Morley Third XV versus Burley Second XV
19th January 2008
1 Kelvin Crooks 2 Tom Barnes 3 Pete Shaw
4 Mike Ward 5 Alex Gerrard
6 Julian Broster 7 Dan Morrell 8 Jim Griffin
9 Jonny Baker
10 Tim Betts
11 Karl Heywood 12 Elliot Viles 13 Gave Leeman 14 Kenny Parsons
15 Will Broomfield
The Bench
17 Andy Taylor 18 Declan Duffy 16 Jon Bowskill 19 Richard Schmitt 20 Rob Stone
21 Brendan Cowy 22 Matt Bradley 23 Stuart Nichols 24 Chris Pope
After Leeds City Council called off all matches that were due to be played on their pitches we were faced with a dilemma. The Burley First 15 were at home to Hornsea (a match which they won 18-0) so we were meant to be over the road at the side of the Vesper Gate Public House. As this was no longer possible we were invited up to Morley to play on their privately owned pitch.
Burley second team travelled up to Morley with a strong bench of nine players and a repeated line up from the week previous away at Thirsk (give or take two unavailable lads).
The major problem that both sides were to face was that the referee (Johnny Parker) had decided to watch the Burley first team instead of refereeing the game he had been assigned without so much as a text message or phone call to let anyone know about his scandalous decision to let 42 lads down. Thanks Johnny.
Matt Bradley was due to start on the bench so put his hand up to referee the first half so that we all didn't have to go home disgruntled. Burley won the toss and skipper Jim Griffin opted to play down the hill and Morley started the game with the kick off. The game started well with Burley's Julian Broster collecting the high ball and clattering his way into the ruck, scrum half Jonny Baker was at hand as always to take the ball from the back, ship out to fly half Tim Betts who in turn kicked the ball down field for a Morley line out. The home team won the line and attacked the visitors with everything thay had. Burley were not to be under estimated as big hits from second row Alex Gerrard and flanker Dan Morell (playing some ex rugby league friends) were knocking back the the forwards.
After ten minutes the first try came and it was courtesy of Morley's number 7. A crash ball from five metres out saw the powerful wing forward drive in low. As hard as Mike Ward, Jim Griffin, Pete Shaw and Kelvin Crooks tried we couldn't hold him up and the try was awarded. Burley fought back with a great kick off. The high ball was collected by Morley's number three who was soon wrapped up by the Burley pack, the ball was shipped out and presure was put on by Burley centres Gav Leeman and Elliot Viles. Morley kept on fighting and eventually creating overlaps and gaps that winger Kenny Parsons despite taking the man with the ball brilliantly could do nothing about.
At the interval a few changes were made by Burley. Jim Griffin swopped his number eight shirt with Matt Bradley for the referee's whistle and watch (poacher turned gamekeeper!), Elliot Viles made room for new boy Declan Duffy, Karl Haywood swopped shirts with the tallest winger in the world Andy Taylor, Mike Ward give his number five shirt to the German legend Richard Schmitt, and Dan Morell took a seat for a further ginger addition to the team in the shape of Brendon Cowy.
Burley were now facing a tough job, playing up the hill, being 24 points behind and now the team was slightly disjointed with the amount of replacements that were made. The visitors went into it all guns blazing, and even with a few little mistakes due to the conditions Burley's number six Julian took the ball from a mishandle courtsey of Morley's number four, and darted 20 yards towards the sticks and scored Burley's first try. Tim Betts added the extras and suddenly Burley were back in it with all to play for.
Three more changes were made, as Kenny Parsons moved aside for Burley legend and all star Stuart (Bungle) Nichols and Jonny Baker was forced to sit out after receiving a blow to the head and was replaced by Christoper Pope (Ronaldo) and the final substitution saw John Bowskill take the field as a replacment of new boy Will Broomfield.
Getting to grips with the new line up the vistors kept at it, both teams finding it hard to play with the lack of a proper referee but the game was played fairly and in great spirits before Morley eventually came away with a victory beating the Burley boys 34-7.
Burley are very much heading in the right direction to field a third team, which will mean more lads getting 80 minutes instead of only 40 and hopefully this will benefit them as players and the club as a whole.
J.Griffin