Colts v Ryton (A)

Penrith v Ryton (A)

Another away-day in the North East for the lads on a bright and summers like day. Ryton sits mid-table in the league and had the potential to cause us an upset playing at home. Having played three very good teams in recent weeks our aim was to try and keep that momentum going.

However, we made the game very hard work for ourselves. The score looks like, “job done” but in reality, it was a scrappy game peppered with flashes of individual flair. The referee had his share of that burden with some questionable decisions along with a high penalty count against us. Our set pieces were reasonably assured and defensively we were sound. Most of the game was played in Ryton’s half but with little cohesion. Early in the second half Ryton went down to 14 with a red card shown for a head-butt. With no spare players available Ryton began to tire as we ran in a total of seven tries to one, final score 7 - 41

We started the game on the front foot pressing deep into the home sides half to test what turned out to be a good defence in the first half. Occasionally they broke-out from either deep clearing kicks or penalties conceded. We weren’t reading the game very well or playing with any clear structure. Our line-speed in the three-quarters was slow and we rarely strung together more than a couple of rucks. Our frustrations continued until the 28th minute. Ryton had a scrum on our 10m line, as the ball bobbled out scrum-half, Hugh Burne was quick to react tacking his opposite number. From the ruck, the ball went right to find right wing Dylan Cowperthwaite at pace. He broke the initial defence to go over into the corner, but looking for the easier kick option he frustratingly broke more tackles before grounding the ball closer to the posts. Inside centre, Ed Smith converted, 0 – 7.

From the re-start, Ryton managed too string some good phases and worked their way downfield as far as our 5m line. When the ball went out wide it was fumbled and immediately jumped on by fly-half, Fraser Nicolson, he made good ground up onto the halfway. Good support and offloads in the tackle took us centrally down the pitch as far as the 22m. We had a quick ball from the ruck that went out right to release centre, Joe Robinson on an angled run into the corner for the last score and play of the half.

The second half started with a bang for all the wrong reasons. Just three minutes in Ryton’s left wing made a darting run down the touchline but was thwarted with a diving tackle from scrum-half, Tom Kirk. Back on their feet the winger then head-butted Tom in the face in full view of the referee who had no option but to show the red card. We scored almost immediately after with a lovely cross-field kick by Fraser chased down by Dylan on the right. With the ball gathered in, the line in sight, and defenders closing him down he dived the remaining yards to go over into the corner for a try that the home-side disputed was in touch. Dylan scored again eight minutes later to round off his hat-trick. Fullback, Brodie Glendinning gathered in a clearing kick then linked up with the right wing, an offload opened up space for Dylan to run into. Ed added the extras, 0 – 24.

Flanker, Charlie McLeod had a dry-run for his own try. From a Ryton lineout on the halfway they fumbled the ball. We gathered it in and the ruck formed, Charlie took a short pass, broke the tackle, then burst through a gap as far as the 5m line. His offload found Ed, a spin in the tackle took him over into the corner. The home-side were visibly tiring and gaps began to appear in their defence. Charlie got his moment of glory next. From the restart, we kept possession and moved the ball back into Ryton’s half. A carbon copy again as he burst through from the edge of the ruck, pinned his ears back then sprinted to the line, the chasers couldn’t catch him as he dived over into the corner. From the restart, Dylan carried wide right then cut an inside line before offloading to Fraser on the 22m. It gave him an opportunity to stretch his legs and take his personal points tally for the season over the one hundred mark. He added the conversion to make it 0 – 41.

With minutes left on the clock, Ryton drove forwards with the help of several penalty infringements. Flanker, Ryan Edmondson was then yellow carded in a sequence of play that baffled the visitors. More penalties and more ground was gained as far as our 5m line. A quick tap and go gave the big number 8 the chance to crash over between the posts. Final score 7 – 41.

A frustrating game to watch but another good win away from home to further consolidate our lead at the top of the table. Well done to all the lads, especially Nathan Allcock, Adam Turnbull and Callum Campbell who took turns to play for Ryton. Fraser's points tally for the season so far, 106.

Looks like we’ll have to do the ladies clothing theme again soon as some clearly liked it so much!