Yorkshire Carnegie
We’re winning in the rain
By Gelbel
September 4 2016
Last weekend at Harrogate, this at Ealing (where I’ve never left anything other than sodden) – who cares? It’s a winter sport so long may it last; although I do prefer my jeans are dry the next morning and not still damp. And for the first day of the new term it wasn’t too bad at all.
It started with Ealing piling on the pressure and coming away with three points from a penalty before Yorkshire Carnegie got hold of the ball. And then they did - making excellent use of it. The restart was good and within a few swift passes Stevie McColl dived over the line to start his and our account. The conversion was missed. 3-5.
It wasn’t all plain sailing, the lineout was poor – balls too high to be caught or not staying in the catchers’ hands; the scrum wasn’t as dominate as we’d expect, Davies’ penalties and conversions were missed although some of these may’ve been down to the pitch and conditions – more of that later.
Yorkshire Carnegie were awarded a penalty that was missed. Ealing attacked and Holmes stopped a try but was binned for his efforts. 6-5 after the successful penalty. While Jonah took a bit of a breather Yorkshire Carnegie scored 10 points – a penalty, a nicely worked try that Schofield scored after the ball was moved from one side of the pitch to the other when too many Ealing bodies were in the way. 6-15.
Ealing closed the gap when Harry Casson (be still my beating heart) scored after he sprinted from the 22 after spotting a hole in the Yorkshire Carnegie line. 13-15. Pete Lucock scored our third try shortly before the break after the backs linked up and he broke through Ealing’s defence. 13-20 at half time as the conversion was missed and Ealing missed a penalty.
Very early in the second half, when the heavens opened, the Ealing #4 made a break and tripped himself up. If it wasn’t for the long break to stretcher him off it would’ve been comical but he hit his head on the 3G pitch. He wasn’t the first player damaged by it and he wasn’t the last – just before McColl’s opener, an Ealing player had treatment for what looked like a dislocated shoulder and more was to come.
After this second injury you had to wonder if the potential dangers of the pitch played on players’ minds as mistakes and infringements started racking up. An attacking scrum for Yorkshire Carnegie was lost as we were penalised for some misdemeanour and after that there was much pinging from Sir (who had a good match – I know, I was surprised too. He must’ve gone to ref school in the summer) for most scrums for the rest of the match.
Imiolek went down hard on the pitch and, unlike others, he didn’t seem too harmed as he moved quickly but was taken off. Beech came back on as tight head – admitting later he played better in that position in the 20 minutes he was there then the hour he played at loose head.
Ealing played some nice rugby and found their attacks thwarted by the Yorkshire Carnegie defence – including a lovely tracking move of the player from Forsyth and a nice bit of team work from Holmes and McColl.
Ford took over kicking duties when Davies went off and opened his account with a penalty after a few attempts at catching and sliding came to nothing. 13-23. Yorkshire Carnegie started building for their fourth try - Forsyth was unlucky that his break was not quite quick enough, there was much recycling and Nilsen very nearly made it. Poor Phil – his name didn’t get on the score sheet as a penalty try was awarded. Ford popped the penalty over. 13-30.
There was a little bit of time left to play when another Ealing player took an almighty bang on the head from the pitch and was out cold. Gamage called time as the player received treatment on the pitch, including oxygen, which took about 15 minutes before they stretchered him into the physio room – the ambulance not being available having taken the Ealing #4 to hospital with lights flashing.
As you can imagne, the celebrations were muted. You do have to question the use of 3G pitches. A few seasons ago it was touch and go that the then Leeds Carnegie match at Ealing was played as the grass pitch was sodden. Surely it’s better for postponed matches than three badly damaged players (Charlie said you could hear a bone breaking), a big knock to Lee and several broken studs. Who knows if the turf didn’t help Davies’ grip causing him to miss so many kicks?
So a good first outing with a BP win. There’s work to be done but no one had a bad match, most were good, many industrious going about their jobs properly, some were stand out, better than others – Buzz, Mayhew, Davies as scrum half and Wright when he came on – both with a bit of swagger and ref management. Good defence as I mentioned, some of the mistakes were down to the conditions (Ealing is windy as well as wet) and the pitch.
Despite the rain it was a good day out, made all the nicer from Mr & Mrs Rocky’s homemade jaffa cakes and not overly harmed by some Ealing fans overheard to say; "Not many of the away support have Yorkshire accents" and “doing a Roth” about our name.
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04/09/2016 09:52
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:09:19:19:50:50 by Gelbel.
Someone put on the other thread that from the radio it sounded like the score flattered us. Not at all. If the missed kicks had been landed we would have been out of site at half time. This included scoring 10 points when we were down to 14. The radio is no substitute for being there.....
The game went a bit flat after the 2nd injury- I'm not surprised. It is never good to see serious injuries, Was the pitch to blame? I genuinely don't know but I have never seen 3 bad injuries in one game (though Bentley was in the bar afterwards with his arm in a sling) and I hope never to again.
Didn't know it was 3G at Ealing, sounds like a good one to get out of the way early. Does anyone know how many other Championship teams use an artificial surface?
As I said on the other thread, a good 5 point start away from home, need to follow it up at home against Nottingham next week.
Don't know about other venues.
Quote:Wildwillie
Even before I read Gel's Upbeat report I was happy that we has gotten a bonus point win to start the season. It was also pleasing that we restricted the home side to just one try. With so many new players in the match day squad there was the potential for a slip up. The lineout will improve as will the kicking if the weather is better. Roll on next Sunday.
So no need for Happy Pills in the paddock - I can leave them at home.
I mean, it might be an actual rock monster. You can't be too careful ont' Internet!
COME ON LEEDS.
We've been through it all together.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016:09:05:20:16:57 by Haxbytyke.
