BRADFORD & BINGLEY RFC 15 v DMPRFC 12

Wagon Lane is always a difficult venue to return from with points and Saturday was no exception. The game hinged on the sending off of a Bradford & Bingley RFC centre, just prior to half time, which seemed to galvanise the home side into a determined fight back from being 5 – 12 down at oranges.

Things started brightly enough for the visitors with an initial period of pressure via incisive back play and running forwards, which took the home side by surprise and forced them to offend, allowing Grant CONNON to register a penalty after only five minutes (0 – 3).

More pressure from DMPRFC was unrewarded, when a series of clean breaks by their midfield duo of Cameron MITCHELL and Tom HODGSON, ably assisted by Matt LISTER and Paul SHEPHERD and the elusive running Max CONNON, were thwarted by poor or rushed finishing or a covering defender.

It was the home side who registered the first try of the game, when awarded a penalty, the ball was kicked wide out and accurately and gathered easily by the winger, who touched down unopposed, as the visiting defence was taken unawares (5 – 3). The conversion was missed.

There had been signs that the home side were over eager in their efforts to depose DMPRFC of the ball when not in possession and it was no surprise when the official, after warning of the consequences shortly before a late tackle, showed the yellow card to their stand off.

A succession of penalties followed for the visitors, as Bradford & Bingley continued in their over exuberance at the contact areas.

Grant CONNON obliged every time and slotted over three penalties during this period, taking DMPRFC into a deserving lead of 5 – 12 at this stage of the game.

As the earlier yellow card offender returned, another home player took his place for persistently being offside and then what followed prior to oranges, bizarrely changed the game in Bradford & Bingley’s favour.

The home centre gathered a deep kick, then cleverly chipped over the oncoming attacker, only to be impeded illegally from gathering, which was about to be registered by the official. However, the centre took matters into his own hands, upending the offending attacker and then proceeded to punch him whilst on the ground, as well as an attending DMPRFC player, in full view of the official. Only one outcome was possible for the referee, who showed the red card. Obviously incensed, the player left the field reluctantly, only to vent his frustrations towards a DMPRFC pitch assistant, barging into him, as he took on a kicking tee.

This incident happened just prior to oranges and as the break came and went and it was probably envisaged that being a man down would cause problems for the home side.

In fact it had the opposite effect, as Bradford & Bingley mounted a decent rear guard action, by adopting a ten man rugby approach that afforded them some success.

DMPRFC were reduced to 14 men, when their skipper Junior FAGALILO was deemed to be offside as pressure mounted on the visitors and it was no real surprise when a penalty try was awarded, after a series of infringements at the set piece (10 – 12). The conversion was easy, making it all square (12 – 12) as the final quarter approached.

Changes to personnel were made by both sides in an effort to win the game, but Bradford & Bingley always seemed to have the impetus from then on and probably deserved their victory with the drop goal success well into injury time (15 – 12).