CO-OPERATIVE RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE
MIDLANDS PREMIER DIVISION
Saturday 6 June 2009
GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS 16 – 42 BRISTOL SONICS
Gloucestershire Warriors were humbled by a rampant Bristol Sonics side in the derby at Chosen Hill. The Sonics ran in eight tries to end the Warriors unbeaten start to the Co-operative Rugby League Conference season and record their first ever win over their local rivals.
The Warriors looked a well-beaten side at the end. They lacked spark and too many players seemed to be guilty of thinking that with a strong side on paper, the victory was theirs by rights.
The Sonics had other ideas. They generally played the more controlled football and had more hunger and desire to win the game.
The Sonics seemed to be the first to settle after both sides struggled to keep possession but the Warriors were the first to score. Stephan Fourie’s chip ahead deflected back into his arms and he found the supporting Ben Hough for the try. Fourie’s conversion struck both posts and came out which seemed to be an indication that the Warriors were not guaranteed the points.
Indeed, the Sonics soon hit back, Dom Swann spinning out of tackles to score a try he converted himself to give the Sonics a lead after 16 minutes that they were never to lose.
With the Warriors on the wrong end of a lop-sided penalty count and making error after error as they tried to play catch-up, the Sonics hit them hard with three tries in ten minutes.
The visitors won a scrum 10 metres from the Warriors line and Harry Marson scored an unconverted try out wide. In their next attack, the Sonics benefitted from one of four penalties in a row conceded by the Warriors and Guy Garnett stepped through some flimsy defence to score. Swann’s conversion made it 16-10.
The Sonics weren’t finished and Johan Schoeman picked off a poor Warriors pass deep in his own half to take play to the other end of the field where Chris Carter finished the attack with a try converted by Swann.
The Warriors threw themselves a lifeline as Fourie’s inside ball sent Danny Davis away and Steve Barnes finished under the posts. Arron Leese converted to narrow the gap to 22-10 but the Sonics replied immediately, Swann stepping through on the last tackle and his blind, over the shoulder pass was touched down by Dan Evans. Swann added the goal to give the Sonics a 28-10 halftime lead.
The Warriors had to score first in the second period and they did so after seven minutes, Barnes forcing his way over from close range and Davis converting.
However, that was as close as they could get as errors increasingly punctuated the Warriors’ play and the Sonics added three more tries to reflect their dominance.
Schoemann crossed on the right wing after the Warriors coughed up the ball in their own 20-metre zone. Then John-Jo Burden scored on the left and finally some intricate passing prised open the defence and Marson capped an excellent day for the Sonics with his second try.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS: Danny Davis, Arron Leese, Marcus Brown, Steve Barnes, Ben Broady, Ben Hough, Stephan Fourie, Ken Stone, Neys Schreiner, Matt Hurdle, Dean Barnard, Ed Stallard, Ronnie Haines (Capt.). Replacements: Patrick Hanslow, Alex McEwan, George Porter, Matt Elston, Tom Bozzard, Sonnie Williams, Simon Brown, Simon Taylor.
Scorers: Tries; Ben Hough (10), Steve Barnes (35, 47). Conversions; Stephan Fourie 0 from 1, Arron Leese 1 from 1, Danny Davis 1 from 1.
BRISTOL SONICS: Dan Evans, Johan Schoeman, Guy Garnett, John-Jo Burden, Thom Curtis, Dom Swann (Capt), Joel Keane, Stafford Lloyd, Harry Marson, Gary Carpenter, Joe Singleton, James Pritchard, Wes Rogers. Replacements: Chris Carter, Antony Lampard, Mike Ashford, Alex McConnell, Joe Lovejoy, Carl Watkins.
Scorers: Tries; Dom Swann (16), Harry Marson (21, 65), Guy Garnett (24), Chris Carter (30), Dan Evans (38), Johan Schoeman (52), John-Jo Burden (62). Conversions; Dom Swann 5 from 8.
Referee: Brian Stow (South West RLRS)
Man of the Match: Warriors: Stephan Fourie, Sonics: Wes Rogers
Penalties: Warriors 4, Sonics 12.
Scoring sequence: 4-0, 4-6, 4-10, 4-16, 4-22, 10-22, 10-28, (HT), 16-28, 16-32, 16-36, 16-42, (FT).
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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.
