Silsden
Park
Rangers 10 New Earswick All Blacks 38
If favourites to win the Pennine
League Division 2, New Earswick, though that it would be an easy game on their
first ever trip to Cobbydale, then the first 20 minutes of this game shocked
them into top gear. The Silsden side
had the better of the early exchanges, and took the lead after a high tackle
from New Earswick’s Dave Carling gave Silsden good field position.
From the resulting tap, Silsden’s Tony Fella forced the break, and
great backing up by Neil Jordan allowed him to run in under the sticks
unopposed. Andy Bowness kicked the easiest of
conversions from under the sticks. New
Earswick struck back with a kick over the top collected by the speedy Phil
Turpin who outpaced the cover defence, but the try was ruled out by referee
Tinsdale for offside. Silsden then
went further ahead when inventive scrum half Jon Gwilliam chipped over the top
of the visitors defensive line, only to be taken out by an illegal tackle.
Andy Bowness added the penalty conversion to make it 8-0 after 20
minutes. Silsden’s discipline then
let them down, and the
York
side got on the scoreboard after Silsden gave a needless penalty for a high
tackle. Tempers flared and both
11’s were given 10 minutes in the sin bin; this seemed to affect Silsden more
than the visitors. This was the catalyst the New Earswick needed and the
York
side ran in three tries before Silsden could strike back with an Andy Bowness
penalty to give a half time score of 10-20.
After the break, both sides came out
in very determined mood, but it was the visitors who took control and gave
Silsden very few chances in attack and scored 3 tries – 2 converted and a
penalty conversion to run out convincing winners against a Silsden side that
fought to the bitter end giving a final score of Silsden 10 - New Earswick 38.
Sixteen year old Lee Shaw was voted Silsden’s man of the match by New
Earswick’s coach Simon Barnes whilst ex
York
professional Alan Pallister was New Earswick’s.
Silsden will need to muster more new
troops if they are to challenge for promotion this year, having had only one
substitute on the bench for this match. They
are away to league leaders Newsholme Panthers next Saturday.
Kick off is at 2.30.
Silsden Park
Rangers ARLFC 
