Hessle RUFC Match Reports

1st XV Match Reports 2009/10

Earlier Match Reports More Recent Match Reports

December 2009

05/12/2009 Hessle 10 - Pocklington 12

POCKLINGTON squeezed home 12-10 against Hessle as one successful goal-kick proved the difference between two evenly-matched Yorkshire Division Two sides.

Hessle, who could consider themselves unlucky to finish as losers after creating more try-scoring opportunities, had the chance to win but two late penalty goal attempts were unsuccessful.

In their first attack Hessle were held up over the line, and from the five-metre scrum the ball flashed along the backs to left-winger Paul Roberts who did well to shoot through a narrow gap near the corner flag and dive over for a try.

Richard Fletcher was narrowly wide with the goal attempt from near the touchline.

Pocklington used their big forwards to progress, and Hessle came under pressure on their own line.

The visitors got over the Hessle line but were unable to ground the ball, but from the scrum the hosts were pushed back and Marcus Britland touched down for a try which Joe Holbrough converted.

Ben Parker and Ashley Hedges both had long runs through the Pocklington defence as Hessle attacked, and Fletcher was wide with a penalty attempt at the end of the first-half.

Fletcher was involved in the first action of the second period when he charged through the middle and offloaded to Craig Poucher, linking up from full-back, who outpaced the cover to score an excellent try.

Fletcher's goal attempt drifted wide and the score remained at 10-7.

Pocklington regained the lead in the 54th minute when an attack down the right ended with Karl Durkin going over for a try, which was unconverted.

The exchanges after this were fairly even, Josh Moore and Parker being prominent for Hessle with some two dazzling breaks.

Hessle had the opportunity to take the lead on 75 minutes but Fletcher was short with a penalty attempt.

As darkness descended Ashley Hedges, in the last minute, was also short with a penalty shot and then Gary Pearce failed with a drop-goal attempt.

Comment on this in the forum

12/12/2009 North Ribblesdale 66 - Hessle 0

A PATCHED-UP Hessle suffered a 66-0 defeat at North Ribblesdale in Yorkshire Two.

Hessle could muster only a bare 15 players with at least 12 more unavailable or injured and a few 1st team debuts were handed out. The 15 players that wanted to play for Hessle found it tough but still had the resolve to see the game through.

On five minutes the scene was set and North Ribblesdale scored a pushover try and it was 7-0.

During the next 35 minutes Hessle could not stem the blue and white tide and at half- time the scoreline was 49-0, a result of another few pushover tries and a penalty try all converted.

At the turnaround Hessle seemed determined to keep the home side at bay and managed to restrict the home team to 17 points from a further three tries and one conversion.

The home crowd, although happy with the home team's performance, had nothing but praise for the Hessle team as it was obvious it was a mis-match but they never once gave up and stuck it out to the end.

Hessle can be pleased that at least 15 players put their hand up to travel 200 miles to play with many for whatever reason unable to play.

It is still difficult to see where the next win will come from, and in the new year hope springs eternal and the results have got to start coming and a warmer future is sure to arrive at Livingstone Road.

Comment on this in the forum

November 2009

13/11/2009 Hessle 16 - Ripon 23

HESSLE remain at the bottom of Yorkshire League Division Two after going down to their eighth league defeat of the season in a closely-fought encounter at Livingstone Road.

The hosts must have felt confident after being only 13-16 down at half-time with the prospect of having the advantage of a very strong wind in the second half, but the expected outcome never materialised. This was mainly due to what little possession had being given away with some poor kicking.

Ripon took a first-minute lead when, after Hessle had been penalised for offside, Glen Lyons was on target with the goal attempt from 35 yards out.

Craig Poucher and Richard Fletcher were prominent with some strong bursts, the latter coming very close to scoring, but Ripon went further ahead with another penalty from Lyons.

In the 19th minute a Hessle chip over the defence was taken by Ripon and the counter-attack saw full-back Jason Bell race around the first tackler and sprint away from the cover to run 40 yards for a try, which Lyons converted.

Chris Tranmer made a devastating run through the Ripon defence and Jimmy Harrison was forced into touch near the corner flag.

From this position the visitors were penalised and a quick tap by Josh Moore found Adam Atkinson, who brushed aside several tacklers to go over for a try.

