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2nd XV Match Reports 2011-12
28th January 2nd XV vs Manchester 2nds (Home) Won 17-0
The last time Manchester 2’s played at Moss Farm, it was closer to a Vets side, than a proper 2’s. However, that was not the case this time, they turned up with mostly a young team, but with a few gnarled and experienced forwards to add gravity. This was not going to be a romp in the park.
The opening exchanges were pretty even, Manchester showing their power in the pack, Northwich showing their running and handling ability. The welcome return of James Underhill to the 10 shirt certainly livened up the Northwich back line and with his old Colts partner (Rob Houghton) at 9 they set about delivering good ball to the wide runners. Northwich took root in the Manchester half and only dogged defence from the visitors kept the blacks from scoring. However, the old 9, 10 pairing eventually worked its magic and in an interchange of passes it was Houghton that broke the line to open the scoring, Underhill couldn’t improve the score. Manchester tried to reassert themselves, but their back line handling crumbled when put under pressure and Northwich fed on the subsequent turn over ball. The second try coming from a beautiful bit of individual skill from Underhill as he stepped through the defence stood up the full back and put Baker in for his first of the afternoon. Hart stepped up and converted from in front. (12 – 0). Northwich rounded off the 1st half with a second try out wide for Baker, following another flowing backs move, again this went unconverted.
17 – 0 at the break – the critics would say it could have been more, but that would not give credit to a tenacious and capable Manchester defence.
The teams turned round and it was soon obvious that Manchester knew they were not going to have any success by taking on the Northwich backs, so they did what they do well, kept it tight, “stuffed it up the jumper” and starved Northwich of ball. This was quite an effective tactic and Northwich’s young pack had to work hard to wrestle the ball free. For a good part of the 2nd half Manchester neutralised the Northwich threat by denying them ball, but they never looked like making anything from it. In the dying moments, with Manchester’s older forwards clearly tiring, Northwich did manage to get back on top and the game ended with a Northwich attack held up over the line.
A much better performance this week, despite missing a few of the more experienced heads. Indeed a quick count up showed 7 players in the squad from the 2009 / 10 cup winning Colts squad, supplemented by other former Colts of the few seasons prior to that.
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18th February 2nd XV vs Broughton Park 2nds (Home) Won 57-12
Finally the sun shone! Despite this, the wind was still cold and the pitch was very heavy. Broughton Pk maybe lowly in the league, but in the first half they kept in touch with the Northwich 2nd string, who were clearly out for points. Northwich opened the scoring with a bulldozer of a try, shoving their way over the line. The second score was much more of a signature score, Underhill feeding Houghton who half broke the 2 man tackle to set Lamb free to run half the length of the pitch to score (and then throw up and come off!!).
When they went 17 – 0 up, it looked like it was going to be all too easy and as such, they took their foot off the gas and Broughton bounced back with 2 tries and one conversion before the half time whistle to make the score line a competitive 17 - 12.
However, Broughton Pk were not rich in replacements and when their second replacement went off with a suspected dislocated shoulder, they were down to 14 men. Northwich had their share of injuries, notably loosing captain Paul Eaves to a hamstring injury. However, their bench kept them supplied with replacements.
Broughton Park now had to turn and face the low sun, play with 14 men on a heavy pitch against a big Northwich pack, and although there was only ever going to be one result, they never gave up. Northwich steadily racked up the scores, with most of the rugby being played in parks half of the pitch. Although a lack of precision on a number of occasions by Northwich meant that several more tries went begging.
There were too many tries to name all the scorers, but in the end the score was 57 – 12 to Northwich.Northwich travel to Sandbach this weekend and hope to maintain this current winning streak.
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