Crigglestone All Blacks 32 Silsden Park Rangers 42

Silsden Park Rangers pulled out their best performance of the season against Crigglestone All Blacks.  The first half was tough for the Cobbydalers and it was the Wakefield side that opened the scoring with an early try.  Silsden came back with a good spell of play but Crigglestone extended their lead with a second try.  Silsdens defence held strong, particularly down the left wing through Steve Dent and Steve Holmes.  Silsden kept up the pressure and were rewarded when Tony Fella made a break culminating in Captain Neil Jordan opening Silsden’s tally.  Silsden maintained the offensive with creative play in the middle of the park through hooker Matt Bowness and loose forward John Williams.  A powering run from Lee Shaw was held up short of the line but quick thinking enabled him to off load the ball to Chris Greenwood in support who was able to battle his way across the line.  Crigglestone immediately hit back as they gained possession from a short restart and were soon over the Silsden line.  Crigglestone then extended their lead further as they caught the Silsden defence at sixes and sevens and the scrum half was able to step through the Silsden line.  Silsden closed the gap just before the interval when Jon Gwilliam chipped the ball in to the corner where ever ready Andy Bowness was quick to collect and score.  Silsden had had a good half keeing the home side within sight but would need to up their game in the second half if they were to close the 24-14 score line.

Crigglestone opened the scoring in the second half with a penalty.  However things were about to change as Silsden stepped up a gear , a change in pace that Crigglestone were unable to respond to.  Silsden started to apply pressure on the Crigglestone line resulting in Chris Langdale crossing the line in the corner.  From the restart Silsden again dominated in the forwards through Man of the Match Mark Adams and Eddie Billing and were able to get Fella near enough to the oppositions line to chip through and collect to score.  Good work from Jordan and Ben Atkinson ensured that Silsden cleared their lines safely at each restart.  Silsdens forwards were in control of the game and a powering break from Shaw provided Billing with good field position to crash through the Crigglestone defence.  Crigglestone put up a counter attack but the Silsden line held strong and soon regained possession.  A long chip from Fella was fumled by the Crigglestone full back and Dent was ready to collect the loose ball to score Silsden’s seventh try.  Silsden rounded off their scoring when Gwilliam put through a short tap that was collected by Andy Bowenss.  Andy was unable to add to his tally of 5 conversions in this instance. Crigglestone scored a cancellation try in the closing minutes but the final score of 32 – 42 was well out of their reach.

Silsden have a week off next week.