Goole entertained Aireborough at Westfield on Saturday. There was a home debut for their their new shirt, kindly sponsored by Nationwide concrete flooring, Unite Union and Horizon Platforms. The shirt also features the logo of the Rhys Wilkinson Trust on the back, showing the clubs support of their former player and the trust set up in his name.
A new look forward pack with a new back row forced by injury, suspension and unavailability, saw winger Tom Brignall drafted in on the flank. The visitors started the brightest and early pressure on the Goole line tested the hosts defence. The game was only five minutes old when player coach Will Turnbull had to be replaced due to injury, captain Rhys Moore returning from injury from the bench earlier than anticipated. Aireborough kept up their the pressure and were rewarded with a try, their heavy pack creating space on the blind side to score an unconverted try 5-0. The early loss of the player coach seemed to have Goole rattled as they struggled to get a foothold in the game and fell further behind to a simple penalty to trail 8-0.
Goole started to settle and began to put together some phases and poor defending at a ruck allowed Kyle Hall to burst through the breakdown, draw the full back and release Steve Morris for a rare score, converted by Richard Barrass for 8-7. 2 minutes later and good continuity saw another break through the ruck, this time by George Marwood, was covered but the disruption caused allowed Richard Barrass to chip over the defensive line and regathering to score a try he converted himself for 14-8. On the stroke of half time a penalty close to the Aireborough line was passed behind the forward runners, a long pass by Rhys Moore was well caught by James Dougherty who straightened and passed to Danny Holt to score an unconverted try in the corner to lead 19-8 at the interval.
The visitors rallied and had another period of pressure, but the Goole defensive system was up to the task, Danny Holt producing a text book tackle to stop one promising backs move from the Leeds based outfit. Another excellent passage of play by Goole was only stopped short illegally and from the quickly taken penalty veteran Neil Cawood, making his season debut for the firsts, forced his way over for the bonus point try beside the posts, converted by Richard Barrass, 26-8. With 10 minutes remaining, several drives through the forwards, was again stopped illegally and George Marwood took the penalty quickly and squeezed over wide out. Richard Barrass added an excellent conversion for 33-6. Although well bested the visitors had the last say when a flowing move looked to have been stopped short but a good offload in the tackle saw them over in the corner for a converted consolation score.
A good team performance despite the early setbacks, all players fully contributing to a comprehensive win, Connor Walker and Tom Brignall were selected as men of the match after the game.
Saturday sees a trip to Bramley, with Goole looking to maintain presssure on local rivals Thornensians with a win, but Bramley always a difficult place to go. Kick off is 2.15 and all support is most welcome.