Frustrating draw for Littleborough
LITTLEBOROUGH were held to a frustrating draw against De La Salle at Rakewood despite looking in a commanding position to win the game at one point.
For the second weekend running, the game was played in constant rain, making the ball difficult to handle.
Boro made a bright start to the game, kicking into the visitors’ 25 metres zone where good running from the hme forwards and Josh Park in particular – back in his preferred position of Number 8 – turned the pressure up. This was followed soon after with an excellent kick to touch, close on visitors’ 10 metres line.
The opening exchanges were played out almost exclusively in the opposition’s half, where the visitors did well to put up a good defence in resisting the home team.
Boro were having plenty of ball, allowing centre Jack Whittles to show his attacking ability with a strong run.
But after a quarter of an hour the visitors got hold of the ball and started to show their attacking ability.
Boro came back again with strong running from second row Stuart Bairstow, followed by a quick take of a penalty from scrum half Chris Park.
Further attacking runs with ball in hand saw Boro’s Josh Park, backed up by George Roberts, followed on again by Stuart Bairstow.
But great defending by visitors kept Boro on their toes with strong tackling.
Boro’s captain, Andy Walton once again kept Boro going forward with accurate kicks to touch and Ben Irving quick to drop on loose ball to keep possession.
Again Boro attacking in opposition 22 metres area, when all of a sudden captain Andy Walton made a brilliant dummy pass then quickly ran forward to touch down for the game’s opening try, tremendous, especially as Roberts followed with a conversion to put Boro seven in the lead.
The game was now 25 minutes old and the visitors were prompted to raise their game and mount several attacking moves where Boro were now under pressure and once again Josh Park in evidence, this time with great tackling, also good defensive kick to touch by Walton.
The visitors kept up their pressure on Boro’s tryline where the home forwards gallantly showed great defence but after a period of constant pressure, eventually the visitors did succeed in crossing the line. The conversion was missed, making the half time score 7-5 to Boro.
The start of the second half saw strong lineout defence by Boro’s Jacob Castree, then not long into the half Walton sent a brilliant long pass out along his threequarter line where fullback Nathan Coop, having joined the threequarters, gathered and crossed the line for Boro’s second try to increase their lead.
The conversion was missed, but this surely was to be Boro’s day having increased their lead by seven points and their forwards still performing well with further attacking run by Ben Irving.
Boro introduced their reserve players, Dominic Kershaw, Josh Jones and – new to the team – Senior Colts player Matthew McCormic who showed great potential.
But the visitors refused to buckle. Boro’s Matthew Goldthorpe was seen making a terrific tackle and after more defensive work by Boro the bubble burst for them as the visitors crossed the tryline once more and this time also converted to level the scoreline.
Near the end of the match one more potential chance for Boro came as the referee awarded them a penalty, quite a long distance out. Chris Park made a great attempt to convert but it was not to be and what earlier looked like a home win for Boro ended in a draw.
It must be said Boro,s forwards played a strong game and the likes of Josh Park particularly, Stuart Bairstow, Ben Irving and Sam Dickinson are to be congratulated, along with man of the match captain Andy Walton for his spectacular first half try, his passing skills and clever forward kicks.