Aireborough back to winning ways.

Following a poor performance and result last week at home to Castleford, Aireborough made a number of changes to the squad to face Old Modernians RUFC. Coach and man-mountain Simon Davies, Second row Richard Holmes and 'The Fridge' Adam Jackson were restored to the staring pack with Lewis Eastwood, Bill Child and Philip Shopland-Reed dropping to the bench. The backs were largely unchanged with the exception of Crusader's Captain James Underwood deputising for the absent Stu Wilson at scrum half. The bench was bolstered with new signing, and another of the Lister clan, Callum Lister and 'I'll have a 10 minute run out for the 2's please' Matthew Osborn; making his long-awaited return following a leg break nearly two years ago.

Old Modernians v Aireborough

Playing down the hill in the first half Aire knew that a strong start was required as, from previous experience, Old Mods play their slope well and a decent half time lead is required otherwise you're battered into submission by Old Mods rumbling down the hill. With the wise words of Ollie Catherall's "15-20 points lead at half time required", Ryan Sample gave the ball a hefty boot and the game began.

The early exchanges were physical against a bigger Mods team and Jonny Mackey was soon in the wars; lasting five minutes before injuring his knee and being replaced by Bill Child. Aire were soon making a second change with James Underwood injuring his ankle and being replaced by Matthew Osborn at full back with Ollie Catherall moving to scrum half. Despite the early enforced changes, Aire used the slope well early on to apply pressure to the Old Mods line and it soon paid dividends with Ryan Sample slotting home a penalty following Old Mods indiscipline to give Aire a 3-0 lead after ten minutes.

Mods were soon level following a successful penalty of their own before Aire's forwards began to dominate the set piece; giving Ryan Sample ample opportunity to either kick for touch following penalties or distribute ball for the back's to have a run out wide. Aireborough were soon back in the lead following a catch-and-drive from a 15m attacking line-out which saw hooker Nick Jackson (kindly sponsored by Furniture Clinic - https://www.furnitureclinic.co.uk/) score an unconverted try. Ryan Sample made amends shortly after with another successful penalty to extend Aire's lead to 11-3 and Aire's dominance should have resulted in further tries with winger 'honestly I didn't go out last night and get hammered, even though I'm playing like I did' Kris Brook bombing two certain tries and Matthew Osborn and Thomas Copsey both carving the opposition open with jinking kick returns. Aireborough's lead was reduced to 11-6 near the break as Old Mods punished Aire ill-discipline and wastefulness with another successful penalty.

HT: Old Modernians 6 v Aireborough 11

With a lead of just 5 points at half time, the lads knew they would have to dig deep with solid defence and teamwork to defy Mystic Catherall's prediction of a Mods victory unless a decent half time lead was on the table. The second half didn't start too well with an Aire fumble as Bill Child's Jesus-like hair obscured his vision fielding the restart and Old Mods had an early scrum. Aire continued to disrupt the Mods set piece and the Old Mods tight-head was soon seeing yellow for continually infringing - probably grateful for the rest from being in Rich Lister's pocket all game.

The jumping quartet of Christopher Chapman, Bill Child, Richard Holmes and Jonny Hiles kept the opposition, and our own Nick Jackson at times, guessing as Aire began to win line-out from both sides and the excellent rush defence, marshalled by centre's Liam Cree and Rob Johnson, limited Old Mods to one-up rugby as they attempted to run over Aireborough, as Castleford had done the previous week. However, the Aire defence was solid and big hits from Christopher Chapman and Adam Jackson soon had Old Mods on the back foot.

Aireborough's superior fitness began to show and the game should have finally been put to bed with sustained pressure - up the hill - in the Mods '22 but Aire were again wasteful in the midfield and out-wide (cough cough Kris Brook) as they tried, at times, to force a score rather than going through the phases. The delicacy of Aire's situation was highlighted near the end of the match with 10 seconds of madness as poor off loads in the Mods '22 cost Aire 40m, and when the ball shot out of the side of a secured ruck and was fly hacked down the pitch by an Old Mods player, the chase was on between covering defender Thomas Copsey and his opposite number. Thomas Copsey won the race and cleared his lines but it was a stark reminder that despite the territory and possession, the lead was still only 5 points. Aire saw out the remaining minutes to win this tight game and get back to winning ways.

FT: Old Modernians 6 v Aireborough 11

Aireborough righted a few wrongs from last week's performance and refused to allow themselves to be bullied by a bigger team. The defence was excellent and there won't be many, if any, teams that will 'nil' Old Mods going downhill. However, Aireborough left a lot of points out on the field and will need to be much more clinical going forward - it is still yet to click going forward and I maintain that when it does someone will be on the wrong end of a cricket score.

Man of the Match
Given Matthew Osborn has been a member of the club for quite a few years, quite how he believed he would just be OK to sit on the bench and would only get a game if it were a last resort is beyond me. It's a trick used many times over the years by Aire (including to me - debuting away at Bramley on a snowy horrible January afternoon - not sure I ever thanked you for that Ozzy!?) and it worked yesterday with Matthew Osborn marshalling the defence well and jinking around numerous opponents on his dazzling attacking runs.

Aireborough welcome Division 4 side, and Rich Lister's former side, Ossett to Nunroyd Park next week for a Yorkshire Silver Trophy Round 2 match - kick off 3pm.