Slaithwaite Saracens – Home
November 4th, 2011
TO THE EDGE AND BACK
The conditions were set fair for Hunslet Warriors to resume their promising league start by entertaining SLAITHWAITE SARACENS on their first visit to Warrior Park.
From the league table and their results, it appeared that the visitors had made a promising but inconsistent start to the campaign and faced a HUNSLET side having to respond to a mauling from Meltham in their last game.
The match started with Slawit having all the early play with their big front row making inroads in to the Warriors defence. It came as no surprise to the watching crowd when the Saracens took a deserved lead with a good try in the left hand corner of the Hunslet back line.
The visitors failed to add the conversion but still led 4 – 0.
The Warriors seemed to be suffering a hangover from the last match and it was probably against the run of play that saw the home team draw level. REECE WHITEHOUSE displayed a brilliant piece of individualism to score in the corner and despite failing to add the extras, it was all square at 4 – 4.
The score seemed to galvanise the WARRIORS side and both JACK BAXTER AND JACK HALLIDAY answered the call with a couple of excellent line breaking runs. The Hunslet lads were being prompted by both NATHAN SEFTON and the returning SHERIDAN WHITE (How good was it to see this lad back!) and started to dominate the play.
From a quick play the ball, SEFTON showed his undoubted class to go on his own and score right under the sticks. He added two points to his own try and WARRIORS LED 10 – 4.
Shortly before the break and after four repeat sets, SARACENS scored their second try through their impressive No 10 and added the extras to go in at the interval all square at 10 – 10.
Half time HUNSLET WARRIORS 10 v 10 SLAITHWAITE SARACENS
The second half commenced in a similar vain to the first with the visitors seeing plenty of the ball. However, after another fine run from RAMBO, WHITEHOUSE scored his second try of the match and again showed what a top player he can be. The try was successfully converted by SEFTON and the WARRIORS nosed ahead once again 16 – 10.
After a number of unforced errors by the home team, SLAWIT deservedly equalised under the posts to level matters up once more at 16 – 16. The next pattern of play saw more SARACENS pressure and the HUNSLET team defending for their lives.
With only minutes left to play, the visitors opted to go for a drop goal to put them ahead and this was duly dispatched between the sticks and the lead was theirs at 16 – 17.
With only a minute left on the clock, the WARRIORS produced the move of the match with the ball going through many pairs of hands before a fine turn of pace by NATHAN ROIBINSON resulted in a marvellous try in the corner. Although the kick was unsuccessful, the referee immediately blew the final whistle and it was game over.
This ended another thriller at Warrior Park however, Mick Baxter (Coach) must be wondering if the lads will ever complete a set of six and why we keep kicking so early in the tackle count.
Full Time HUNSLET WARRIORS 20 v 17 SLAWIT SARACENS
Yours in Sport
Keith Mather