Goole RUFC 1st XV 39 – 12 Hessle RUFC 1st XV

Goole entertained Hessle at Westfield Banks on Saturday, the visitors looking to build on their victory the previous week following a run of defeats that saw them close to the bottom of the league and Goole looking to continue their good form of late,
The game started at a frantic pace, both sides struggling to settle with several mistakes and aimless kicks until after ten minutes Neil Cawood crashed through some weak goal line defence to score an unconverted try following a tap penalty 8 metres out. For the next 20 minutes Goole had plenty of possession but poor accuracy saw chances go begging and it was Hessle who scored next, as poor defensive numbering up allowed the Hessle winger to break a weak tackle to score wide out from 25 metres.. Goole responded well and a rare visit deep into the visitor’s territory saw Rhys Moore break blind and find Chris Wood who showed impressive strength to score with 2 defenders in close attendance. Alan Neal added the touchline conversion for a 12 – 5 lead. As the half drew to a close Goole were denied a try following a 75 metre run by James Chantry having linked with Sam Atkinson, saw him adjudged to have been in touch whilst in the process of scoring. Goole ended the half with a Rhys Moore drop goal to lead 15 – 5 at the break.
Goole coaches urged greater control and precision during the break but the home side continued in the same vein and a charged down clearance saw a 5 metre scrum conceded which Hessle wheeled and pounced on the loose ball to score a converted try to close to within 3 points. Goole then endured a nervous ten minutes until they finally got into their stride, good forward work from a line out, Neil Cawood to the fore, saw the ball released to the backs who, despite some erratic passing saw James Chantry, now playing on the wing finish well with 3 defenders in close attendance to score an unconverted try. Soon afterwards the bonus point was secured, a clean break following a scrum 25 metres out saw Rhys Moore accelerate through a gap to out pace the cover to score an excellent individual try, converted by Alan Neal. Goole had now found the control they had been looking for and a midfield break by the excellent James Dougherty gave Goole good field position to allow Craig Fenton to hit a short pass to crash over, the conversion attempt hitting the post. Late in the game Eddie Newsum was denied following good build up play, his scoring attempt judged to be a double movement. Goole added their sixth and final try of the game following another long range sortie involving good drives but some more loos passes eventually halted by a scrambling Hessle defence just short of the line until the supporting Phil Neal dived over the breakdown to score from a metre out, Alan Neal adding the conversion for a stuttering 39 – 12 victory.
It took Goole the best part of an hour to find anything like their fluency of the previous week, but their ability to rack up the points whilst struggling to find their rhythm allied to this seasons knack of being able to close out games, sees them second in the league on their own.
Saturday sees a difficult looking away trip to Leeds Medics and Dentists who gave Goole a rugby lesson in the first half of their meeting at Westfield earlier in the season, but Goole have improved as a team since then and should relish the opportunity to right the wrongs of that previous meeting