Match Report
Match reports 2008/9: 1st XV | Stacks | Gnus
2nd Team Match Report - 27th September 2008
Score: 21 - 14
The Stacks were away to Bancroft 2's in this friendly encounter. On a hot afternoon and facing a rather large Bancroft Pack, the Stacks set out their stall early on.
From the start the mobile Stacks attacked all across the field with Full back Alfie Webster creating havoc through the Bancroft back line. The Stacks were unfortunate to not go in front, from a good move by the forwards, Skipper Horton charged through a gap to set up fly half Liam O'Connor who quickly played the ball to Full back Webster. Alfie eased up the pitch and was supported by the impressive Nick Edwards, who punched inside the Bancroft 22 on route to the line, Nick was tackled but was able to get the ball to scrum half Gary Desmond who drove up to the line before passing it back to Nick to score. The ref judged the pass forward (wasn't) and the game remained all square.
Bancroft started to keep the ball in their big forwards and it was due to this tactic that from a penalty and subsequent line-out, they were able to drive the Stacks over, with the Try converted, the Stacks were 7 - 0 down. Alfie made 4 or 5 decent runs before being lost with a bad shoulder, young full back Steve Hassan set into the full back slot with ease and the growing maturity that as been increasing every week.
Bancroft again punished the Stacks with another drive from a penalty and with the try converted, the Stacks arrived at half time 14 - 0 down. After the break and a pep talk from Skipper Horton, the Stacks tore into the Bancroft team, not letting Bancroft out of their own half for a good 25 mins. Centres Simon Rose and (MOM) Chay were creating holes right through, but some how the Stacks could not quite get the final ball away.
In the Forwards, the Young props Luke Lanza and "I love a tattoo" Stavros ably supported by Hooker Rob Miles were all around the pitch, with the impressive George and "I'll run and tackle til i die" Tony Wheeler attacking the bigger Bancroft forwards with gusto. In fact, the tackle of the day went to Chay, who put the biggest bloke on the pitch out of the game with a crunching tackle. Must also mention the 3 dump tackles one after another by Liam O'Connor, Tony Wheeler and Sparky Mailes, quality fella's.
It was with this and totally against the run of play that the Stacks conceded the next try, clearing their 22 and hoofing long, they charged down the pitch and was able to make the most of a decent bounce to collect and score 21 - 0. The Stacks did not get down and Nick Edwards (though injured) and Skinner let it be known that we could still do it. The Stacks started to attack again and from a move which saw all the forwards and backs combine to put Sparky Mailes over. Converted by Gary, 21 - 7.
Young sub Piggy Nash on for injured Nick Edwards was unlucky with a chance and was tackled just short which caused him to knock on. The Stacks pressed up to the final whistle and refused to give up. With 5 mins to go the Stacks were camped all over the Bancroft 22 and they were committing penalty after penalty, with the last play of the day, scrum half Gary Desmond tapped and drove over to bring another deserved try for the Stacks pack. With the Score converted by Steve Hassan, the game ended 22 - 14 in favour of Bancroft.
Skipper Hortons final comments were: "We played well against a bigger pack and a team a league above us in the Merit table. Impressive performances all round when you consider we played with a couple of injured players, Stacks were lucky to finish with a full compliment, well done boys".
Stacks were: Luke Lanza, Rob Miles, Stavos, Skinner, George, Tony Wheeler, Dan Horton, Nick Edwards, Gary Desmond, Liam O'connor, John Mailes Simon Rose, Chay, Craig Nash, Alfie Webster, Steve Hassan & Piggy Nash.
Man of the Match: Simon Rose
