Glossop…20 Loughborough…12
After two rather disappointing games, albeit against strong opposition, Glossop needed to respond by doing the double over fourth placed Loughborough. The strong wind was in Glossop’s favour in the first half and they need to capitalise on this distinct advantage. After a positive opening period of play by the home side a good break by outside centre Pickerell opened up the Loughborough defence; his offload found Thompson on the rampage who battered over with the aid of Tamplin to open the scoring. With the conversion made the momentum was with Glossop. The points tally was added to within minutes. A series of fierce rucks put Glossop on the opposition try line, with the defence set young scrumhalf Chris Sonczack popped the ball up to the rapidly approaching Shirt who bludgeoned his way through three defenders to score.
Loughborough rallied well and pushed Glossop back into their own half. Penalty after penalty was being conceded by Glossop and it was not long before the Leicestershire side got their first scoring opportunity. They were probing well with a solid rolling maul as the play broke a dart for the line was repelled superbly by Howard’s try saving tackle, holding the ball up over the line. In the second wave of attack Loughborough were not to be denied. With the maul working well again they forced their way over to touch down and bring the score to 12-5.
Glossop responded well to this setback by battering their way up field. This sustained onslaught from the Glossop forwards resulted in a wild clearance kick by Loughborough’s fullback. The ball fell invitingly into arms of Horbatchewskyj who outpaced his two defenders and placing down in the corner. Glossop now had a lead worth defending against the wind in the second half. It was just as the first period petered out however that a decisive moment came. A well chased kick by Wilkinson aided by the support play of Jordan forced the away side to concede a penalty. It may have been tempting for stand in skipper Andy Sales to kick for the corner hoping to pile on the points but he used all his experience to opt for a kick at goal. With the three points despatched this put Glossop three scores in front.
The second half was not a pretty affair as Glossop were pinned back inside their own half throughout. Countless penalties were being conceded by Glososop and a relentless stream of pressure poured in on the home teams defence. Winger, John Murphy was unlucky to bare the brunt of the referee’s frustration as he was sin binned for the teams persistent offending. With fourteen men the pressure did not ease. Number nine, Johnny Tennant, making his home debut harried his opposite number with huge effectiveness. Horbatchewskyj made an unbelievable hit on his own line to deny the Loughborough fly half from scoring and Sales marshalled the defence expertly. The doggedness which Glossop had shown meant Loughborough could not break through. With seven minutes left on the clock Borough worked the ball wide effectively leaving the winger to run in a nice try, which was thoroughly deserved. With Loughborough still needing a converted try, plus another score time was running out. The injection of fresh legs came in the shape of Danny Morris who made all the difference making a superb covering tackle in the dying moments.
This was by no means a classic, which had a lot to do with the conditions, but two points keep Glossop firmly on track for a fifth place finish. Coach, Adam Waters, was pleased with the determination of the Glossop players, but realises next weeks fixture away at Lincoln will require more ambition in attacking areas.
After two rather disappointing games, albeit against strong opposition, Glossop needed to respond by doing the double over fourth placed Loughborough. The strong wind was in Glossop’s favour in the first half and they need to capitalise on this distinct advantage. After a positive opening period of play by the home side a good break by outside centre Pickerell opened up the Loughborough defence; his offload found Thompson on the rampage who battered over with the aid of Tamplin to open the scoring. With the conversion made the momentum was with Glossop. The points tally was added to within minutes. A series of fierce rucks put Glossop on the opposition try line, with the defence set young scrumhalf Chris Sonczack popped the ball up to the rapidly approaching Shirt who bludgeoned his way through three defenders to score.
Loughborough rallied well and pushed Glossop back into their own half. Penalty after penalty was being conceded by Glossop and it was not long before the Leicestershire side got their first scoring opportunity. They were probing well with a solid rolling maul as the play broke a dart for the line was repelled superbly by Howard’s try saving tackle, holding the ball up over the line. In the second wave of attack Loughborough were not to be denied. With the maul working well again they forced their way over to touch down and bring the score to 12-5.
Glossop responded well to this setback by battering their way up field. This sustained onslaught from the Glossop forwards resulted in a wild clearance kick by Loughborough’s fullback. The ball fell invitingly into arms of Horbatchewskyj who outpaced his two defenders and placing down in the corner. Glossop now had a lead worth defending against the wind in the second half. It was just as the first period petered out however that a decisive moment came. A well chased kick by Wilkinson aided by the support play of Jordan forced the away side to concede a penalty. It may have been tempting for stand in skipper Andy Sales to kick for the corner hoping to pile on the points but he used all his experience to opt for a kick at goal. With the three points despatched this put Glossop three scores in front.
The second half was not a pretty affair as Glossop were pinned back inside their own half throughout. Countless penalties were being conceded by Glososop and a relentless stream of pressure poured in on the home teams defence. Winger, John Murphy was unlucky to bare the brunt of the referee’s frustration as he was sin binned for the teams persistent offending. With fourteen men the pressure did not ease. Number nine, Johnny Tennant, making his home debut harried his opposite number with huge effectiveness. Horbatchewskyj made an unbelievable hit on his own line to deny the Loughborough fly half from scoring and Sales marshalled the defence expertly. The doggedness which Glossop had shown meant Loughborough could not break through. With seven minutes left on the clock Borough worked the ball wide effectively leaving the winger to run in a nice try, which was thoroughly deserved. With Loughborough still needing a converted try, plus another score time was running out. The injection of fresh legs came in the shape of Danny Morris who made all the difference making a superb covering tackle in the dying moments.
This was by no means a classic, which had a lot to do with the conditions, but two points keep Glossop firmly on track for a fifth place finish. Coach, Adam Waters, was pleased with the determination of the Glossop players, but realises next weeks fixture away at Lincoln will require more ambition in attacking areas.