Street Twos Snatch Victory Out Of The Jaws Of Defeat.
Broadstreet IIs opened their new season’s campaign against ‘Auld’ adversaries from across the Warwickshire/Leicestershire border, Hinckley RFC, in what will be a tough campaign in the re-structured Midlands Reserve League. Broadstreet IIs struggled last season to find a level for their 2nd XV and as a result did not play many games, but it is hoped that entry into the top tier of 2nd XV rugby, across the WHOLE Midlands region, will ensure regular and competitive fixtures which have been lacking for the past five years. Hinckley RFC were a regular fixture for us throughout those years and their decision to join the same league shows how high the standard will be throughout the season.
After a summer of recruiting back our own players from elsewhere, as well as some of the young talent from around the city, Broadstreet were able to field a strong squad of nineteen which comprised fourteen ‘Street M&Js players, one ex-Coventry University student, who forgot to evacuate the city, two lads from Barkers’ Butts hoping to play 1st XV Rugby and two Henley College youngsters. Despite the inclusion of Captain Mr Greedy, Jamie Dodd and GDB Luke Truslove who all had the audacity to be over twenty-five, the average age of the whole squad was just twenty-one years old (twelve of the nineteen players being teenagers)!!
Starting:
Replacements:
Jamie DoddLuke Truslove
Hinckley had a more experienced, heavier pack which was marshalled well by Captain and Number 8 Huw Marsden who, along with the stocky/vocal 6, was a real handful throughout the game. From the kick off Broadstreet struggled to get out of their own half, retain the ball for multiple phases or execute any exit strategies which would relieve the pressure and so spent the first 25 minutes of the game defending in their own half. Despite the rustiness which was evident when we had the ball, ‘Street showed a commitment and enthusiasm in defence which made up for the lack of cohesion which would obviously be evident in the first game of a new season. However, it was from this period of sustained pressure by Hinckley that Broadstreet scored their first Try, Centre Paddy Hughes latching onto a cross-field clearance kick from Full Back Lightowler which had bounced behind Hinckley’s flat defensive line. His collection of the bouncing ball left him with a sixty metre sprint to the line, but with the Hinckley backs hot on his heels his courage failed him and with thirty metres to go he began frantically looking around for support. Luckily for him, centre partner Adam Tyrrell was on hand, the baton was passed and Tyrrell was able to canter under the posts for the games opening try. Unfortunately, the ball fell over just as George Curtis (son of former player/wrecking ball Mick Curtis) struck the ball and the kickable conversion was understandably missed. Broadstreet 5-0 Hinckley.
Hinckley finally capitalised on their territory and possession to level the scores before Broadstreet took the lead again. This time, retaining possession, the young mobile ‘Street pack began carrying the ball wider and at pace rather than close to the breakdown where the Hinckley forwards were stopping them making any headway. Gathering momentum they pushed into the opponents half with a number of carries wide off the scrum half, before Jamie Dodd switched the ball back in field fifteen metres to the two front row lumps trucking up the middle of the pitch in the Fly-Half channel. Expecting powerhouse prop Adam Carey to smash it up, the Hinckley inside backs were caught out as he tipped the ball on to Hooker Luke Truslove to give him a free run on the Outside Centre, he however, against all his better instincts, provided a cut back pass to Lee Lightowler. Left with only a Winger to beat and his own unused full complement of backs outside him, Ratty drew the last defender and fed Adam Tyrrell who raced in from thirty metres to score a well worked try. Broadstreet 12-5 Hinckley.
Understandably frustrated by their dominance in territory, but with only five points to show for their efforts, Hinckley once more pressurised the Broadstreet half in the dying minutes of the first half. A well worked move from the base of a ruck and a complete lack of a clue in the Broadstreet 10/12 channel, meant that the Hinckley centre was able to ghost through the middle and under the posts completely untouched.
HT Broadstreet 12-12 Hinckley.
