27/08/2008 Thatto Heath Crusaders 32-10 Rochdale Mayfield
August 27th, 200827/08/2008 Thatto Heath Crusaders ARLFC 32-10 Rochdale Mayfield
Well things didn’t go to plan right from the start when the coach was late turning up? Everyone piled on as quickly as they could and heading down the M62 someone asked “where’s the chairman?” The coach had set off while Barry Edwards was locking up the clubhouse and left him stranded! Bad Omen!!!
On arrival Thatto Heath’s new clubhouse and facilities looked as though they lacked for anything…….except FLOODLIGHTS?
With the grey clouds overhead it was obvious light would be something of a problem in the second half, but it is the same for both teams I suppose, however I reckon the recent crash diet of carrots served the Crusaders well?
Kick off was just after 7.00pm and within the first couple of minutes Mayfield had been awarded two penalties to get them moving towards the Thatto line. Five minutes in saw some crisp passing from right to left starting with Todd O’Brien finding Eric Johnson then on to John Petty and finishing in Carl Abraham’s hands who just fell short under some desperate Crusader tackling. From the play the ball the direction was reversed back towards the right side stretching the Crusaders defence for Grant Bithel to nip in for the first score five metres from the corner flag. O’Brien’s conversion skidded just wide leaving the score at 0 – 4
A couple of minutes later a Steve Gartland cross field kick was just a tad too deep and collected by Crusaders No 2 Mike Woods to scamper clear of the onrushing chasers.
On 10 minutes Thatto No10 Geoff Williams broke free and charged for the line only to be thwarted by a great tackle, however Mayfield were penalised for laying on too long after the tackle and from the restart Kieron Maddocks got the ball quickly to No7 James Hitchmough who slipped another pass on to No8 Martin Horton who whipped a no-look pass on to the charging Geoff Williams for a very impressive try at the side of the left upright. No 6 Andy Stott made no mistake to take the score to 6 – 4.
Both teams had chances in the next 10 minutes or so, but some indifferent handling by both sides with missed passes and knock ons kept the scoreboard the same!
In the 23rd minute Thatto No 5 Darren Woods was hauled down inches from the line and a quick play the ball attempt was blocked by Todd O’Brien who collared the dummy half and slung him into touch.
On 29 minutes an attempted kick was charged down by Steve Gartland who had an open field in front of him, but the ref blew for a Mayfield scrum instead of allowing advantage?
Young Simon Moore made a great run brushing several defenders aside and made good ground, but yet again by the third play Mayfield lost possession of the ball.
On 32 minutes Thatto scrum half Hitchmough put in a canny grubber towards the Mayfield sticks but a last ditch dive by Gartland saved a certain try putting his body on the line?
However barely a couple of minutes later the Crusaders pressure told when Andy Scott put in a measured cross field kick collected on the fly by No5 Darren Woods who fired it on to Mike Woods for a well taken try in the corner. From out wide Stott was unable to make the distance 10 – 4
In the dying minute of the half Grant Bithel intercepted a pass and streaked off down field as far as the Thatto 20 metre line, but again bad handling from the play the ball saw the ball go to ground for a knock on which was enough to bring half time!
With just a five minute turnaround due to the obvious failing light the second half proceeded in much in the vein of the first half with some sloppy handling in the Mayfield ranks. Thatto seemed much more confident and on 45 minutes some impressive approach play saw them making good yards when fullback Shaun Quin broke through two flimsy Mayfield tackles for a try 15 metre in. Stott converted to make the score 16 – 4
Thatto had Mayfield on the ropes and just five minutes later Hitchmough slipped yet another grubber through the defence, missed by two Mayfield defenders but not by No12 Mark Beech. Stott missed the two pointer. 20 – 4
Mayfield had chance to reply a minute after the restart when a Gartland kick was hoofed dead by a Thatto defender with a couple of Mayfield lads hot on his tail. From the kick under the post Mayfield took it forward only to lose it yet again on the second play!!!
60 minutes saw Jamie Hill find Kieron Maddocks out wide to race in at the right hand corner. Stott again failed to convert 24 – 4
In the 64th minute Andy Reid blasted through scattering a couple of tacklers in his wake to finally be dropped 15 metres out. Eric Johnson scampering in between defenders from dummy half to reduce the deficit some and Todd O’Brien adding the two 24 – 10
74 minutes Mayfield gave away a penalty right in front of the sticks for offside and Stott opted to slow down the play and took the two points on offer. 26 – 10
Mayfield’s last chance at scoring came when Ian Sampson robbed the ball from a sloppy Thatto play the ball, but yet once more possession was almost immediately coughed up back to the Crusaders?
The final act came in the gloom of the 77th minute when Mike Woods broke with what looked a pretty obvious forward pass but with Quin in support played to the whistle that didn’t come and Quin got his second of the evening. In a final flourish Stott stroked over the conversion to make the final score 32 – 10.
With a few of the normal 1st team players absent Mayfield looked pretty jaded and lacklustre. Their completion rate was poor, handling and passing not much better for long periods of the game. This takes nothing away from Thatto Heath Crusaders who have a set of big lads willing to do the hard yards and some quick lads in the centre and on the wing. They worked hard for their win and I feel they could upset one or two of the ‘fancied’ clubs this season in much the same way as Mayfield did last season?
Let’s just hope Mayfield have found their form when we play Thatto Heath at home?
Mayfield’s M.o.t.M. was Eric Johnson
Thatto’s M.o.t.M. was Geoff Williams
Coaches M.o.t.M. was Shaun Quin
1 Steve Gartland 2 Sean Snape 3 Jamie Knight 4 John Petty 5 Carl Abraham 6 Grant Bithel 7 Eric Johnson 8 Steve Wood (c) 9 Todd O’Brien 10 Andy Reid 11 Ben Heaton 12 Ben Clare 13 Ryan Douglas 14 Simon Moore 15 Ian Sampson 16 Danny Chrimes 17 Chris Brett