CO-OPERATIVE RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE PREMIERSHIP, MIDLANDS DIVISION
GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS 42 BIRMINGHAM BULLDOGS 38
By Derek M Clifford at Chosen Hill
Gloucestershire Warriors, playing at home for the first time in six weeks, enjoyed a 42-38 hard fought victory against a determined Birmingham Bulldogs side. Warriors opened the scoring after six minutes when Luke Langham touched down under the posts, with Ben Hough kicking a simple goal. This woke the slumbering Bulldogs whose reply was swift after a good build up Dan Simpson crossed the whitewash for Bulldogs opening try with Dan Bancroft adding the extras.
The game swung back in The Warriors favour, when James Comber forced his way over for a try with two Bulldog defenders laying in his wake, again Hough kicked the goal for a 12-6 lead.
From the restart the Bulldogs gave away simple possession, with the Warriors’ Stephan Fourie scoring a try in the corner after an excellent break by Josh Pettifer and Ben Constantine but Hough’s goal attempt was wide of the uprights.
Rather than resting on their laurels the Warriors continued to press for more points. With the likes of Ronnie Haines working tirelessly in both attack and defence, reward was just round the corner when after a mazy run by Alan Bryan the equally tireless Chris Furze touched down for a well constructed try, with the boot of Hough again adding the extras for a 22-6 lead.
However what followed in the last 10 minutes of half had Warriors’ head coach Tom James pulling his hair out in total disbelief as the visiting Bulldogs scored three tries in quick succession, with first Simpson scoring his second try after some woeful tackling, then it was the turn of Ali Eyre to touch down, quickly followed by Mark Abel with the reliable boot of Bancroft kicking two goals to make the half time score 22-22.
The second half started well for the Warriors. With the halftime lecture still ringing in their collective ears, Furze was on hand to finish off a well constructed set of six but the goal attempt from Constantine was off target.
The Warriors extended their lead when Bryan scored an excellent try after Fourie beat three would-be tacklers with a jinking run with Hough kicking a super touchline goal for a 32-22 lead.
The Bulldogs responded with fine 50-metre solo try for Adam Walker with the boot of Bancroft strangely off target. The pendulum swung back in favour of the Warriors when Jake Perry-Gardiner scored a try after out-sprinting the Bulldogs defence with Fourie kicking the extras to lead 38-26.
From the restart, back came the Bulldogs with Abel touching down for his second try with Bancroft scoring the goal.
With three minutes to play it was the turn of the Warriors to score this it was Justin Andrews who touchdown for a unconverted try. There was just time for final score with the excellent Simpson scoring his third try which the reliable boot of Bancroft converted, making the fulltime score 42-38 in favour of the Gloucestershire Warriors.
Gloucestershire Warriors
Lee Douglas, Jake Perry-Gardiner, Justin Andrews, John Archer, Josh Pettifer, Ben Hough, Chris Furze, Luke Langham, Sean Lynn, Steve Lee, Simon Taylor, Ed Stallard, Ben Constantine. Replacements: Ronnie Haines, Alan Bryan, Rich Carter, Sonnie Williams, Stephan Fourie, James Comber.
Birmingham Bulldogs
Adam Walker, Dan Bancroft, Dan Simpson, Drew Harper, Pete Fulthorpe, Mark Abel, Sam Forrest, Ross Midgley, James Topham, Sam Woodward, Ali Eyre, Chris Mansley, Russ Parker, Paul Cadman, Jim Fullwood, Jamie Willetts, Chris Woodcock.
Referee: Melvin Bettridge (Southern RLRS)
Starman: Chris Furze – tireless work all round the park.
Scoring sequence: 6-0, 6-6, 12-6, 16-6, 22-6, 22-12, 22-16, 22-22, (HT) 26-22, 32-22, 32-26, 38-26, 38-32, 42-32, 42-38, (FT).
Scorers:
Warriors: Tries; Luke Langham (6), James Comber (18), Stephan Fourie (21), Chris Furze (28,44), Alan Bryan (51), Jake Perry-Gardiner (65), Justin Andrews (77).
Conversions; Ben Hough 4 from 5, Ben Constantine 0 from 1, Stephan Fourie 1 from 2.
Bulldogs: Tries; Dan Simpson (15,32,79), Ali Eyre (35), Mark Abel (38,70), Adam Walker(55).
Conversions; Dan Bancroft 5 from 7
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Chris Wilson
Media Manager, Gloucestershire Warriors RLFC
Tel: +44 (0)1684 850903
Mobile: + 44 (0)7905 931033
Email: gloswarriors2004@aol.com
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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.
