GLOSSOP WIN THE HALBRO PLATE FINAL‘It was good, wasn’t it?’
Glossop 3rd XV 18 – Wigan 4th XV 10
Saturday 3rd May 2008Glossop took to the field knowing that the Wigan 4th team this season were undefeated and hosted a number of ex-professionals and international players. Admittedly, they were ex-rugby league but this was still a daunting prospect. Having already gained promotion this year in the Miller Homes League Div5 East, Glossop thirds wanted to cap off a successful season coming through as underdogs and snatching victory from an otherwise flawless season for their opponents.
The game started at a frantic pace, with wave after wave of Wigan attack play. Glossop’s defence however stood firm and wouldn’t allow their opponents to break through. After finding their feet Glossop established where they could exploit Wigan and this was mainly in the forwards at the breakdown. Dogged play from the wing forwards, Gary Wilson and Paul Marsden along with the rest of the pack were too much for the lads seemingly used to league style phase play. The deadlock was broken after about fifteen minutes with a try from winger Charlie Hughes who managed to drive forward and wriggle over the line with a ball from the base of a solid scrum. Before the celebrations had died down however Wigan began pressing once more and about five minutes later managed to get a try of their own with a lovely flowing backs move which culminated in the outside centre touching down in the left corner. Wigan’s drift play was impressive at times however support from their forwards just wasn’t swift enough and Glossop won the ball back on numerous occasions. Wigan used to a powerful running game were required to kick and try and find fault with Glossop full back Karl Hart who to Wigan’s dismay was probably Glossop’s man of the match, showing composure, pace and ability in all areas of game play. A few minutes before half time another great drive forward from the pack set up Stanford who was having a great game at fly half to drive low and over the line. With this Glossop went into the break ten – five up, their heads held high and mentality that winning the final was a real prospect.
After the break Glossop found a rhythm they were comfortable with and despite Wigan running at them time and time again the Glossop defence was just too solid, Chris Snape and Stephen Percy in centre and prop Ian Marshall unrelenting throughout with some huge tackles. Not long into the half Glossop’s attack resulted in a penalty not far from the post and captain, Kev Swift, made the right decision to go for the three points which Stanford duly slotted over. Glossop were now more than a converted try ahead and pretty much in control of the game. The match was sealed about fifteen minutes from the end when the unstoppable force that is second row Adam Thompson barged his way over the line with three tacklers almost literally hanging off him. This was the icing on the cake, and even with the slight scare of Wigan pulling a try back in the last five minutes the game was won. Glossop third XV had achieved a victory of epic proportions and something the whole squad can be proud of for years to come.
By Robert Smith
Team Sheet: 1.Swift 2.Williamson 3.Marshall 4.Smith 5.Thompson 6.Wilson 7.Marsden 8.Littlewood 9.Alderdice 10.Stanford 11.Howarth 12.Percy 13.Snape 14.Hughes 15.HartSubs: 16.Gerard 17.Deacon 18.Gatsby 19.Jordan 20.Nobby
Additional squad members present: Rothery, Shiels, Reddington, Barth, Whiston, Ford