40-year-old pack stars dig deep to set up Greengarth’s first win
Last updated 11:48, Tuesday, 07 October 2008
GOSFORTH Greengarth managed to get a team out for the first time this season in the Cumbria League when they entertained Aspatria Eagles.
Even more remarkably they managed to beat a young Aspatria team 10-3 in appalling conditions at Gosforth.
Several players came out of retirement to play, including Steve Edgar, Steve Eastwood and James Marsham which pushed the average age of the pack to approaching 40.
Following a series of indiscretions in their own half, Greengarth eventually conceded a penalty right in front of their goals and the fly-half Lee Holliday made no mistake for a 3-0 half-time lead.
The second half became more of a forward battle as the weather conditions got worse and this played into the hands of the more experienced Greengarth pack. Five minutes into the second half Greengarth's Nick Putnam won a line-out near the Aspatria line and set up a rolling maul which crossed the line and Edgar, playing his first game for more than three years, touched down.
Fifteen minutes later they scored again, this time from a pushover which followed a scrum near the Aspatria line. Edgar once again got the touchdown but it was a real pack effort.
Greengarth then closed the game out with more resolute defence to collect a morale boosting victory.
Another team who have been struggling for numbers are Moresby but they were in action on Saturday, eventually losing 15-12 at home to Cockermouth.
They had 19 players for the fixture and hopefully will have the same people available on Saturday at Aspatria.
By contrast Cockermouth went into the game with an abundance of players and eventually fielded a side with a good a blend of both youth and experience.
As the players started the game, it was obvious that the atrocious weather conditions were going to play a major partin the game.
It turned out to be an intriguing contest with Moresby attempting to play an expansive game, while Cockermouth were more content to play a tighter, forward orientated game.
Playing with the elements, Moresby put Cockermouth under a tremendous amount of pressure for the majority of the first half but the visitors defence held out, with Robert Hogan in particular, playing a major role in snuffing out many attacks.
On 30 minutes, a superb try saving tackle by Alan Denwood two metres out, appeared to have saved Cockermouth, but Moresby maintained the pressure and Neil Peet barged his way over from close in.
Cockermouth bounced back, sticking to their game plan and they continued to use their forwards to good effect.
Following several phases of play they found themselves within five metres of the Moresby try line after the home side’s cause wasn’t helped when they had a player sent to the bin for persistent infringements around the ruck.
The pressure mounted on the Moresby try line but attack after attack was repelled. However, Cockermouth’s push to involve young players paid off when, on the stroke of half time, Brett Malloy scored a well taken try on his first team debut.
Playing with the elements Cockermouth took control of the game and went on to score two tries in the opening 15 minutes of the half. On both occasions, it was Owen David who crossed the line.
Cockermouth couldn’t go on to make the lead more comfortable and it was Moresby’s turn to take control. They eventually scored a try on 60 minutes when Liam Savage chased a kick and got the touchdown, adding the conversion himself.
Having got so close, they could sense victory, however, only over elaboration in their back play coupled with Cockermouth showing excellent defensive qualities meant the score remained the same to the end.
Egremont’s good run ended at Millom when they lost 15-5 but it was a game dominated by wind and rain.
Egremont had it in the first-half but were unable to use the wind to their full advantage as they tried to run the ball too much.
Most of the game was played in one quarter of the field and during their best spell of pressure Ryan Barton crossed for an unconverted try.
Egremont held their hosts for a while in the second half before the equalised with a try themselves and soon afterwards they took the lead with a second.
It stayed that way until six minutes from time when Millom scored their third try.
Whitehaven were 36-0 winners over Wigton Wanderers in the only other Cumbria League game played on Saturday.
Like everywhere else conditions were horrendous at the Playground, particularly in the second-half when the rain was at its worst.
If anything Whitehaven were guilty of playing a bit too much rugby when a tighter approach was needed.
They saw a lot of possession with the wind and took the lead when Chris Flynn fed the ball inside for centre Matthew Giddens to score in the corner.
A barnstorming break by number eight Scott Sanderson took him 60 yards downfield and Steve McCourt was in support top collect and go in for the try which Steve McConnell converted.
Five minutes before the break scrum-half Paul Savage broke through and when he chipped ahead, top back Giddens burst through to get the touchdown.
Wigton had the wind in the second-half, and the rain was almost horizontal into Whitehaven’s faces, but the home side adapted well.
Second row forward Mike Gaffney, who worked hard throughout, went in for a try after being fed by Sanderson. McConnell converted.
After several good phases of play skipper Mark Lancaster broke away and Flynn was in support to score.
Near the end Sanderson capped a fine performance when he charged over for the final try which McConnell converted.
