Probs at Brods

Goole’s impressive unbeaten start to the season came to a disappointing end at Old Brodleians as they let a tight lead slip in the final ten minutes of the game under intense pressure from a series of 5m lineouts against the larger Brods forwards. As it turned out, they came away with two very well-deserved points from a try under the posts from the very last play of the game giving them a try bonus and a losing bonus point.
As expected, the home team started on the front foot with a grubber kick towards the Goole line that resulted in a goal line drop out and a later penalty for Goole for an illegal tackle that earned the Brod's player an early yellow card. With Goole now asking questions of the home team defence with some quality handling they were rewarded with a try out wide by Billy Walker after the ball was stolen at a mid-field breakdown by the impressive Connor Walker. The excellent conversion from the touchline by Rhys Moore giving Goole a deserved lead 0 – 7 after fifteen minutes of the match.
Goole at this stage of the game were looking pretty good and having the edge at the breakdown primarily due to the excellent work of Connor Walker who was outstanding throughout his time on the pitch. Goole also had the chance to extend their lead following two excellent midfield breaks by Harvey Blyth and then Sam Smith but with supporting wingers having a clear run to the try line, the final pass didn’t materialise, and the golden chances were lost.
Whilst the scrums up to this stage of the game had been pretty even, for some reason Goole went backwards at a rate of knots for two consecutive scrums where they conceded penalties allowing Brods to kick for position and an attacking lineout on the Goole 22. With another penalty conceded and now defending a 5m lineout, it was always going to be a challenge to prevent the score against the powerful Brods forwards and so it transpired with a home team try alongside the posts to level the game at 7 – 7 in the 29th minute.
Although Goole’s scrum stabilised, they were now finding it difficult to get out of their own half due to the pressure from the home team. In the end the pressure told after Goole gave away yet another midfield penalty allowing the lively Brod's scrum half to take a quick tap and offload to the support runners to put the winger in the corner for an unconverted try with just minutes left of the first half. 12 – 7.
From the restart Goole won a penalty and kicked inside the Brods 22 where a well caught lineout allowed Goole to apply their own pressure to the Brod's line. With two further penalties near the Brods line tapped and ran they were rewarded when Connor Walker went over for a try between the posts with Moore’s easy conversion giving Goole a hard fought 12 – 14 half time lead.
Following the second half Goole kick off they got off to a disappointing start when Matty Lill received a yellow card for a late tackle inside the first 30 seconds of the restart. Goole never recovered from this setback with Reece Almond now on to replace the injured Connor Walker they were unable to get out of their own half and starting to concede penalties. As with the previous week’s game against Crossleyans, this allowed the home team to kick for position and a series of 5m attacking lineouts. It was therefore no surprise when the home team scored from this position to recapture the lead 17 – 14.
With possession from the kick off Goole were rewarded with a kickable penalty but declined the opportunity in favour of a 5m line out and were rewarded with a try from Raymond Coates from the now familiar catch and drive. Another successful conversion from Moore giving Goole the lead once again 17 – 21.
As the game went into the final quarter it was very evenly matched across the board with Brods just edging the lineouts whilst Goole looked much more threatening in the backs. The key to opening each team’s defence was now linked to whoever gave penalties away and the opportunity to kick for position and ideally a 5m attacking line out. Goole had one such opportunity, but the line out was not straight allowing Brods to clear after Goole conceded a penalty at the scrum to enable Brods to work their way into Goole territory. The award of two more penalties in quick succession getting Brods on the charge with a line out in the Goole 22 followed by and a third penalty near the Goole line that, with no surprise to anyone, was once again kicked for an attacking 5m lineout. Coates was now off for treatment, so Cruickshanks returned, and Ollie Pearson came on the wing replacing George Bastow as the game restarted with a scrum to Brods near to the Goole line. With the backrow anticipating a pickup, Brods got the nudge and pushed Goole back with a converted try resulting and seven minutes left on the clock. 24 - 21
Just when you wanted possession or to pin the opposition back inside their own 22 from the restart, Goole let the home team off the hook with, for the first time in the game, a poor missed tackle in the backs allowed the Brods centre to run deep into Goole territory with Ollie Pearson saving Goole as he tackled the Brods ball receiver into touch deep near the Goole line. Whilst Goole won the line out the clearance kick still left Brods with a lineout just outside the Goole 22. Quality ball once again from the lineout for Brods had Goole on the back foot again and conceding yet another penalty that was, you’ve guessed it, kicked for a 5m line out as the home team looked to seal the game as the clock wound down. Against the odds, Goole won the overthrown lineout and cleared into midfield but with Brods now pressing hard they pushed Goole back forcing them to concede yet another penalty that was kicked for the predictable 5m line out. Quality possession and backs joining in the drive to the line got the forward momentum that resulted in a penalty try being awarded and a yellow card for Goole prop Blanchard. 31 – 21.
With just enough time on the clock to restart Goole kicked off and won a penalty at the breakdown allowing Rhys Moore to kick Goole into an attacking position in search for whatever bonus points they could get. With Chantry winning possession at the line out and fast hands along the backs the ball arrived with Sam Smith just outside the Brods 22 who then stepped outside and inside past four or five would be tacklers to run round and score under the posts. This late excellent try giving Goole two very well-earned bonus points.
In the end Goole’s impressive start to the season came to an end but the entire squad should be proud of themselves after giving the league leaders a real run for their money. Goole Captain Rhys Moore having an outstanding game at scrum half along with the accomplished Harvey Blyth at off half really puttin Goole on the front foot at every opportunity. In the end it was the penalty count that did them in a very similar rerun of the game last week against Crossleyans when penalties conceded gave the opposition the opportunity to kick for the corner and score tries that they could not manage in open play. Brods five tries coming from a grand total distance of approximately 30 metres. Clearly still a number of things to work on for this impressive group of players but nothing they are incapable of as they prepare for next week’s home game against new opponents Rochdale KO 3pm.