Sunshine and Snow at Kirkby Lonsdale

A pleasant surprise came through mid week with a new match fixture against Kirkby Lonsdale. It was a good few years ago when this team first played there and they were still playing tag at the time.

The team was :

Callum (C)
Camron
Vinney
Luke (MoTM)
Ieuan
Michael
Harry
Jason
Kyle
Jack
Rowan
Ryan

The first 10
KL got off to a good start in the game and it quickly became clear that mauling was their strong point, they seemed particularly good at ripping the ball from the Rossendale players and distributing the ball out wide. The Rossendale lads worked very hard on their defense and in particular the tracking and tackling and the coaches had notes on every single player making tackles and shepherding people out of play. But the consistency in ripping the ball saw the period finish 3-0 to KL but they had worked hard for it.

The Second 10
The Rossendale lads focused more on their support play in this period and when going to ground Rossendale were retaining possesion and the ball started to be passed around a little more. KL still proved to be quick in defence and this meant they could hold Rossendale in their own half. Some outstanding defensive tackles and jackals kept KL at bay for a good part of the period but KL still finished 2-0 up.

The Third 10
The lads decided during the break that they needed to play to keep the ball. They commented that they wanted to pass the ball wide, pass before being tackled and avoid the maul. For the next 10 minutes they pretty much camped themselves down on the KL 5 yard line with awesome tackling when KL had the ball and great passing wide when Rossendale had the ball. It resulted in the score being settled at 1-1 and well earned it was aswel. There were many notable moves by this time in the match but a tackle, jackal and pass from Luke (MoTM) set up Ieuan to pass to Jack to get Rossendale well beyond the gain line. Rowan scored the try for Rossendale with a fast hard run straight down the middle of pitch and through almost all of the KL players.

The Final 10
Rossendale picked up where they had left off in the third 10 minute period and played to keep the ball and move the ball wide. More lads saw the ball and repeatedly Rossendale got themselves over the gain line. But for KL's quick defense and rucking, Rossendale would have got over the line for a few more tries than they did. As it happens, Rowan picked up the ball in the middle of the pitch and ran around and through everyone to score in the corner and put Rossendale 1-0 up. KL didn't flinch and after a hard fought push down the pitch they got over the line to level it at 1-1 and that is how the game ended.

All of the lads had outstanding moments today. From tackles and Jackals, to passing wide, to running straight, to off loading, to kicking over and through, to chasing the kick etc.... However the stand out aspects of the game are that the lads themselves figured out how to stop KL scoring and the lads themselves figured out the need to pass it wide and quickly.

Onwards and Upwards.