Saturday 24th February 2007
Burley II XV 12 Ossett II XV 40
Duncan Elsey, Karl Haywwod, Guest
Graham, Guest
Dan, Ed Parkhouse, XXXX
Joey Siddall
Ronaldo
Al Gunn, Gav Leeman, Alex Williams, Tom
Tim Betts
After last weeks success we knew that we were in for a much more difficult task this week. And so it proved to be. After reshuffling the pencilled in team, moving Alex and Bungle from the pack to centre and wing respectively, Duncan stepping forward to prop, the above team kicked off. Basically this Osset team played a good game of 9 man rugby that was where there strength lay. After trying a few moves out through the backs they decided to make it difficult for Burley to get near the ball with controlled rolling of the maul utilising their greater weight and sheer bulk in the pack. When Burley did get a chance with the ball, it was moved through the backs and with good pace. However this was too infrequent, but two scores were managed somewhere in between Osset scoring 33 first half points. Things didn't go Burley's way from the start when second row Dan had to leave the field with a reshaped nose and plenty of claret flowing in the first 5 minutes. This disrupted mainly the lineouts and to a lesser extent the scrummaging, as we were unopposed due to Alex Williams having to play centre. With Osset using the slope well they were soon on the score sheet, with two tries in a 10 minute spell, although the second try did appear to be a knock-on and the scorer did admit as much after the conversion had rebounded back off the post. To Burley's credit there was a good response and Al Gunn was able to touch down by the posts after good work up the right hand side before the ball was switched to the middle and on to the scorer. Tim Betts added the extras and for a short while Burley were back in the game. Osset soon changed things with their continued forward dominance and a couple of scores soon came their way, both converted. Burley pulled another try back through Gav Leeman when he gathered a ball and broke a tackle before putting in a delicate chip up the left hand touchline which he chased and touched down himself, this time too far out for a successful kick. There was just time for Osset to extend their lead before the break as Burley found themselves a further player down, Karl Haywood receiving treatment on the touchline, and Osset benfitted from a close range short side move from a scrum down the right. Their no.1 prop converting for 4 out of 5 first half conversions. Half-Time Burley 12 - Osset 33. The second half started brighter for Burley as they used the slope to gain a slight upper hand albeit with nothing showing on the score board. Two good sorties down the left saw good passing let both Bungle and Gav go close, being well tackled into touch by the very capable Osset defence. Osset then put together an attack of their own producing the only score of the half as their Birthday Boy went in under the sticks for a try converted by the goal kicking prop. The game continued with defences on top until a try saving tackle with about 5 mins to go by Joey left him writhing on the ground in agony with a badly damaged ankle. At this point John blew for the end of a very sporting contest. Thanks go to Osset for the manner in which the game was played and contested and their assistance at the end when it looked as though Joey's injury could have been far worse, also for the loan of 2 players and to those players themselves for pulling on the Burley shirt. Also thanks to John who had a good game letting things flow as much as possible. According to medics Joey's damaged the ligaments that help move his foot up and down. Full-Time Burley 12 - Osset 40.