A high tackle resulted in another penalty being awarded, and Lyons increased the lead to 5-16.

However, from the re-start Moore jinked his way deep into Ripon territory and from the second-phase Andy Dows made valuable ground before sending Dave Leeman over to touch down for a well-worked score. On 34 minutes Fletcher was successful with a penalty attempt to make it 13-16 at the interval.

Fletcher levelled the scores with a penalty from 35 yards before the hosts came under intense pressure in the right-hand corner, and held out for 10 minutes.

Eventually Ripon broke through when Bell took the ball on the burst to crash over for a try in the corner in the 56th minute. Lyons added the goal points with a fine kick against the wind.

Poucher came close to scoring in the 70th minute but was hauled down by a superb tackle when in full flight.

20/11/2009 West Leeds 20 - Hessle 11

For those that follow the team week in, week out, it seems that every time Hessle get into any sort of position of advantage they let the opposition off the hook and come away with no points.

For a short time it looked as though Hessle might be in with a chance of a result on the previously fruitless hunting ground that is Blue Hill Lane.

However, as the game unfolded, the poor discipline from the top down once again reared its ugly head and put the win out of Hessle's reach.

The game started slowly with a strong wind blowing across the pitch which helped Hessle get some good field position but, with needless penalties being given away, West Leeds were the first to score with a well worked try and conversion for 7-0.

On the half-hour mark Richard Fletcher potted a penalty for Hessle and then added another just before the interval for a 7-6 half-time scoreline.

The second half started well but, after a break from their own half, West Leeds were awarded a penalty try that was converted for 14-6. Although Hessle may have felt that this penalty try was harsh, we have to accept that sometimes things just do not go your way when struggling at the bottom of the table.

Then, for what seemed like long periods of indiscipline from both teams, West Leeds were awarded a kickable penalty to make it 17-6. Unforgiveably, West Leeds were awarded another penalty before the restart for abuse of the official and this was again converted for 20-6.

Something has to change for Hessle with soft penalties costing too many points but, in the end, the team must be praised for their ability to grind it out for 80 minutes. This was again shown in this game with Matt Donkin scoring a last-minute try.

Some of the travelling support commented that Hessle lack a clear leader on the field and that this affects the team's match day performance. There is no doubt that the team have some quality players but now, more than ever, they need a leader and time is fast running out for that person to step forward.

27/11/2009 Moortown 26 - Hessle 12

Despite a battling last quarter to the game Hessle went down to a 26-12 defeat at Moortown. The hosts established a 19-0 lead going into the last quarter but two Hessle tries brought respectability to the final score.

Hessle failed to learn from early errors and, before they had the chance to make progress, they incurred the wrath of the referee and conceded a penalty.

A long pass from Richard Fletcher sent Chris Tranmer racing away, but Josh Moore was adjudged to be in an offside position when latching on to a kick to the corner.

Fletcher was short with a drop-goal attempt and in the 29th minute Hessle were penalised for a scrum offence and the resultant goal put the hosts 6-0 ahead.

In the first play of the second period Hessle went to sleep when a throw-in at a line-out found the Moortown second-rower, who took possession and was left with a clear 10-yard run to the line for a try.

Five minutes later Hessle were deemed offside, and Moortown led 14-0.

Two blatant head-high tackles by Moortown went unpunished by the referee as Hessle tried to get their attack going, and in the 57th minute the hosts scored again.

Hessle failed to find touch on their left, and Moortown moved the ball wide, where the right-winger linked up to provide the extra man for the left-winger to touch down.

In the 70th minute Moortown lost the ball on their own 22 after being put under pressure, Tranmer picked up and gained ground before linking with Paul Roberts went in for a try on the right, which Fletcher converted.

Hessle pressed again but after Jimmy Harrison had charged into the home 22 after fielding a kick, Moortown came away with the ball at the maul and the centre accelerated away for a spectacular try. The conversion was added from wide out to make it 26-7.

In the last minute Hessle themselves scored a try after running the ball from deep, with Donkin making the initial burst.The move was carried on by Roberts, who beat three men before returning the ball to Donkin for the full-back to send Ashley Hedges stretching over the line to score.