Mixed Tarleton team too strong for Colne
TARLETON faced Colne and Nelson RUFC First XV at Carr Lane on Saturday and had a chance to blood a few players from the squad who were down to play at home against Oldham for the seconds, who had cried off at 1pm.
They started with their chosen 15 though and it was Colne and Nelson who came out of the blocks faster and from an attacking line out they crashed over the Tarleton line to open the scoring and take a 7-0 lead.
Tarleton came back straight away with some good counter rucking gaining them possession and after building the phases it was left to Ellis McGovern to go over in the corner and a good conversion from the touchline by Aiden Miller levelled the scores.
Colne and Nelson threatened again and Tarleton gave away a needless penalty just outside their 22 and the 3 points was slotted to put Colne and Nelson back into the lead.
Tarleton then started to play the open rugby that has been their forte this season and a clearance kick from the Colne full-back was gathered by Will Fell deep in his own half, and exhibiting pace that seems to be improving week on week he took the ball back into the Colne 22 where he was stopped by a high tackle.
The penalty was taken quickly and the ball was slipped to the charging Jamal Cantwell who broke through to score.
Aiden Miller added the conversion and Tarleton were back in the lead at 14-10.
Tarleton then camped in Colne’s 22 for the next 10 minutes and another clearance kick was brought back by Fell who got the ball out of the tackle to the supporting Frasier Grieves who crossed the whitewash to score a good try.
Another try came just before half time from a good attacking lineout that saw quick ball going across the line and Will Fell running a good line went in under the posts, the conversion was good and at half-time Tarleton led 26-10.
A few changes were made at half time to blood some players at this level and from the re-start one of the changes paid off when Connor Monaghan tore through the Colne defence and offloaded to Tom Eckersley who went in to score.
At 33-10 Tarleton were coasting and despite Colne’s best efforts the tries kept coming, the next being a 40 yard sprint by Frasier Grieves to score between the sticks.
From the re-start the ball was caught by Lee Waddell who also made some good distance with a mazy run and as the Tarleton pack set up the ruck and drew in the Colne defence the ball was rapidly distributed across the back line and found its way to Alex Rigby to beat the last defender to score in the corner.
Colne didn’t stop trying to attack but they were trying to survive on scraps and big holes were beginning to appear in their defence.
The next try was again from the restart and Liam Thompson charged down the left wing and put a little dink kick over the on-rushing Colne defence, the ball bounced kindly and was taken at pace by Fell who went in to score again.
Another lineout on the Colne five metre line was gathered cleanly and the driving maul saw Waddell over for a good forward’s try.
The next try followed another break by Grieves ably supported by Jack Eckersley who was brought down just short of the line, but quick recycling of the ball saw Aiden Miller punch through the gap to score.
The final try to bring the final score to 71-10 came about from another attacking lineout and a good line run by George Cook almost saw him over the line but again he managed to pass the ball to Tom Crowe who is deadly from 2 yards and his try completed the game.
Despite a slow start this was a good team performance by Tarleton with a game played at pace that left Colne and Nelson chasing shadows at times.
Eight wins from eight games keeps them top of the league and they travel to Bury next Saturday with the aim of maintaining this form.
After the disappointment of not having a game this week the seconds will travel to Rochdale to see if they can keep the pressure on the top three.