Courageous Aire edge tense encounter.

Aire edged out Burley in last season’s training game and this time Nunroyd Park was the venue for what was to be another close encounter.

Burley arrived on the back of a successful campaign in Yorkshire 3 and the home side knew that they would be facing a significant challenge.

There has been some changes in playing personnel and this game saw the blooding of new skipper Mikey Dolan and the return of several former age grade players such as powerhouses Huw McGrath and Fred Ibbotson.

The game was the first occasion the new tackle and carry laws were in place, which would be officiated by society referee Iain Craven.

The match was was played in quarters, which provided opportunities to try different combinations.

The opening quarter started at a ferocious pacs and this tempo would continue throughout the game.

Both teams were guilty of forcing play; however it was It was Burley who settled into their stride quickest and exploited Aire’s lack of cohesion. Burley are known t have good hands and had the capability of shipping the ball wide in a blink.

On one occasion Aire’s blitz was caught out and only a desperate intervention by Fred Ibbotson saved an almost certain score. This was a warning that Aire needed improvement in their organisation and communication.

The forward battle was attritional; however Aire’s young and dynamic pack applied pressure to their opponents. Aire’s front row of Lewis Eastwood, Ben Hague and Will Warrington offered themselves up for the hard carries and also a defensive shift.

Spencer Wood started this game at scrum half and provided a crisp service to Joe Priestley at stand off. Onward distribution was challenging, with Burley’s rush defence pinning back the Aire back line. Huw McGrath was a power house at outside centre and time and again he got Aire over the gain.

The game ebbed and flowed but neither team could gain significant possession or territorial advantage.

In the last play of the 2nd quarter Aire were awarded a penalty, which skipper Mikey Dolan rightly chose to take a shot at goal. Spencer Wood stepped up and dissected the posts that took Aire into a 3 point lead at the end of the first half.

After some indiscipline Burley were marched back 30 metres resulting in Spencer knocking over another penalty in the 3rd quarter to stretch Aire’s lead.

Burley came back hard and turned the screw and after repelling waves of attack, Burley scored a try but the conversion was missed.

The last 25 minutes ebbed and flowed, but it was Aire who just about had the upper hand. Aire camped down in coffin corner, but some rusty decision making cost Aire further points. Fair play to Burley’s defence though which stood firm even when defending thundering runs from Jack Porteous and Nick Weavers.

With 15 to go some smart kicking gave Aire possession in Burley’s red zone. Aire were 15 m out and were awarded a penalty. Skipper Mikey Dolan led the charge and aire pounded Burley’s white wash. A ruck formed and Spencer fed Jack P who was held up 2m out, the ball found Huw McGrath who rode challenges but was felled agonisingly close. The Burley defence had been pulled in and the gap was penetrated by a bullocking Will Warrington drive for a superb
Aire score.

Burley responded almost immediately with a well executed long range score and the last last few minutes were nail biting.

New winger Dan Worby was a man possessed and his appetite for running and defending was immense.

Aire had to endure a nervous couple of minutes in their line, but experienced players like Joe White, James Underwood and Harry Beckwith helped close out the game for a fantastic Aireborough victory.

The raucous crowd had been treated to a full bloodied thriller, which in truth could have gone either way.

This victory was forged from effort, commitment and desire to play for the Aire shirt and team mates. There were many errors from both sides, but the foundations are in place for Aire to improve skills and decision making over the coming weeks. Training is an essential part of this so get down on Wednesday to prepare for Stocksbridge on Saturday.

It’s difficult to single out individual players, but Jack Porteous was a constant ball carrying threat as was Will Warrington and Tommy Rollinson.
Spencer Wood looked sharp at 9, Nathan Kearney had a god hit out and Huw McGrath was awesome. This performance was held together though by Mikey Dolan, who made an excellent skipper.

Massive game on Saturday at home to Stocksbridge, so get those YES availabilities rolling in on Teamreach for what will be a huge challenge.