Remember remember the 5th November

Remember remember the 5th November

An appropriate date for Aireborough 1st team to catch fire with ten tries run in against Stocksbridge. After two defeats in a row Head Coach Matt Trevithick questioned the desire of the players and if they still had fire in their bellies. I think he got the response he wanted with some real sparkling performances from the players.

Not an ideal build up to the game with a number of players injured or unavailable and with Adam Jackson falling ill on the day there were a few changes and a new look to the starting fifteen. It was definitely a heavier pack than usual and not the usual athletic look from 1-8 . With only one good knee between them Si Davies, Luke Exley and Martyn Booth were all in the starting 15 and the clubs annual tape budget blown on this one game. Cal Lister made his first start of the season in the Centres and there were a couple of call ups from the Crusaders with Iain Craven and Neil Gardner taking their place on the bench.

Before we go through each of the ten tries I’d just like to point out, in case you don’t realise that 8 of the ten tries were scored by the forwards.
The game kicked off with Stocksbridge playing down the slope, and early scrum advantage was with Aireborough nudging Stocks off their own ball-a pattern that continued throughout. Aireborough used the ball to create a number of tries whilst playing mistake-free rugby. Luke Exley carried strongly all game and was rewarded with a try under the posts blasting through the visitors' defence.

Two tries from the driving maul were dotted down by Nick Jackson (sponsored by Furniture Clinic) in the first half, with the forwards executing well at set piece time.

Stu Wilson sniped for a neat try round the fringes up the hill and Chunky finished off a move from a pop off the floor from fellow front row Rich Lister (sponsored by fire investigations uk), who having made a break in the three-quarters decided lying down and popping was easier than making it the last 5 yards to the line. First half hat-trick hero Nick Jackson gladly bought the jug in the clubhouse after the game.

33-3 at half time following a late Stocksbridge penalty towards the end of the half.

I was particularly excited about the start of the second half as we lined up for one of our kick off drills. Gearing myself up to follow the ball deep in to the opposition half we all stood and watched as the ball just made it over the 10 meter line- a bit like a firework which didn't go off Aire stood and watched not sure whether they should go near the ball giving Stocksbridge the upper hand in the first few minutes
Aire soon won the ball back and exerted pressure on a deflated and underfiring Stocks team. Despite periods of possession for Stocks, Aire defended clinically, and a fortunate interception on Stocks 10m line allowed a most unlikely interception from tight head prop Rich Lister who remarkably made it under the sticks.

Further tries followed from Rob Johnson, with Rich Lister and Luke Exley each scoring their second of the afternoon, the latter from a beautiful left-handed miss pass from Iain Craven.

The final score came from Si Davies opening his legs like a gazelle going (nearly) 80m in apparent slow motion carrying the Stocks pack on his back ignoring the support either side and crashing over CLEARLY putting the ball down.

Final Score 60-3 to Aireborough- A clinical performance by Aire with Head coach Matt particular pleased with us keeping their try count to zero.

The Wolfpack was back and the sound of Gold was ringing loud around the changing rooms again.

There were a number of contenders for Man of the match - hat trick hero Nick Jackson who apparently bought one jug of beer for 19 players. Rich Lister with his two 40 yard tries fuelled by his large sausage and egg sandwich from ‘Somewhere Different’ that morning but it was Jonny Hiles (kindly sponsored by Large) who disrupted their lineout all day and worked tirelessly around the park.

As I stood in the shower afterwards drinking my can of winning beer I knew times were changing at Aire as the MoM stood next to me drinking his protein shake!!

With an away fixture at Knottingley next week Aire know they need to up their game again to come away with the Win

Martyn Booth