Red hot Rishies one short of century against outclassed students

The temperature was low but Old Rishworthians were at fever pitch as they demolished a young Sheffield Medicals side 99-0 in Yorkshire Two.

The students, who never gave up throughout, threatened the visitors’ line every time they got possession, which was rare.

But they had no prescription to curb the speed and skill of Rishworthians’ play and it took only 17 minutes for the visitors to notch up their fourth try and a bonus point.

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They scored 15 tries, to take their total for the season so far to 76, with flanker Nick Faulkner and right wing Chris Flanagan getting three each and Josh Kelly adding 12 conversions.

Rishworthians declared their intentions right from the start, running the ball from the kick-off.

Early possession brought a penalty and a kick to touch. Captain Fraser Swarbrooke took the ball well in the lineout and was driven to the line with Faulkner touching down his first try.

From the restart centre Taniela Bakoso made a strong run and stand-off Kelly put in a long pass to teenage centre Sam Nunn, who made a dazzling 70-yard break before putting Flanagan in at the corner for his first try.

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They might have scored straight after but the ball went to ground, however from the resulting scrum the pack pushed their opponents off it and No 8 James Clarke picked up before feeding scrum half Liam Phillips, who darted over. Kelly kicked the first of 12 conversions, with only one miss among them, which hit the upright.

Swarbrooke made a strong break before long pass from Kelly put Nunn in for the bonus point try.

From the restart Bakoso made a strong run and passed to supporting fullback Jacob Ford for the fifth try.

Good work by Kelly and Faulkner set up the next try with left wing Anthony Shoesmith touching down in the corner.

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Teenage flanker Jacob Bower was almost over, but Faulkner took it up to touch down the next, before Bakoso picked up in a mass of players and darted for the line to complete the first half scoring and make it 52 – 0 at the break.

The second half opened with Faulkner and Phillips combining well before replacement centre Joe Billing put Flanagan in again at the corner.

Straight after Rishworthians were on the attack and prop Anthony Nathaniel popped up to take the pass and drive over for his first try for the club.

The home side fought back and Rishworthians were forced to defend well to prevent a score before breaking out and after a flowing move involving Billing, Bakoso and Shoesmith, play was switched to the other wing for Flanagan to get his third.

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Faulkner then broke through and ran 50 yards to touch down his third before Billing cleverly found the gap to score.

Replacement flanker Thomas Jowle combined well with Kelly to put Bakoso in for his second before Shoesmith ended the try-fest with his second in the corner and Kelly added an excellent conversion with the last act of the game.