A lot of graft but no penetration

On a beautiful Autumnal day, Aireborough travelled to top of the table Knottingley following the previous week’s confident display against a large Stocksbridge team. Aire knew this was a fantastic opportunity to front up and not be simply bullied off the park.

Off the back of previous encounters and the gossip on the Yorkshire forum, Sharon (my boss) had already been pre-warned for the black eye and rearranged nose. However despite the four yellow cards (two for each team) and three concussed Aire players I was surprised at how warm-hearted and loving the Knottingley lads were. The notorious ‘’dirty’’ game expected was more a hard-battled defensive display from both teams, with a ref that would have been more suited to dealing cards as opposed to handing them out on the pitch, both teams feeling three of the four yellows were petty and believing many decisions didn’t go their way.

With a couple of injuries in the backs an 11th hour change was required with the team turning to the trusty hands of Iain Craven who once again stepped up to the mark, and Matty Jones who made his first appearance for the 1st XV this year with an impressive performance.

The game started with Aire receiving the kick off and both sides starting strongly. Despite Knottingley having the majority of the field position for the opening 20 minutes neither side looked like scoring with the big hits and early exchanges fairly equal from both teams from the off.

Christopher Chapman received the first yellow card of the game for a scandalous ‘’deliberate’’ knock on, when making a tackle which was the start of what soon became a card-happy day in the office for the referee. Knottingley kicked to corner taking a quick line out and making full advantage of their extra man taking the opportunity to get in under the sticks. Conversion added 7 – 0 after half an hour played.

Apart from the previous try the majority of the first half was a well fought battle played mainly between the 22s. With the only other highlights being a 40 yard penalty slotted by Ryan Sample to take the game to 7 – 3 and a yellow card straight from the restart when an overly excitable Knottingley player thought he was Rocky Balboa making a ‘’tackle’’ on Martyn Booth that was more an uppercut and was probably feeling lucky it was just a yellow (what do I know I’m just a soft winger).

However Knottingley’s defence was on point and easily the best we have played so far this season, with Aireborough failing to capitalise and unlock a 14-man blue wall. Aireborough’s chances came from an occasional Knottingley mistake and Rich Lister making an interception on his own 22, only to opt to save his legs for the remainder of the game than fancy the 60 yard dash, ergo pretending to knock it on.

Half time 7 – 3

As the whistle went for the 2nd half it was Aire to take the kick. Fired up and fancying their chances they shot out the traps like a whippet immediately applying pressure and forcing the knock on from the catch with Rich Lister picking up the spoils, only to get scalped by the frustrated Knottingley player. Knottingley having previously received a team warning were lucky the dealer (aka referee) didn't deal more cards, and a penalty to Aire was awarded in front of the sticks. Ryan Sample missed resulting in a 22 drop out only for the hasty Knottingley players to be pulled back for offside. Penalty attempt vol.2 from Sample, and he missed again.

With a series of penalties at the scrum and lineout for Aire along with some brilliant catch and maul play [edit: winger speak for "forwards stuff"], Aire started to gain momentum. Surprised not to get a nose bleed from being so far up the pitch Aire threatened on the Knottingley 5 metre line, only for it to end with a lateral back line move. A questionable decision to tap and go from the latest penalty in the string saw the ball fly hacked 80 yards back towards Aire’s 5 metre for Robert Johnson to make the return, only to receive a hit that made me question why I swapped from football in the first place.

With Aire frantically trying to regain territory and find a way to break through the Knottingley defence a series of penalties for team ill discipline saw Cal Lister binned for just being an all-round cheat. Again Knots took full advantage and it was almost De Ja Vu from the first half with Knottingley taking a quick line out, this time throwing wide to beat a stretched Aire defence in the corner. Conversion missed.

Full time 12 – 3.

All in all as I said before Knottingley have been by far the best defence we have seen so far this year, however Aireborough were disappointed to come away from this game with nothing. Aireborough dominated the scrum and lineout all day however didn’t help ourselves by kicking away great possession straight down the full back’s throat.

We regroup this week as the backs put our heads together to come up with plan B to unlock such a well organised defence. On a different day it could have been a different result. It was a close, well fought battle to the very end. The game was as physical as expected and has left a great fixture to be awaited when we play the reverse in the new year.

Training Monday and Wednesday this week in preparation for a big clash to Wensleydale at home. Followed by the much anticipated Baildon clash and my birthday on the 26th (all welcome for drinks after the game) [edit: "did I mention it's my birthday the day we play Baildon"...]