Close Away Defeat for 1st XV

Do not be deceived by the close score line. This was not a classic, but it could have been if the two quality teams had been allowed to battle it out without the contest deteriorating into a game of shambolic scrums and frustrating decisions that ultimately decided the outcome.

Goole started the game with a coach’s dream of a try as they went through numerous phases from receiving the ball from the kick off. Chantry made the first of many breaks to off load to Wood out wide. Some slick interpassing between Wood and winger Barrass saw the latter run under the posts for a converted try without the home team touching the ball.

What followed next was a coach’s nightmare as Goole were consistently penalised for a variety of offences that allowed the home team to put pressure on the hard working Goole defence. This brought them their first points with a successful penalty that was quickly followed by yet another penalty and a yellow card for Matty Lill for not rolling away in the tackle under the Goole posts. Grovians opted for a scrum based on their early dominance of the set piece so it was no surprise when they were awarded a penalty try to lead 10 – 7 after 12 minutes. This was a torrid time for Goole as they continued to be penalised and that allowed the home side to work their way into the Goole half and wait for another points scoring opportunity to present itself. They did not have to wait long, and the home side lead 13 – 7.

Grovians certainly dominated the scrum and the referee started a trend that continued throughout the entire match of penalising Goole at every scrum when the home side had the put-in.

Despite this, Goole were able to maintain possession for long periods as the half progressed, and they put pressure on the home team with some excellent teamwork and support play. Chantry and Taylor were again at the forefront of charges and it looked like Charlie Walton was celebrating his 21st birthday with a try as he crashed over to score. Unfortunately the referee apologised for not seeing the grounding and the 5-metre scrum was poor compensation for Goole. Couple that with two dropped balls on the Grovians try line and Goole could have been comfortably ahead.

However not to be dispirited they maintained the pressure and were rewarded when Taylor went over in the corner for a try that was superbly converted by Moore to give Goole the half time lead 13 -14.

HALF TIME: OLD GROVIANS 13 – 14 GOOLE

Goole started the 2nd half as they had the first with another superb passage of play as they moved the ball wide again to Barrass and then Holt who sliced through the Grovian defence. He was checked near the Grovian line but offloaded to the supporting Barrass to cross for his second try. 13 – 21.

Goole were now in the ascendancy and looking dangerous with the ball as Devenish, on for Harman, broke through from a line-out only to be stopped just short of the line. The ball was recycled and once again the referee judged that the ball was held up and another “try” was ruled out.

With the pressure mounting, Goole thought that they were about to score with fast hands moving the ball wide with an overlap just a couple of metres from the try line but the final try scoring pass was knocked down by the Grovians last defender. A certain yellow card and a penalty try was the outcome expected but for some inexplicable reason Goole were only awarded a 5 metre penalty, with no action against the offending defender. Not to be deterred, Goole continued to press and Sam Smith was stopped just short of the try line but Devenish picked up from the recycled ball to dive over for Goole’s bonus point fourth try, the conversion giving Goole a healthy 13 – 28 point lead after 16 mins of the second half.

The home side needed to respond and they did with a period of possession with their heavy forwards making ground into the Goole 22 as a result of a number of scrum related penalties conceded by Goole. It was from one scrum that Grovians got back into the game destroying the Goole pack to drive over for a converted try after 23 mins. 20 – 28.

Goole responded with another exciting passage of play with fast hands and offloads to support runners, however as they were threatening another score, a pass was intercepted by the home side fullback who ran 80m to score under the posts and bring the score to 27 – 28 with fourteen minutes of the match remaining.

From the restart Goole won a penalty when Chantry was blocked as he challenged for the ball and Rhys Moore stepped up to kick and important penalty to extend the lead to 27 -31.

Back came Grovians as their heavy forwards made headway into the Goole half and when they were awarded the put-in from a scrum under the posts there was only one expected outcome. A penalty resulted and then reset when they opted for another scrum with the inevitable penalty try to take the lead with just two minutes left to play. 34 – 31.

If that was bad enough for Goole, prop James Walton was sin-binned leaving Goole a player down in their efforts to score and rescue the game. Sadly this was beyond them as the scrum carnage continued but there was still time for them to be pulled up for a debatable forward pass when Beecher had a clear overlap in the last play of the game.

The loss was a disappointing outcome and did not reflect how well the team had played scoring three superb team tries and losing to an interception try and the outcome of three five metre scrums.

To say that they did not get the rub of the green is a massive understatement and the team should not feel too disappointed with the outcome as it is highly unlikely that they will encounter such a repeat series of events again.

Saturday sees them on home turf as they entertain West Park Leeds, whom they defeated in a good team performance away earlier in the season despite several of the squad attending a wedding.

A win could see them mathematically promoted if other results go their way. Kick off is at 3.00pm.