Meltham All Blacks – Home (BARLA Cup Rd. 2)
October 24th, 2011
RUDE AWAKENING FOR WARRIORS
The second round of the Yorkshire BARLA CUP saw Hunslet Warriors playing host to Meltham All Blacks. The visitors have won all their games this season comfortably without conceding a point, so a difficult encounter was envisaged by the home side.
The conditions were perfect for rugby league but the Hunslet side only had fourteen players due to injuries and unavailability, and looked on paper a bit thin on the ground. After ten minutes of excellent rugby by both teams, the All Blacks scored with an intercepted try. This was converted under the sticks.
An injury to two Hunslet Warriors players shortly after the restart resulted in an onslaught by Meltham who were ruthless in racking up a further five tries by the interval.
Half Time Hunslet Warriors 0 34 Meltham All Blacks
The second half continued where the first left off with Meltham proving much too strong for a weakened, somewhat dispirited Hunslet side. The only highlight in a thoroughly dreadful Warriors performance was a well constructed try by Nathan Robinson from which Nathan Sefton added the extras.
The All Blacks continued to score almost at will and the body language of the Hunslet lads showed they were not up for the challenge. The really surprising aspect of the whole match was the lack of pride in the shirt by the Warriors team. In every game this season the spirit and resolution has been first class so no one could have predicted both the result and inept performance.
I have no doubt that harsh words have been said both behind closed doors and on the training pitch this week by the coaching team. We have no game on the 23rd which is probably not a bad thing! A further week to recover is definitely needed. Minds need to be focussed for next week and the difficult away journey to Slaithwaite.
Full Time Hunslet Warriors 6 80 Meltham All Blacks
Yours in Sport
Keith Mather