Broadstreet seemed a different team after the break, with the young pack making a number of incisive breaks - Sam McNulty and Tom Price were frequently a threat carrying the ball. With Broadstreet’s pressure beginning to tell, Hinckley conceded a number of penalties at the breakdown and Captain Mr Greedy maintained the pressure by opting to kick to the corner. Having had a hit’n’miss game trying to emulate the complicated 1st XV lineout calls for the match, Luke Truslove linked up with Broadstreet’s leaping lineout limaciform Connor Burnett and the pack trundled towards the try-line. But, after being halted short of the line and with a lot of the ‘Street pack tied up in the breakdown, they were in need of some individual brilliance to get them over the Hinckley try-line. Up stepped Matt Thrippleton…. never have I seen someone in so much pain as Matt Thrippleton during pre-season fitness…. Starting the game only because his mate Kamrun Bains could’t tell the time…. He was not expecting this, nevertheless he gathered the ball from the base of the ruck, bouldered past two Hinckley defenders and carried another over the Try-line on his back, great effort from the boy who has been out in the Rugby wilderness for two years (out the game, not roaming the local countryside). When asked later about his try on his return to the club he replied: “Took about 2 steps forward and fell over”. Broadstreet 17-12 Hinckley
Winning with about 10 minutes to go, Broadstreet knew they had to tighten up their game as the intensity increased and both sides started loosening their handbag straps as the likelihood of them being utilised increased. Unfortunately ‘Street loosened too much and their pockets were picked with almost the same move that cost them in the first half. The Hinckley centre, obviously able to pick a decent line, caused back rows Mr Greedy and Lewis Kavanagh to be unsure who was going where and the Hinckley player scythed through the ‘Street defence once more to score again under the posts untouched. Broadstreet 17 – 19 Hinckley.
With the game clock ticking down ‘Street became frantic in trying to get the ball back, Ratty in particular began a tirade of bone-crunching tackles whilst Sam McNulty was over the ball in nearly every ruck. Unfortunately for him he did not have Richie McCaw’s All Black jersey on and what could have been deemed World Class ‘Tackle and Jackal’ was instead deemed illegal and Broadstreet were penalised twice that had them defending their own line instead. With Hinckley pressurising the Broadstreet pack all afternoon, the home side winning a scrum on their own five metre did not necessarily alleviate the pressure and even with secure ball ‘Street were still a long way from where they needed to be. However, as the article headline suggests, all ended well as Number 8 and Captain Mr Greedy explains: “A moment of spark and vision from our 8 when he picked up from a scrum on our own try-line and headed straight at their fly-half, he then kicked into space to open up our backs allowing a formidable back line to get to work on the turn over forcing the penalty, quickly taken by the 9 and offloading to the safe as houses Ratty to see in the winning try”
Hopefully trying to claim the credit for a match winning try with which he had little to do with, will not become a feature of his leadership throughout the season, however I have a strong inkling that it might just!
In reality the try was much more special than Mr Greedy’s fantastic imagination, starting with the scrum on our own line, Mr Greedy picked up from the base and headed up the field and, just before encountering a tackle, the Captain lashed wildly at the ball which skewed off his boot towards the touch line. The Hinckley winger caught it but was wrapped up by the Street back line who attempted to force a turnover, instead being rewarded with a penalty. A quick thinking tap from Jamie Dodd fed the Desert Rat at full pace on his own forty metre line and he hot-footed it around the Hinckley defenders nearest to him before opening up and heading into open ground. With the afterburners on, he weaved in between two covering tacklers, giving one a big fend to hold him off and continued on his way with just two more players left to beat. He gave one more strong hand off to break away from one before beating the final defender with another burst of acceleration which took him all the way home for the match winning try….which he also converted.
FT Broadstreet 24 – 19 Hinckley.
MotM – Lee ‘Desert Rat’ Lightowler – no explanation needed.
DotD – The 75% of the team who turned up more than twenty minutes after the meet time, Kamrun Bains in particular, who lost his starting place because he can’t tell the time.
Next match away at Newport (Salop) feel free to come lend your support!
