U14 - MOWDEN WIN AGIANST IMPROVING THIRSK TEAM

An improving Thirsk team competed well in the first half before fitness began to tell and Mowden ran away with the game and the scoreline at the end.

Thirsk visited Mowden Park for the first time in the home leg of a new fixture. It was clear that the Thirsk lads had continued improving from the February fixture and arrived off the back of a victory in a high scoring game at Whitby.

In the opening seconds Thirsk made a great break when their number 12 made 25 yards almost unopposed before finally being tackled. Unfortunately he had run beyond his support and Mowden turned the ball over. Gordon Thompson sent the ball down the line to the right. Mark Harsley, playing outside centre, spotted a gap and sprinted through. He released to Matty Warr who rounded his opposite number and went in to score under the posts. Tamer Fuat converted.

Mowden almost immediately scored again with Jonny Teague backing up a move but the final pass was deemed forward. From the scrum Thirsk cleared well with a long kick into the Mowden half. Tamer, starting as full-back, and in a great run returned position to the Thirsk 22. Sam Lorimer, who was revelling in the role as the starting number 8, and Dom Gibson drove over top win quick ball. Mark Wilson saw an opportunity and moved the ball left. Joe Craggs, ever present in the line, spotted a gap and was through under the posts for Mowden’s second try under the posts. Again Tamer converted.

A penalty for a late tackle gave Thirsk and opportunity and they kicked for a line out 15 metres from the Mowden line. Callum Oakes stole the ball from the throw to give Mowden the chance to clear. Instead of kicking for touch, a clever chip kick from Mark W was fielded by Joe on the right wing. He made ground before passing to Matty who got to the Thirsk 10m line before being tackled. Good support from Simon Shepherd, Alfie Wilson and Connor Noble secured quick ball for Gordon to see that Thirsk were out of position. Mark H made good use of the overlap to end his try drought with a burst of speed to outpace the defence. Tamer just shaved the wrong side of the post with a difficult kick.

Although 19 points down in 15 minutes Thirsk picked themselves up an embarked on their best period of the game. Clever use of the wind and accurate kicking by their fly-half kept Mowden pinned back in their own half and improved tackling started to put pressure on Mowden. A penalty for offside gave Thirsk a chance and their strong forwards charged close to the line. Several times they recycled from the maul to rush at the line and it was only the excellent tackling of Ryan Hall, playing flanker, Callum and James Maclintock amongst others that prevented a score. It was with relief that Mowden cleared the ball into touch and managed to get further upfield as Joe and Sam stole lineout ball.

So it was a bit against the run of play when Mowden scored next. Having worked their way to the centre of the field a worked move between Mark W and Jonny created a gap and Jonny gained 20m before being held up and passing to Ollie Cooper on the left wing. He sprinted into the Thirsk 22, was tackled and recycled. Thirsk were out of position and were forced into an early tackle on Gordon. A quickly taken tap penalty moved the ball wide to Callum and he powered through to score. In a rare miscue Tamer failed to convert.

Unfortunately shortly afterwards Callum was badly injured in a fall and had to leave the game.

Thirsk immediately returned to pressurising Mowden and were rewarded with a penalty for Mowden not rolling away from the tackle. Their forwards charged up but were stopped short by more fierce tackling. They set up a maul and tried again. Again Mowden’s defence was firm but finally Thirsk got just reward for their work and crashed over for a try 5m from the left touchline. A superb kick brought the half to an end with a successful conversion.

Half time Mowden 24 Thirsk 7

Mowden started the second half as they had done the first. From the kick off Sam made a fine tackle to win the ball for Mowden. Mark W kicked over the heads of the oncoming defence for a line-out near the Thirsk line. Thirsk won the ball and cleared but failed to make touch. Tamer ran the ball back close to the line. The forwards set up a good maul eventually releasing the ball to Ollie who dived over for a try near the corner. Tamer made up for his previous miscue with a great conversion from a difficult angle.

Mowden made a number of changes with Elliot Wanless, Tom Lawson, John Payne and Michael Hall coming on.

Elliot was immediately into the action as he fielded a loose ball and in a fine individual try, sprinted from his half way line through the Thirsk defence to score under the posts. Tamer again converted to move the score to 38-7.

Mowden’s superior fitness began to tell in the heat and the fresh legs of Tom and Michael in the pack meant that Mowden were almost always first to the ball and there in numbers to secure their own ball or win turnover ball.

A chip kick from Mark W was pounced on by Mowden. Gordon set the line away and Jonny passed to Joe. Mark H made the overlap and the lone defender was caught in two minds as Joe ran in for his second try. Tamer again made no mistake with the extra two points.

From the restart Mowden knocked on but good prop work from Alfie and Connor and a good heel by James won turnover ball that was quickly moved right. John got his first feel of the ball and used it to run from his own 10m line around the defence to score under the posts. Tamer converted.

Although clearly tired and under pressure, Thirsk didn’t give up and prevented scores by Mark H and Elliot with some last minute tackles.

The final score came from a Thirsk line-out which they won. Tom ripped the ball away and the ball went down the line to Tamer who was tackled but support from Jonny and then Joe secured him his hat trick near the right corner. Tamer made his 7th and probably most difficult conversion of the game and the ref blew to end the match.

Final score Mowden 59 Thirsk 7

A great performance in the heat against an improving and spirited Thirsk team who pressed hard in the first half. The importance of our fitness showed in the second half when we secured and won ball by being there first and in numbers.

Next week we are away to a tough Morpeth team before a rest for Easter.