On Saturday the 21st of December we were at home to local rivals Sale FC in the last game before Xmas. A big day for the club with 400 sat down for their Xmas dinner and two teams who are well known to each other and looking for the bragging rights going into the new year. They had taken the points earlier in the season at their ground but we were confident that we could build on recent positive performances and take the win. Conditions on the day were poor with strong winds, driving rain and a muddy pitch. It was a special day for second row Connor James who was playing his 100th game for the club after fighting back from a serious injury eighteen months before. They played down the slope in the first half with the wind slightly behind them and started well building phases within our half. A penalty gave them a line out ten metres out which they drove over for the first score of the day and a 0-5 lead after just three minutes. Despite this we continued to take the game to Sale with good driving play from the forwards and direct running from the backs especially from captain Matt Riley who punched holes in their defence time after time. Unfortunately we were unable to put pressure into points as mistakes and unnecessary penalties enabled them to clear their lines and gain territory in our half. It is fair to say that both teams defended really well and it became a physical battle that would go down to who would make the most mistakes. In the 39th minute they looked to move the ball wide to the left wing but our right winger Rhys Henderson intercepted the pass and raced 40 metres to touch down in the top right hand corner. Fly half Warren Seales was unable to get the difficult conversion and we went into half time drawing 5-5. We started the second half well and were awarded a penalty in the 44th minute which Warren converted to put us 8-5 in the lead. We further extended this with another penalty shortly after to give us a 11-5 lead going into the last twenty minutes playing controlled rugby keeping Sale pinned down in their half which they found difficult to get out in the conditions. Another penalty after continued pressure put us further ahead 14-5 with fifteen minutes to go and looking to see the game out. Sale to their credit scored a lovely converted try down the right wing in the seventy first minute to put them right back in the game 14-12 with nine minutes to go. However we went on to get the victory and a well deserved four points and Sale a losing bonus point. This was a hard, physical uncompromising game between two equal sides with credit to both sets of players for a great game of rugby. We go into the Xmas break with a very pleasing two wins and a draw in December and an excellent twelve points from a possible fifteen. Our next game in the New Year is on the 11th January when we are away to Dings Crusaders who are just above us in the league where we are looking to build on recent excellent performances. The players now have a well deserved rest and recuperation period looking to come back stronger for the second half of the season. I wish you all a very merry Xmas and a happy new year and look forward to 2025.
Thanks, Steve Hazz.
