On Saturday we entertained old rivals Rossendale in our first pre-season friendly. The players had been working extremely hard in the six weeks of pre-season training leading up to this game and it was a chance for the whole squad to have a run out against real opposition.
Head coach Scott Barrow and assistant coach Tommy Taylor had recruited well in the close season and there were no fewer than 12 of the 15 new players on show, alongside the rest of the squad from last season and a number of younger players who had come up from the Colts.
The warm weather and the firm pitch provided the ideal platform for the fast, open rugby that the coaches had been working on throughout training. Rossendale, who had just come down from National Two North, brought a big experienced side led by ex-Premiership player Sam Bedlow, so a hard physical game was anticipated.
It was decided that the game would only last two thirty-minute periods because of the extreme conditions, so it was important to get a fast start and to get the players involved as soon as possible. The Tigers had over thirty players on show and they all had to get a good amount of playing time.
We started positively, taking the game to the opposition every time we had possession and from all areas of the field, and it wasn’t long before a lovely line break from centre Nathan Pope ended with a converted try for new scrum half Alex Davies. This was followed quickly by converted tries for second row Bob Birtwell and Jacob Tansey. Rossendale had no answer to the Tigers onslaught and further tries from new centre Harry Lewis and Nathan Pope saw us go into the break with a 33-0 lead.
The second period started much the same as the first, with points coming thick and fast and tries for Adam Mallinson, Ollie Cook and Tom Hesketh bringing the final score to 73-0 for the Tigers.
This was a great spectacle of open, fast rugby from the Tigers with the whole squad contributing, and a special mention to young hooker and ex Mini & Juniors player Oscar Geddis, who was voted player of the week by coach Tommy Taylor. A total of eleven tries, with Rossendale unable to break down the Tigers defence, bodes well for the season ahead.
Next Saturday we are away to old rivals Preston Grasshoppers looking to build on this great start. We know that this will be a much bigger test for the Tigers but confidence is high and we are looking forward to the challenge.
Steve Hazz
