Silsden Park Rangers ARLFC

Silsden Park Rangers 28 – Ovenden ‘A’ 30.  

This game hung in the balance for the full 80 minutes and Ovenden snatched victory in the last minute of the game to deny Silsden a much needed victory in the Pennine League Division 2.  It was not the lack of effort from Rangers, but more of a dogged defiance that defeat was not an option from the Halifax outfit.  Ovenden opened the scoring after 10 minutes after a mistake on the first tackle allowed Scott Allen, the impressive Ovenden centre to crash over to score the first of his 3 tries. The conversion gave the visitors a six point lead somewhat against the run of play. Silsden struck back after the Ovenden scrum half knocked on from the base of the scrum 25 yards out and from the resulting feed, Tony Fella, playing at stand off, broke through the centre to pop the ball up for supporting hooker John Williams to score under the posts.  He converted his own try to level the score.  Silsden continued to pressure the Ovenden offence, and they were rewarded by a dropped pass which was kicked through by Jon Gwilliam, and excellent refereeing from Paul Gill using the advantage from the knock on, allowed John Williams to score his second of the afternoon and he converted the try himself.  Silsden suffered a major blow as Gwilliam had to be helped from the field having twisted his ankle badly as he tried to follow his own kick though, and played no further part.  Matt Bowness came off the bench to replace him.  Silsden then scored a real team try.  The forwards led by Neil Jordan and Ed Billings forged the hard yards, and a quick play the ball from Mark Adams saw the ball through the backs releasing Rick Greenwood to run in from 40 yards unopposed.  John Williams added the extras.  Silsden should have pressed home their superiority, but defensive mistakes allowed Ovenden back into the game scoring 2 tries.  A penalty to Silsden from the boot of John Williams gave Silsden a half time lead of 20-16.  

Silsden started the half pinning Ovenden inside their 20 for long periods, and 18 consecutive tackles were defended by the resolute Ovenden defense.  Mark Adams was unlucky to have a try disallowed for a knock on as he crossed the line.  The pressure exerted by Silsden finally told when Silsden’s man of the match Tony Fella threw a dummy, stepped inside and scored.  John Williams couldn’t convert from out wide, hitting the upright.  Silsden then should have wrapped up the game, but allowed Ovenden to win a scrum against the head and from the resulting possession, scored an unconverted try out on the Silsden right hand side.  

The Silsden side had four new young signings on the park, 2^nd rowers Lee Shaw and Chris Greenwood, and centres David Illiffe and Anthony Smith, and 3 were playing in their first senior game.  All put in very impressive performances in both attack and defense.  A kick though from Tony Fella on the last tackle put pressure on the Ovenden full back who should have cleared the ball, but he hesitated and Steve Holmes and Anthony Smith both chasing through beat the full back to the ball but it was Smith who was awarded the try in his first senior match. 

At 28-20, and six minutes to go, the game looked safe, but Ovenden had other ideas.  They targeted Silsden’s right hand side defense and scored a try out wide in the corner brilliantly converted by hooker Ash Taylor.  With seconds left on the clock, Ovenden surged up the field, and on the last tackle they kept the ball alive, and the centre seemed to be held but managed to pop the ball out to the winger to dive over for the winning score.  

This defeat for Silsden still held many positives.  A full 17 to chose from for the first time this season, and the arrival of the new signings will give coach Tony Fella players to work on.  They will need to be on top form as the play Division 1 unbeaten Brighouse Rangers in Silsden Park next Saturday, kick-off at 2.00pm in the first round of the Pennine Presidents Cup.

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Last modified: November 16, 2004