Bright Start To No Avail for 1st XV

For the second match running Goole squandered a comfortable lead to go down at high flying Rochdale after a dominant first half display. Their 0 – 16 half time lead being overhauled by the home side that scored 31 unanswered points to come out winners in a game Goole could have won after an excellent first half performance where they were the better team by some margin. Dominance at the breakdown once again being a major feature of the half.
After early midfield exchanges and a penalty miss by Goole, they opened the scoring when hooker Raymond Coates chased down a Rhys Moore kick from halfway tackling the Rochdale winger as he fielded, and then spilt the ball over the try line for Goole winger Matty Backhouse to touch down. The conversion was unsuccessful, but Goole had the lead and the start to the match that they wanted 0 – 5 after just seven minutes. The game then entered a quiet spell played in midfield with neither team creating any scoring opportunities or, indeed threatening the opponents try line as they effectively cancelled each other out. It was not until the 26th minutes that the next score came with Moore kicking a straightforward penalty for Goole after a high tackle and subsequent yellow card for the Rochdale defender. 0 – 8. With the midfield contest continuing it was Goole once again that broke the deadlock following another kick and chase that the home side never really dealt with simply kicking to temporarily clear as Goole ran the ball back with a charge by Jack Smith being followed with another by brother Sam. The recycled ball and a couple of phases later saw Matty Lill go over from close range for another unconverted try to take the score to 0 – 13 with five minutes of the half remaining. With possession from the kick off Moore once again kicked long with Goole winning possession from the resulting line out and finishing the half in the ascendancy with a penalty by Moore taking the half time score to 0 – 16 and Goole looking favourites to take away Rochdale’s unbeaten home record with a solid if not spectacular first half team performance.
A couple of changes for Goole with Connor Walker being replaced by Eddie Newsum and Louis Sugden replacing Jason Blanchard as Goole started where they left off in the first half with controlled possession in the Rochdale half and it was both a surprise and disappointment that they gifted Rochdale with a try from a scrum out wide on their own 22. A couple of dummy runners and a straight forward pass giving the home team player space that he exploited to maximum benefit as Goole’s three-quarter line disappeared allowing the ball carrier to run unopposed past half way before kicking deep to touch down under the Goole posts 7 – 16 with just 4 minutes of the half played. This was just the boost that Rochdale needed as they put their faith in their back line running the ball out from deep once again with Goole now defending a line out in their own 22. A stolen lineout allowed them to gain territory and turn down a kick at goal option before a fumble gave the home side the scrum put-in and another long range try from their lively backs. The ball carrier once again running some 40m before linking up with support that resulted in a converted try in the corner. 14 – 16 and game on as Goole looking somewhat deflated and shellshocked.
Then just when you needed a quality kick off and possession in the opposition half, the kick didn’t go ten, with Rochdale winning two quick penalties following a back peddling Goole scrum. A kick to the corner for a 5m attacking lineout and an impressive catch and drive that the referee considered was stopped illegally resulted in a penalty try and a yellow card for Chantry. 21 – 16 and Goole wondering what had hit them after conceding three converted tries in a twelve-minute period.
Neal was now off and replaced by Charlie Walton making his first appearance of the season after injury as Goole came back strongly with possession in the Rochdale 22 looking to respond to the enlivened home team. One long range kick at goal was turned down and was quickly followed by another opportunity, this time in front of the posts as they endeavoured to recapture the lead that they held for so long in the game. Plenty of huff and puff but no points as Rochdale cleared their lines with a goal line dropout despite now also being a player short after a yellow card. Goole’s cause was not helped by a scrum that was now inexplicably under pressure and conceding penalties to allow the home team to kick deep into the Goole half with the assistance of a few kindly bounces of the ball. Rochdale extended their lead to 24 – 16 with a straightforward penalty after gaining ground from a scrum penalty with Goole now up against it as the clock wound down. Just time enough for one more scrum penalty to Rochdale followed by a basic catch and drive against a dejected looking Goole team bringing the final score to a flattering 31 – 16 and smiles all round for the Rochdale supporters and players.
All in all, this was a very disappointing second half performance from Goole who at times looked unrecognisable from what we have come to expect this season with the 31 unanswered second half points conceded being a record you would have to go back many years to beat. On the positive side, the first half performance against a quality side like Rochdale was excellent, and with two home games to look forward to, they now have the opportunity to get back on track with a couple of victories.