Ruskin Park 2nd XV…26 Glossop 2nd XV…31
The Rot is Stopped!
The first round of the cup saw a repeat of last season’s fixture that ended Ruskin Park’s cup run, despite drawing the game, with Glossop going through to the next round on the ‘away tries’ principle.
Having again had players selected at the eleventh hour to travel with the first team, captain Wilson was again scratching around for a team before departure. With 15 names eventually on the team sheet, including a guest appearance from Mick Owen and a welcome return to Ryan Thorpe, the convoy departed. For most, the journey across to St Helen’s was filled with discussion of how tough a contest the previous fixture had been, and how Ruskin would be keen to gain revenge for the manner of their previous cup dismissal.
With an early kick-off planned, there was little time for serious warming up, and the referee was keen to get things commenced as punctually as possible. Glossop kicked off and following a good chase retained possession of the ball. For a long period, Glossop played in the Ruskin 22. Despite a number of promising half-breaks from a range of players and some good dominance in the set pieces, Glossop once again struggled to convert territory and possession into points. That was until a farcical situation occurred whereby Gibb found himself with the ball on the wing. The Ruskin players had stopped playing, believing he had gone into touch. Hearing no whistle from the referee, Gibb was encouraged to keep running. He did so until he got to the line when he began to doubt the legitimacy of the try himself. By then, the Ruskin centre had decided to try and catch him, and only in response to the urgent cries of on-looking team0mates did Gibb touch the ball down to break the deadlock. The referee duly awarded the try. In the absence of a recognised kicker, Massey spurned the conversion attempt. 5-0.
In self-destruct fashion, Glossop allowed Ruskin one visit to their half throughout the entire first half, but Ruskin made good return, crossing the Glossop try line with ease having created a three man overlap when Glossop over-committed to the breakdown. To rub salt in the wound, the conversion was scored and Glossop were left wondering how such domination in the match could see them trailing in the score line.
The Ruskin inside centre seemed on a one-man-mission to commit as many high tackles as possible as Thorpe, Percy and Simms (how did he get so low?) were all hit very high and very hard. For reasons unknown, the referee decided to allow him chance after chance to amend his ways, but the centre was unwilling. Next victim in line was Fitton who, having just received a pass was hit by the centre. There was no attempt to make a proper tackle, and with one minute of the half remaining, the decision was simple for the referee – the yellow card was inevitable. Unfortunately, Fitton was unable to continue and with no subs, Glossop faced a whole second half with one man short. Hughes made the switch to stand-off. From the resultant penalty, Gerard took the ball off Simms and took route one towards the line. Ruskin Park still appeared to be discussing the sin-bin decision as Gerrard scored and celebrated, much to the annoyance of the opposition prop. Gibb added an impressive conversion, begging the question where had he been hiding his kicking abilities for so long. The search for a regular kicker may well be over for Glossop 2’s! Half time was signalled and the relief brought about by the last score was written on the Glossop faces.
Remembering the previous fixture between the two, and spotting the tell-tale signs from the latter stages of the first half, Lindsay warned against complacency in the second half, and encouraged players to continue as they’d left off, ignoring the fact that Ruskin may well come looking for a scrap now.
Glossop couldn’t have made a better start as the 14-man Ruskin were temporarily reduced to 13 as the stand-off came off worse when trying to tackle Gerrard. The forwards made good progress with the ball, tying in the Ruskin pack and recycling quickly. Following a succession of pick and drives, the ball was released to the backs. Hughes, in typically slippery fashion, wormed his way free from the Ruskin clutches and darted over the line. Gibb added the extras, and it looked like there was a little daylight between the teams.
Inexplicably, the referee ended the sin-bin after only 4 minutes and the inside centre was allowed to re-enter the fray. The game adopted a cliché ‘cup feel’ as both sides recognised the merit in working hard for the victory. In an unsporting manner, Ruskin went to the first team pitch to ‘borrow’ some players and managed to cross the Glossop line in quick repost. Glossop seemed more hung up on challenging the decision to allow these players to play than focussing on the task at hand and allowed Ruskin to drive a maul dangerously close to the Glossop line. Lindsay showed some superb skills in the maul to rip the ball from the possession of the Ruskin pack. However, just as he had freed it, the ball pinged unceremoniously upwards like a wet bar of soap. Glossop were unable to react as the new Ruskin recruit plucked the ball from the air and crossed from all of one yard under the posts. With the following conversion, scores were again tied.
This seemed to be the boost that Glossop needed, and once again they took the game to their opponents. From a good position, Glossop set to execute a backs move which resulted in a knock on 10 yards short of the Ruskin line. Despite it being their head and feed, the ball somehow shot out of the scrum, surprising the Ruskin stand-off, and Simms pounced. In similar fashion to the try they had just scored, Ruskin conceded thanks to the quick thinking of Simms who touched down under the posts. Gibb added the conversion points, and Glossop led again 26-19.
The game was open, and almost carefree at times as time ticked away and neither time showed any signs of willingly giving up their place in the cup. As Ruskin attacked again, the ball carrier singled out Gerrard. Mistake. Gerrard stole the ball in the tackle, carried it forward, drew his man and slipped a pass inside to Hughes. Despite an unforgiving pass, Hughes kept hold and stepped on the gas. From near the half way line, Hughes weaved and dodged his way around and under some tackles. He evaded the lunge of the fullback and crossed the line. Scores were now 31-19.
In the final ten minutes, Ruskin crossed the line again to reduce the deficit to 31-26. They then crossed again but thanks to some outstanding tackling and positioning by the forwards were adjudged to have been held-up over the line. From the resultant scrum, they crossed again, but were once again thwarted by the arm of Gerrard. Throwing all caution to the wind now, Ruskin managed to create a huge overlap, spreading all the way to the wing. With any one of seven players apparently able to cross the line, they shipped the ball nonchalantly. Percy didn’t give up the chase and pressured the pass which Ruskin eventually dropped.
Ruskin had to bank on gaining possession against the head from the final play scrum. However, the Glossop pack did its job superbly well and the ball was picked up and hammered into touch by Simms. Final whistle. Victory for Glossop 31-26.
There were many good performances on the pitch on Saturday, but man of the match went to Charlie Hughes who was simply outstanding. The team effort was excellent – to play against a team with one man less, whilst they were bringing on first team players and stick it out to see a victory was superb. This should begin to instil the confidence in the team who next travel to Didsbury TOC H next week.