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Written by Peter Collins
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Friday, 11 August 2006 |
New boys enjoy debuts as Tigers pip Wharfedale as lights fade in the idyllic dales
WHARFEDALE 26
SEDGLEY ARK 27
Pre-season friendly
PLAYED against the backdrop of a soft sun sinking against the rolling hills surrounding Grassington, Tim Fourie’s men got their first game of the new season under their belts, and an interesting one it was too.
Playing four, 20-minute periods, to allow both sides to chop and change, the Tigers looked dangerous when throwing the ball wide and solid when progressing down the middle, although set-pieces were predictably haphazard, particularly under the high ball from re-starts and at the lineouts.
However, with a second row that alternated between new boy Ed ‘Chuck’ Norris, Dave Livesey and returning junior product Joe Redfearn, it was always going to be difficult.
With the addition of Fijians Ledua Jope, Saula Roko and Ratu ‘Toobs’ Naulivu, there was always going to be an air of unpredictability about the side. All three are more than comfortable with the ball in hand, and Roko in particular appears to have speed to spare.
Up front latest signing Alex Bennett lived up to his hard earned reputation as a formidable ball carrier, with the flanker they call ‘Bosh’ blazing a trail from the base of the scrum, gaining the hard yards.
The lively home side, whose pre-game warm-up consisted of a high octane, no-holds-barred full contact session, managed to maintain a high tempo throughout.
Indeed, the Dalesmen took the lead on 19 minutes when they drove the ball towards the posts from a five-mere scrum and managed to barge over, the easy conversion giving them a 7-0 lead.
Within minutes the Tigers replied. After gaining possession shortly after the re-start the ball was worked downfield and from 20 metres out playmaker Phil Jones ran the diagonal from left to right, baffling the home defence with at least three dummy passes before ghosting over by the right corner flag. Unfortunately he was unable to add the conversion.
Four minutes later the Tigers grabbed the lead when an impressive passing move down the left touchline ended with Roko going over in the corner. Jones gain missed the kick but the visitors had a 7-10 lead.
Ten minutes into the second quarter an imposing carry by the rejuvenated Arno de Jager drew the defence before he offloaded inside to another debutant, Joe Knowles, who went in between the posts to give de Jager an easy two pointer.
The home side pulled another converted try back before a galloping drive down centre field by Ian Voortman created room for supporting runner Naulivu, and the South African’s outside pass to the Fijian saw him skip over in the corner to make it 14-22.
A few minutes later it was Voortman who took a pass on the fly, using his angled run to dissect the home defence for the Tigers’ fourth try.
Dominic Kohler made his first team debut for the Tigers at stand-off in the third period, as the club seeks to blood youngsters invited to join is academy set-up.
The Wigan-based student caught the eye playing for the junior colts last season and could follow the well trodden path through the club’s junior ranks as trod by Chris Wilkinson, Jamie and Tom Albinson, Gareth Roberts and Dave Livesey among others
The only score in the penultimate period was a converted try by Wharfdale, which made the score 21-27.
The final 20 minutes saw both sides begin to tire, with the Dalesmen exploiting gaps in the Tigers’ defence to clam a fourth try, unconverted, taking the score to 26-27.
Shortly afterwards a partial floodlight failure encouraged referee Lyr ApGeraint-Roberts to bring proceedings to a close, with both sets of players no doubt glad of an early reprieve and a chance to enjoy dusk sinking over the idyllic dales.
SEDGLEY PARK: de Jager, Roko, Craig, O’Hare, Knowles, Jones, Wilkinson, Gazzola, Roddam, Norris, Voortman, Naulivu, Newton, Jope, Roberts, Keys, Evans, Swart, Redfearn, Livesey, T. Albinson, Bennett, Kohler, Briers.
* The Tigers travel to Heywood Road, Sale, on Thursday, August 17 for another friendly against a Sharks’ XV, kick-off 7.30pm.
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