Broadstreet IIs 24 – 19 Hinckley IIs
Broadstreet IIs opened their new season’s campaign against “Auld” adversaries from across the border, Hinckley RFC, in what will be a tough campaign in the re-structured Midlands Reserve League. Broadstreet IIs struggled last season to find a level for their 2ndXV and as a result did not play many games but it is hoped that entry into the top tier of 2ndXV rugby, across the WHOLE Midlands region, will ensure regular and competitive fixtures which have been lacking for the past 5 years. Hinckley RFC were a regular fixture for us through out those years and their decision to join the same league shows how high the standard will be throughout the season.
After a summer of recruiting back our own players from elsewhere, as well as some of the young talent from around the city, Broadstreet were able to field a strong squad of 19 which comprised 14 ‘Street M&Js players, 1 Ex-Coventry University Student who forgot to evacuate the city, 2 lads from Barkers hoping to play 1stXV Rugby and 2 Henley College youngsters. Despite the inclusion of Captain Chris Dodd, his brother Jamie and GDB Luke Truslove who all had the audacity to be over 25, the average age of the whole squad was just 21 years old (12 of the 19 players still teenagers)!!
1) Adam Carey – Henley College/Bangor University
2) Luke Truslove – M&J
3) Matt Thrippleton – M&J
4) Connor Burnett – M&J
5) Josh “Shapes” Lewis – Ex- Coventry Uni (still lost)
6) Tom Price – Henley College
7) Sam McNulty – Barkers Butts
8) Chris Dodd – M&J
9) Jamie Dodd – M&J
10) George Curtis – Barkers Butts
11) Scott Truslove – M&J
12) Adam Tyrrell – M&J
13) Paddy Hughes – M&J
14) Sam Hirons – M&J
15) Lee “Desert Rat” Lighthowler – M&J
16) Lewis Kavanagh – M&J
17) Jack Barker – M&J
18) Kamrun Bains – M&J
19) Kyle Bonsor – M&J
Hinckleyhad a more experienced heavier pack which was marshalled well by Captain and Number 8 Huw Marsden who, along with the stocky/vocal 6, was a real handful throughout the game. From the kick off Broadstreet struggled to get out of their own half, retain the ball for multiple phases or execute any exit strategies which would relieve the pressure and so spent the first 25 minutes of the game defending in their own half. Despite the rustiness which was evident when we had the ball, ‘Street showed a commitment and enthusiasm in defence which made up for the lack of cohesion which would obviously be evident in the first game of a new season. However, it was from this period of sustained pressure by Hinckley that Broadstreet scored their first Try, Centre Paddy Hughes latching onto a cross-field clearance kick from Full Back Lighthowler which had bounced behind Hinckley’s flat defensive line. His collection of the bouncing ball left him with a 60 metre sprint to the line, but with the Hinckley backs hot on his heels his courage failed him and with 30 metres to go he began frantically looking around for support. Luckily for him, centre partner Adam Tyrrell was on hand, the baton was passed and Tyrrell was able to canter under the posts for the games opening try. Unfortunately, the ball fell over just as George Curtis (son of former player/wrecking ball Mick Curtis) struck the ball and the kickable conversion was understandably missed.
5-0
Hinckleyfinally capitalised on their territory and possession to level the scores before Broadstreet took the lead again. This time, retaining possession, the young mobile ‘Street pack began carrying the ball wider and at pace rather than close to the breakdown where the Hinckley forwards were stopping them making any headway. Gathering momentum they pushed into the opponents half with a number of carries wide off the scrum half, before Jamie Dodd switched the ball back in field 15 metres to the 2 front row lumps trucking up the middle of the pitch in the Fly-Half channel. Expecting powerhouse prop Adam Carey to smash it up, the Hinckley inside backs were caught out as he tipped the ball on to Hooker Luke Truslove to give him a free run on the Outside Centre, he however, against all his better instincts, provided a cut back pass to Lee Lighthowler. Left with only a Winger to beat and his own unused full compliment of backs outside him, Ratty drew the last defender and fed Adam Tyrrell who raced in from 30 metres to score a well worked try.
12-5
Understandably frustrated by their dominance in territory but with only 5 points to show for their efforts, Hinckley once more pressurised the Broadstreet half in the dying minutes of the 1stHalf. A well worked move from the base of a ruck and a complete lack of a clue in the Broadstreet 10/12 channel meant that the Hinckley centre was able to ghost through the middle and under the posts completely untouched.
