On Saturday we were playing our eighth game of the season away to local rivals Preston Grasshoppers after a week’s break. We had played them in the pre season at their ground and had won with a good performance but we were taking nothing for granted as they have had a good start to the campaign with five wins and only two losses and were lying fourth in the table. Always a difficult ground to go to playing on an artificial 4G pitch with a big crowd supporting them and a number of players who in the past have represented the Tigers.
Early exchanges were very physical and uncompromising with both defence putting in big hits cancelling each other out. We looked to play in their half and a penalty on eleven minutes gave us territory and posession in their twenty two. The ensuing line out was well controlled and driven by the forwards and saw hooker Jack Ellam touch down for our first try. Fly half Greg Smith added the conversion and we were 7-0 up. However a penalty three minutes later gave the home side the opportunity to attack deep in our half and a well worked passage of play saw the ball go wide for full back Sam Freeman to go over for their first score. He converted his own try and they had levelled the game 7-7 putting them right back in the game. Eight minutes later another indiscipline by the Tigers gave the home side another line out deep in our twenty two which they drove over with flanker Declan Norrington touching down. Full back Freeman added the conversion and Preston were deservedly 14-7 in the lead going into the last twenty minutes of the half to go.
We continued to test the home sides defences every time we had the ball but we made a number of mistakes which led to us giving posession away too easily. Despite this a patient build up of phases on their five metre line ended with tight head prop Danny Rylance crash over for our second try. Greg added the conversion and it was 14-14 with ten minutes of the half to go. Preston added another penalty on thirty five minutes and we went into half time 14-17 down with it all to do in the second half.
The home side started the second half well with another penalty for full back Freeman extending their lead to 14-20 after forty eight minutes and went further ahead eight minutes later with a converted try for winger Jacob Browne to give them a well deserved 14-27 lead with twenty minutes to go. We knew that we would have to dig deep, be patient and look to get back in the contest. We looked to add energy and momentum and this certainly came off the bench. Replacement hooker Adam Mallinson went over for our third try on sixty minutes after a multi phases attack. Greg converted and we were now back in the contest 21-27. Replacement prop Beltus Nonleh was punching big holes in the home sides defences every time he had the ball which gave us a great platform to attack from. Young replacement scrum half Mason Winterburn went through three tackles to touch down near the posts and replacement fly half Oli Glasse added the conversion to give us a one point lead ( 28-27) going into the last fifteen minutes.
We were now playing controlled disciplined rugby which had been absent in the first half . We had secured the bonus point but wanted to go on and finish the game on a high. A lovely passage of play and a build phases combining forwards and backs ended with No. 8 James Oliver touch down for our fifth converted try. The game ended 35-27 to the Tigers and the unbeaten run continuing. This was our hardest test so far and credit must go to Preston who pushed us all the way. Centre Harry Lewis was given man of the match for his overall performance but a big pat on the back for the whole squad who dug deep for this win.
Next Saturday we are at home to old rivals Fylde in another Lancashire derby. They have not started the season well but did win convincingly against Heath and it is always a hard game when we play each other so please come down to Park Lane and support your special Tigers team.
Cheers, Steve Hazz.
