Hessle RUFC Match Reports

1st XV Match Reports 2009/10

February 2010

13/02/2010 Hessle 13 - West Park Leeds 23

HESSLE fell victim to a late points flurry to lose 23-13 against West Park Leeds.

Just as they did in their last league match two weeks ago, Hessle contrived to lose a game in which they appeared to be in control with 15 minutes remaining.

At this stage Hessle, after a superb display by the pack in heavy conditions which unsettled the higher-placed visitors, were leading 13-3 but a try in the 68th minute and a penalty seven minutes later gave West Park a chance.

A second touchdown in the 78th minute gave the visitors the lead for the first time and this proved decisive.

Chris Tranmer set the tone for Hessle's first-half display with a bullocking run in the first minute, and then a break on the wing by Josh Moore took play into the West Park 22.

From this position the visitors were penalised and Chris Watkins took a quick tap and darted over to score a well-taken try.

Sam Booth opened West Park's account with a penalty but Hessle, with Adam Atkinson, Chad May and Lee Evans setting a fine example, were in control up front and it was no surprise when the hosts increased their lead.

Kristian Lee found touch in the Leeds 22 and from a tap penalty Jon Casey powered over for a try to make it 10-3 at half-time.

West Park were first on the attack in the second period but the ball was knocked on in a good position and when Jimmy Harrison kicked ahead he was obstructed, and from a position on the Leeds 22 Lee kicked the goal to give Hessle a 10-point lead.

The visitors hit back eight minutes later when a swift passing move stretched Hessle's cover and left-winger Simon Towler raced over for a try.

In the 75th minute a high tackle presented a penalty chance and Booth was on target to make it 13-11.

Three minutes later Leeds won a ruck on the right and an intricate move by the backs ended with Stuart McClure scorching over under the posts. Booth converted to make it 13-18.

Hessle went on the attack in an attempt to salvage something from the game, but in the last minute Booth picked up a loose ball and evaded two tackles in a 60-yard run along the touchline to score the final try.

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30/01/2010 Hessle 15 - Goole 23

HESSLE suffered a second-half collapse to lose a 15-8 lead and go down 23-15 to Goole in Yorkshire League Division Two.

The hosts looked comfortable, but Goole appeared to step up a gear and score two tries to secure their first win of the season.

Hessle will reflect on a number of handling mistakes which ruined any fluency and also a couple of missed penalty goal attempts, which proved costly.

Goole began well and applied early pressure, but the hosts took the lead when a strong run by Jimmy Harrison took play into the visitors' 22 and when the ball was recycled Chris Watkins went round the blind-side and burrowed his way over for a try.

Play fluctuated from end to end and Goole drew level in the 34th minute with a penalty goal.

In the second-half the visitors took the lead with another penalty, but Hessle replied with one of their best tries of the season.

From a position 10 yards inside their own half the ball emerged from a ruck and Watkins made a break which was carried on in fine style by Chris Tranmer and Matt Donkin, who then linked with Ben Parker.

When caught the full-back turned the ball inside to Josh Moore, who raced over to touch down under the posts.

Watkins added the conversion and then was on target with a penalty to put Hessle in control at 15-8.

However, Goole were next to score when a spell of pressure led to a try which narrowed the gap to two points.

In the 67th minute the visitors scored a further try following some close forward play and with no conversion being added the score was 20-15.

The game was still wide open and Hessle were still in with a chance but a drop-goal from Goole sealed a win for the visitors.

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January 2010

23/01/2010 Doncaster Phoenix 58 - Hessle 5

HESSLE suffered a second-half collapse to lose 58-5 at Doncaster Phoenix in Yorkshire League Two.

With five minutes remaining of the first half Hessle were still in contention after a closely-fought contest with Phoenix leading 9-5.

However, the visitors cruelly conceded a try following a charged down kick on the stroke of half-time to turn round 14-5 down.

And in the second-half Hessle, depleted by a number of injuries, were run off their feet by a fast-moving Doncaster side.

Hessle were penalised from the kick-off for not releasing, and the goal-kick was successful.

Five minutes later Hessle were penalised for an offence in a tackle and again the kick was on target for a 6-0 lead.

Craig Poucher, Kristian Lee and Ollie Spicer kept the hosts on the defensive with some excellent kicking, Chris Tranmer was running with purpose and Matt Donkin made a storming break into the Phoenix 22.

Lee and Gareth Atkinson had to leave the field with injuries, but Poucher, having moved from full-back to stand-off, made a powerful run before off-loading to Adam Atkinson who sent Josh Moore over for a try to make it 6-5.

Doncaster added a third penalty on 22 minutes and then two minutes before the break came the decisive try in the corner when the hosts took advantage of a charged-down kick.

Two minutes into the second period a penalty put Phoenix 17-5 ahead, and then a 60-yard move involving several players ended with a converted try.

Hessle lost Spicer through injury, and another attack down the left produced another try to make it 29-5.

Hessle were now in disarray and another move started on the halfway led to a try under the posts.

Adam Atkinson put in a long run but Phoenix scored again when a strong tackle caused the ball to go loose and the touchdown took the score to 39-5.

Moore pulled off a try-saving tackle following another break, but the ball was moved inside and another try under the posts added to Hessle's woes.

Moore featured again with a 50-yard run down the wing, but Doncaster were surprisingly awarded a penalty try in their next attack to make it 53-5, and they added a final touchdown on the left in the 79th minute.

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02/01/2010 Hessle 10 - Leodensians 25

IN THE only game played in any of the six Yorkshire Leagues on Saturday, Hessle suffered a 25-10 home defeat against Leodiensians in Division Two.

After trailing 17-3 at half-time, a try from Adam Atkinson converted by Craig Poucher put Hessle back in contention but they were left to rue a number of missed opportunities.

The visitors held the territorial advantage for much of the second period as Hessle struggled to get out of their own half.

Mark Winter opened the scoring with an early penalty goal for Leos, but Craig Poucher levelled matters in the fifth minute with a similar effort.

Leos returned to the attack and a quick recycle was followed by some crisp passing on the left which resulted in James Knibbs racing over for a try which Winter converted.

Hessle threatened when Matt Donkin and Ollie Spicer combined on the right and a long kick from Chris Tranmer, who was also prominent with some forceful running, set up an attacking position.

Poucher broke through on a strong run and Adam Atkinson was knocked into touch just near the corner flag.

In the 37th minute the Leos full-back made a weaving 40-yard run and from the second-phase the ball passed through several pairs of hands before Knibbs sliced through to go over near the posts for his second try, which Winter goaled to make it 17-3 at the interval.

Five minutes into the second period, Gareth Atkinson made ground into the visitors' '22' and brother Adam crashed over for a well-taken try. Poucher added the goal to make it 10-17.

Leos, despite being reduced to thirteen men with two in the sin-bin, returned to the attack and when Hessle were penalised for offside Winter was on target with the goal.

Hessle had to play the last ten minutes without Adam Atkinson who incurred the wrath of the referee, along with a Leos forward, following a skirmish.

In the last minute Hessle were caught out by a kick to the corner and Mark McDaid went over for the final try.

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