Cheshire 0 - 20 Lancashire
29 November 2015
Wilmslow RUFC
Report by Phil Hannah, University of Central Lancashire
Lancashire’s Under 18s rounded off their season with a fantastic win at Wilmslow in tough conditions for both sides.
First half tries from Josh Gow and Aaron Harris were added to by a second half score from Tom Carleton. Will Hunt kicked five points with the wind leading to other missed opportunities.
It was touch and go whether this match took place but a morning pitch inspection saw the surface fit to play.
In the end, high winds at kick-off time led to difficult conditions for both sides to contend with.
Lancashire started the brighter side, and piled on the pressure, leading to Cheshire being penalised at the break down after five minutes. Hunt continued his good form following the Yorkshire match and kicked the ball straight down the middle with the wind at his back for the first points of the day.
The game opened up a little, but Lancashire heaped more pressure on the Cheshire line. From a good line-out and some good driving play, Josh Gow applied the finish, taking it over the line for the first try on 12 minutes. Hunt narrowly missed the conversion attempt.
Lancashire had a firm hold on to the game with Cheshire struggling against the high winds, with the home side conceding a penalty just in front of the half way line. Hunt was unable to convert this one despite kicking with the wind advantage.
Frantic defence by Cheshire held firm, with Lancashire piling on the pressure, as the visiting side went for their second try, but a good running move on 34 minutes saw Harris score to finish off the best attacking play of the match, and with Hunt converting, the score was now 15-0 to Lancashire.
The second half stared with the wind speed getting higher, becoming almost unplayable.
After some good defending from Cheshire, Lancashire broke through once more, and with a great passing move they scored courtesy of a finish from Tom Carleton in the 46th minute. Hunt’s conversion attempt failed with the wind against him.
Cheshire upped the ante, realising that they had to play for pride, but Lancashire’s defence held firm.
Morgan Channel saw yellow and was sent to the sin bin after an indiscretion in the ruck, but with both sides knowing the outcome as time ran down, there were no more scores, and a satisfying end to the campaign from a Lancashire prespective.
Head coach Johnny Roddam said afterwards: “It was a good result for the lads in the first half and getting the lead at half time, and great defending in the second half.”
15 Tom Carleton, 14 Michael Forrest, 13 Sam Stott, 12 Will Hunt, 11 Kane McCurdy, 10 Ellis Whorlton-Jones, 9 Steven Davolls; 1 Josh Gow, 2 Harry Robb (Captain), 3 Matthew Woodward, 4 Nick Ashcroft, 5 Aaron Harris, 6 James Hesketh, 25 Jack Edwards, 8 Oliver Cuerden
Replacements: 16 Alex Lewis-Booth, 17 Morgan Channel, 18 Liam Kirkpatrick, 19 Tom Hughes, 20 Charlie Aylett, 21 Matthew Gallagher, 23 Jonathan Roberts
Scorers:
Tries: Gow, Harris, Carleton
Conversions: Hunt
Penalty Goals: Hunt