HT 12-12
Broadstreet seemed a different team after the break with the young pack making a number of incisive breaks, Sam McNulty and Tom Price were regularly a threat carrying the ball. With Broadstreet’s pressure beginning to tell, Hinckley conceded a number of penalties at the breakdown and Captain Chris Dodd maintained the pressure by opting to kick to the corner. Having had a hit’n’miss game trying to emulate the complicated 1stXV lineout calls for the match, Luke Truslove linked up with Broadstreet’s leaping lineout limaciform Connor Burnett and the pack trundled towards the try-line. But, after being halted short of the line and with a lot of the ‘Street pack tied up in the breakdown, they were in need of some individual brilliance to get them over the Hinckley try-line. Up stepped Matt Thrippleton…. never have I seen someone in so much pain as Matt Thrippleton during pre-season fitness…. Starting the game only because his mate Kamrun Bains could’t tell the time…. He was not expecting this, nevertheless he gathered the ball from the base of the ruck, bouldered past two Hinckley defenders and carried another over the Try-line on his back, great effort from the boy who has been out in the Rugby wilderness for 2 years (out the game, not roaming the local countryside). When asked later about his try on his return to the club he replied:
“Took about 2 steps forward and fell over”
Broadstreet 17-12 Hinckley
Winning with about 10 minutes to go, Broadstreet knew they had to tighten up their game as the intensity increased and both sides started loosening their handbag straps as the likelihood of them being utilised increased. Unfortunately ‘Street loosened too much and their pockets were picked with almost the same move that cost them in the 1sthalf. The Hinckley centre, obviously able to pick a decent line, caused back rows Chris Dodd and Lewis Kavanagh to be unsure who was going where and the Hinckley player scythed through the ‘Street defence once more to score again under the posts untouched.
Broadstreet 17 – 19 Hinckley
With the game clock ticking down ‘Street became frantic in trying to get the ball back, Ratty in particular began a tirade of bone-crunching tackles whilst Sam McNulty was over the ball in nearly every ruck. Unfortunately for him he did not have Richie McCaw’s All Black jersey on and what could have been deemed World Class “Tackle and Jackal” was instead deemed illegal and Broadstreet were penalised twice which had them defending their own line instead. With Hinckley pressurising the Broadstreet pack all afternoon, the home side winning a scrum on their own 5 metre did not necessarily alleviate the pressure and even with secure ball ‘Street were still a long way from where they needed to be. However, as the article headline suggests, all ended well as Number 8 and captain Chris Dodd explains:
“A moment of spark and vision from our 8 when he picked up from a scrum on our own try-line and headed straight at their fly-half, he then kicked into space to open up our backs allowing a formidable back line to get to work on the turn over forcing the penalty, quickly taken by the 9 and offloading to the safe as houses Ratty to see in the winning try”
Hopefully trying to claim the credit for a match winning try with which he had little to do with will not become a feature of his leadership throughout the season, however I have a strong inkling that it might just!
In reality the try was much more special than Chris’s fantastic imagination, starting with the scrum on our own line, Doddy picked up from the base and headed up the field and, just before encountering a tackle, the Captain lashed wildly at the ball which skewed off his boot towards the touch line. The Hinckley winger caught it but was wrapped up by the Street back line who attempted to force a turnover, instead being rewarded with a penalty. A quick thinking tap from Jamie Dodd fed the Desert Rat at full pace on his own 40 metre line and he hot-footed it around the Hinckley defenders nearest to him before opening up and heading into open ground. With the afterburners on he weaved in between 2 covering tacklers giving one a big fend to hold him off and continued on his way with just 2 more players left to beat. He gave one more strong hand off to break away from one before beating the final defender with another burst of acceleration which took him all the way home for the match winning try….which he also converted.
FT – 24 -17
MotM – Lee “Desert Rat” Lighthowler – no explanation needed
DotD – The 75% of the team who turned up more than 20 minutes after the meet time, Kamrun Bains in particular who lost his starting place because he can’t tell the time.
Next match away at Newport feel free to come lend your support!
