On Saturday we were on the road playing old rivals Chester in the second game of the new season. A big, well drilled side that had a good start to the new campaign with a convincing win against Wharfedale the previous week. We were looking to build on last week’s great performance against Darlington MP and welcomed back hooker Jack Ellam from injury, and debuts for new boys Manu Shute on the wing and Mason Winterburn at scrum half.
It was a beautiful sunny day with a slight wind blowing down the artificial 4G pitch. Early exchanges were fierce with both teams looking to break down each other’s defences but unable to get through as the tackles and collisions were immense. A penalty for the Tigers on seven minutes was converted by fly half Ciaran Shone to give us a 3-0 lead. However Chester came back with a converted penalty of their own to level at 3-3 after eleven minutes.
We were playing good controlled rugby looking for possession and territory in their half, and a penalty on twenty two minutes gave us a line out ten metres out. A powerful drive by the forwards and a patient build up of phases saw hooker Luke Cole drive over for a try on his debut. Ciaran added the conversion and we were in the lead 10-3 going into the last quarter of the half.
Our set piece play was excellent with a solid scrum anchored by tight head prop Danny Rylance and an accurate line out lead by second row Bob Birtwell. This gave us the platform to launch our strike plays and we made a number of line breaks that took us deep into the opposition half. A lovely passage of play saw the ball moved wide right and was finished off by centre Harry Lewis, converted by Ciaran, and we went into the half time break with a 17-3 lead. A great half of rugby from the Tigers with a disciplined controlled performance.
The second half saw us playing with a slight wind at our backs but looking to keep Chester pinned down in their half. However a penalty after nine minutes gave them a line out deep into our twenty two. A well controlled catch and drive from their forwards was finished off by Harry Craven to give them their first try of the afternoon and back in the game at 17-8.
However we hit back nine minutes later with a second try for hooker Luke Cole after a powerful penalty catch and drive from the forwards. We were 22-8 up going into the last twenty minutes of the game and looking for a fourth and bonus point try. This was achieved in the sixty second minute when replacement prop Beltus Nonleh went over untouched after a lovely line break from the Tigers which took the play deep into Chester’s twenty two. Ciaran added the conversion and we had a commanding 29-8 lead going into the final quarter.
To their credit Chester came back strongly and a second try for Harry Craven after another powerful catch and drive from their forwards saw them reduce the lead to 29-13 and looking for a losing bonus point. However the Tigers held firm and another penalty from Ciaran on seventy two minutes saw us finish the game with a convincing 32-13 win and five points on the road.
An excellent performance from the whole squad. Special mention to new players Luke Cole and Harry Lewis who scored three tries between them, and fly half Ciaran Shone who added 12 points with the boot. Big second row Bob Birtwell was deservedly awarded star player after his immense contributions in the set piece and defensive sets.
Two five point wins from two games sees us at the top of the league, but we are taking nothing for granted as it is early days. Our next game is at home to Tynedale from the North East. They have started with a win and a loss, but as we know from past encounters this will be a big challenge and only a top performance will do, so please come down to Park Lane and get behind your special Tigers team.
Cheers, Steve Hazz.
