CO-OPERATIVE RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERNCE
MIDLANDS PREMIER DIVISION
Saturday 3 May 2008
GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS 14 – 42 NOTTINGHAM OUTLAWS
The Gloucestershire Warriors crashed to a 42-12 defeat at the hands of the Nottingham Outlaws at Chosen Hill in the opening home game in the Co-operative Rugby League Conference Midlands Premier division.
Three tries from kicks in the opening quarter put Nottingham on the front foot and with the Warriors looking out of sorts, they eased away to a comfortable win.
It was the Warriors’ heaviest home defeat for some time and left coach Tom James fuming. “We lost our control and structure on attack and defence, which left us having to defend against our own mistakes.”
Those mistakes began from the opening kick off, which presented the Outlaws with an opportunity they did not waste. From Paul Calland’s kick through Martin Edwards scored the first of his two tries. Ben Thornton converted.
Arron Leese converted an easy penalty to put the Warriors on the board after their first attack of the game. With their next attack, Tom Bozzard put Leese in but the referee ruled a forward pass.
The Outlaws soon extended their lead; this time Thornton touched down another neat grubber behind the line for a try that went unconverted.
Five minutes later, Calland followed his own kick to score a try converted by Thornton for a 16-2 lead.
There was no further score until just before the break though the Outlaws also had a try disallowed for a forward pass while the Warriors got to the Outlaws line on more than one occasion only to fail to get through.
The Warriors mounted some pressure before the interval and Steve Barnes muscled his way over for a try converted by Leese.
The try should have given the Warriors heart for the second period but three tries in the opening ten minutes of the half saw Nottingham out to an unassailable lead. “I was pleased with the first half said James. “Our defence was tight and we had momentum at the end of the half. But we started the second half poorly and gave the game away really.”
Roy Yorke scored the first Outlaws try of the half in one corner and he was soon followed by Chris McNamara in the opposite corner. Neither was converted but Thornton did add the goal to Edwards’ second try, scored after a fine move that cut the Warriors’ left side defence to ribbons.
The Warriors tried hard to get back but too often pushed the pass in impossible situations before three consecutive sets of tackles ended with Alan Bryan storming over for a try improved by Leese.
Jack Petelo was held up over the line as the Warriors fought for another score but it was the Outlaws who crossed next. A sweeping move was ended when Rob Brown was well tackled by Leese. However the Outlaws had support in numbers and Calland scored. Thornton converted.
The Warriors held on until the final play of the game when Thornton forced his way over from dummy half. His conversion was the final kick of a disappointing afternoon for the Warriors.
Teams:
GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS: Andy King, Rich Carter, Ronnie Haines (Capt.), Steve Barnes, Arron Leese, Stephan Fourie, Tom Bozzard, Jack Petelo, Steve Lee, Brad Tindall, Dean Barnard, Steve Davies, Ben Constantine. Replacements: Wayne Cooper, Alan Bryan, Areta Tanoai, Kirk Bace, Luke Langham.
Scorers: Tries; Steve Barnes (38), Alan Bryan, (63). Conversions; Arron Leese 2 from 2. Penalties; Arron Leese (5).
NOTTINGHAM OUTLAWS: Will Thomas, Roy Yorke, Tom Howley, Ben Thornton, Kees Foxon, Paul Calland (Capt.), James Lewis, Adam Millward, Arthur Holgate, George Strachan, Martin Edwards, Myles Rutherford, Rob Brown. Replacements: Ben Yeardley, Aidan Pritchard, Nathaniel Crichton, Chris McNamara, Matt Cullen.Scorers: Tries; Martin Edwards (3,51), Ben Thornton (13, 79), Paul Calland (18, 73), Roy Yorke (42), Chris McNamara (48). Conversions; Ben Thornton 5 from 8.
Referee: Melvin Bettridge (Southern RLRS)
Star Man: Stephan Fourie
Penalties: Warriors 16, Outlaws 10.
Scoring sequence: 0-6, 2-6, 2-10, 2-16, 8-16, (HT), 8-20, 8-24, 8-30, 14-30, 14-36, 14-42, (FT).
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The Gloucestershire Rugby League is an organisation for local rugby league clubs in Gloucestershire. Our main activity currently is to promote rugby league through the County and give useful information about our sport to the public of Gloucestershire.
