined superbly on the right with brother Adam, and from that point on there was only going to be one winner.
The home pack, in which Joe McArthur was a late replacement for the working Mark Vollans at lock, has developed into a well oiled machine this season and Skipton ball was hijacked on a regular basis in the lineouts and at the breakdown.
But it was the backs who came to the fore in the better playing conditions with seasonal debutant Adam Jackson providing excellent service to young stand off James Womersley, who gave a confident performance for an 18-year-old.
It was hard to imagine Gareth Standeven ever having had a better game for the side while winger Matt Hoyle terrorised the visitors with his pace out wide.
Brods hit the front on 17 minutes when Andy Clay supported Oliver Akroyd's break up the middle and Adam Standeven added the first of four conversions.
Joe Baker was unable to hold Adam Standeven's inside pass with the line seemingly open but Brods took a 17-5 lead up the slope on 29 minutes when a penalty kick to the corner led to perfect execution of the lineout catch and drive, open side flanker Ben Hoyle coming up with the ball.
Having stamped their authority on the game, Brods extended their lead to 34-5 in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.
An Adam Standeven penalty for offside, awarded by another promising teenage referee in Nick Ramsden, was followed by some dynamics from Matt Hoyle.
He first sped down the left touchline, fist in the air in premature celebration, for a try and then shot through in midfield to set up a score for hooker Dale Gardiner. Adam Standeven added both conversions.
With the game won, Brods threw on all their substitutes after 55 minutes and Skipton's frustration showed when their scrum half Adam Oldfield was sin binned.
Matt Hoyle was just beaten to his own chip through over the try line by a covering lock while brother Ben looked certain to score but was hauled down a yard shot by an excellent cover tackle.
Skipton launched raids of their own but Baker had the final word with a 73rd minute try under the posts converted by Adam Standeven, Ben Hoyle leaving a lasting impression on the visitors with two dump tackles in the closing seconds.
Ian Armitage, who was in charge of the side with O'Connor in Wales for his wife's birthday party, said: "That's the best we've played this season. The level of desire was absolutely remarkable considering the title was already won."
Brods have a home Yorkshire Shield semi-final with Ilkley on a date to be arranged and Armitage added: "If we play like that in the Shield nobody will be able to live with us."
The full article contains 713 words and appears in Evening Courier newspaper.
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Last Updated:
14 April 2008 12:00 PM
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Source:
Evening Courier
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Location:
Halifax