CO-OPERATIVE RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE PREMIERSHIP, MIDLANDS DIVISION
Saturday 21 June 2008
NOTTINGHAM OUTLAWS 68 – 6 GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS
A spirited, disciplined performance was not enough to save the Warriors from their heaviest defeat of the season at The Bay. The Outlaws showed their class running in 12 tries and had too much speed and power for a Warriors side featuring eight players making their rugby league debut.
Given the scoreline, coach Tom James was surprisingly upbeat: “I saw plenty of things in there that were positive. Our ball handling in the conditions was good, our structure overall was good. We could have used the ball a little better at times but the performance, especially from the new guys, was very encouraging”.
Sonnie Williams rolled back the years to give a fine display in the front row and he epitomised the spirit of the side with an incredible tackle to prevent Outlaws’ Ben Radford from touching down when the score was 32-6.
The Warriors had begun well and were still in the game after 25 minutes when they were trailing 12-6. But three Outlaws tries before the break eased them ahead and allowed them to control the second period.
The Warriors controlled the ball well on a hard and slippy pitch, the persistent drizzle making conditions unpleasant for the crowd who had an early Radford touchdown to cheer, the second rower profiting from the Warriors first mistake of the game to score.
Twelve minutes later, Rob Brown broke from the base of a scrum and sent Paul Calland away for the second score with the Warriors defence chasing in vain.
On 21 minutes, the Warriors benefitted from a piece of good fortune when Kevin Locke’s badly sliced drop goal attempt was caught by Daniel Venn who slid over for the try. Locke converted.
Nottingham dominated possession for a period after that and Myles Rutherford forced his way over before Ben Thornton sliced over out wide followed in similar fashion by Calland to leave the Warriors well adrift 28-6 down.
The Warriors resistance in the second period lasted for six minutes before Rutherford showed amazing speed to race over from distance. The Warriors’ heads could have dropped but Williams produced his stunning defensive effort to keep them in the game. But Radford had his revenge moments later crashing over by the posts.
Thereafter Outlaws tries came at regular intervals with Calland crossing on the last tackle for his hat-trick before Adam Millward rumbled over to bring up the half century.
In the last ten minutes, Calland pounced on a ball that took a bad bounce off a post for his sixteenth try of the season Radford crossed again for his third of the day and finally Calland’s delightful reverse pass completely fooled the Warriors defence and gave Millward an easy run in.
Despite this loss, the Warriors are still in the hunt for a play-off place thanks to Leicester Phoenix who surprisingly beat Bedford Tigers to earn their first win of the season 38-30 at Aylestone St James while Derby City also went down 36-18 at home to Birmingham Bulldogs.
NOTTINGHAM OUTLAWS: Will Thomas, Kees Foxon, Oliver Crick, Ben Thornton, Hafeez Yesufu, Paul Calland, Jimmy Lewis, Bryn Waldram, Arthur Holgate, George Strachan, Ben Radford, Myles Rutherford, Rob Brown. Replacements: Nathaniel Crichton, Adam Millward, Scott Mann, Jon Hemingway, David Rogers.
Scorers: Tries; Ben Radford (5, 50, 74), Myles Rutherford (25, 46), Paul Calland (17, 37, 56, 69), Ben Thornton (32), Adam Millward (62, 77). Conversions; Ben Thornton 10 from 12.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS: Sam Smee, Josh Pettifer, Daniel Venn, Max Hough, Liam Hindmarch, Kevin Locke, Ben Hough (Capt.), Steve Lee, Tom Vesty, Sonnie Williams, Simon Taylor, Dean Hobbs, Ed Stallard. Replacements: Calum Doutch, Mike James, Alex Wilkinson, Tom James.
Scorers: Tries; Daniel Venn (21). Conversions; Kevin Locke 1 from 1.
Referee: Nick Evans (South Yorkshire RLRS)
Star Man: Sonnie Williams
Penalties: Outlaws 6 Warriors 6.
Scoring sequence: 6-0, 12-0, 12-6, 18-6, 24-6, 28-6, (HT), 32-6, 38-6, 44-6, 50-6, 56-6, 62-6, 68-6, (FT).
===========================
Chris Wilson
Media Manager, Gloucestershire Warriors RLFC
Tel: +44 (0)1684 850903
Mobile: + 44 (0)7905 931033
Email: gloswarriors2004@aol.com
============================
To return to the main news page click Here
If you feel you have some relevant information to share with our visitors, or you would like to sponsor this site, please email us Here.
about GR
L e a g u e
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.
