CO-OPERATIVE RUGBY LEAGUE CONFERENCE
MIDLANDS PREMIER DIVISION
Saturday 25 July 2009
BRISTOL SONICS 58 - 20 GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS
Despite a scintillating hat-trick of tries by Stephan Fourie, Gloucestershire Warriors conceded a league double to Bristol Sonics for the first time. Hit by late cry-offs, the Warriors travelled short on numbers for the second time this season but provided a good test for a Sonics side unbeaten at home for three years.
The Warriors took time to settle and soon found themselves 18-0 down as the Sonics came firing out of the blocks. Tries from John-Jo Burden, James Gross and Ali Parry all converted by Dom Swann gave the home side the perfect start.
However, the Warriors slowly got to grips with the situation and began to play with more cohesion. Lee Alexander made some good breaks, asking the defence questions while solid running from Dan Garbutt and John Wood up the middle took the Warriors forward.
Fourie's footwork in the middle gave the Sonics' defence plenty to think about and after 19 minutes, the Warriors got on the board as the South African skipped through and sped away for a try but he was unable to convert the score.
Minutes later, Fourie repeated the trick for his second unconverted try before he completed a true hat-trick chipping over the defence and regathering for a lovely try. This time Matt Elston added the extras and the Warriors found themselves just four points in arrears.
As the half ended, the Sonics grabbed two quickfire tries, Swann collecting the first and setting the second up for Joel Keane.
The half developed into an entertaining tussle with both sides moving the ball forward well and both defences scrambling well to snuff out the danger.
The second half began scrappily as if the interval had robbed the game of its rhythm but the Sonics soon got the scoreboard moving again through Guy Garnett before Harry Marson crossed. Swann grabbed his second score of the day and added three more conversions to put the game to bed.
Fourie banged over a drop goal after a spell of Warriors pressure on the hour mark before Parry took the Sonics past the half century with his second try. The Warriors replied as Fourie popped over another one-pointer before Keane grabbed his second try to finish the home scoring.
The Warriors did not give up and finished well with a fine try. Wood made the initial inroads before the ball flashed across the pitch, good hands giving Lee Alexander due reward for a fine performance with a stroll-in try.
BRISTOL SONICS: James Gross, Gwyn Owen, Guy Garnett, John-Jo Burden, Tom Curtis, Ali Parry, Joel Keane, Joe Singleton, Harry Marson, Gary Carpenter, Sam Barker, James Pritchard, Dom Swann (Capt). Replacements: Mike Ashford, Carl Watkins, Henry Arnold, Sam Watt.
Scorers: Tries; John-Jo Burden (2), James Gross (4), Ali Parry (12, 62), Dom Swann (34, 56), Joel Keane (37, 69) Guy Garnett (48), Harry Marson (59). Conversions; Dom Swann 9 from 10.
GLOUCESTERSHIRE WARRIORS: Lee Alexander, Alex McEwan, Ed Stallard, James Coleman, Sam Morgan, Tom James, Stephan Fourie, Dan Garbutt (Capt.), Pat Hanslow, John Wood, Luke Smith, Matt Elston.
Scorers: Tries; Stephan Fourie (19, 27, 31), Lee Alexander (75). Conversions; Stephan Fourie 0 from 1, Matt Elston 1 from 3. Field Goals; Stephan Fourie (60, 67).
Referee: Martin Edwards (Wales RLRS)
Man of the Match: Warriors: Lee Alexander, Sonics: John-Jo Burden
Penalties: Sonics 5, Warriors 5.
scoring sequence: 6-0, 12-0, 18-0, 18-4, 18-8, 18-14, 24-14, 30-14, (HT), 36-14, 42-14, 48-14, 48-15, 54-15, 54-16, 58-16, 58-20, (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.
