Aireborough lose 20-14 away at Stocksbridge.

With last week’s defeat ‘at home’ to Halifax Vandals effectively ending this seasons push for promotion, the shackles were effectively off on Saturday as a much changed Aireborough, testing the clubs strength in depth to the limit, travelled to relegation threatened Stocksbridge.

The travelling Wolf Pack was bolstered by big Tom Clayton making his 1st XV debut and the miniscule Thomas Copsey joining the pack on the flank from the wing; whilst the backline Crusader duo of Matty Jones and club stalwart Anthony Clitheroe added some size and razzmatazz to the backs (I’ll leave you to decide who added which!).

On a pitch resembling a swamp, Aireborough began the match wading uphill determined to arrest a slump in form which had resulted in a run of three straight defeats. Both teams locked horns in midfield, testing each other’s defence with some hard running and close ruck play.

An early kickable penalty for Stocksbridge drifted wide of the posts and into the safe and dependable hands of the usually sane and rational scrum half Stuart Wilson… I’m not really sure how to describe what happened next but I’ll try… Wilson, spotting a gap in the chasing Stocksbridge line and backing himself to run uphill for 80 metres through thick mud (!!!) decided against tapping the ball down for a ’22 kick out and went for it – the shackles were well and truly off and Aireborough’s intent was clear! It didn’t quite go to plan as an offload just over the try line was dropped and pounced on by a Stocksbridge player to open the scoring with an unconverted try.

Aireborough marched up the hill and strong defence saw Stocksbridge knock on resulting in the game’s first scrum. With Thomas Copsey taking his time to join the scrum and subsequently putting his head where it shouldn’t be, Martyn Booth left the field shortly after with damaged plums which allowed Tom Clayton to join the fray and make his debut.

Footage of the incident can be seen by following the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS9OTXqRhbE

Aireborough were soon 10-0 down through another unconverted try as Stocksbridge went through the phases around the ruck, making yards with strong carries as a passive Aireborough defence failed to cut the attackers down at source. As Stocksbridge were held up at Aireborough’s 5m line, an eagle eyed ‘Bridge player saw an opening on the blindside and dive for the line.

Aireborough continued to battle away and gave the visiting supporters something to cheer when the best move of the match resulted in a Liam Cree try. Ollie Catherall took a quick penalty on half way and made good yards before the ball went through the hands for Cree to score a well worked try. Full back Nick Holdsworth, from out wide, successfully converted to reduce the deficit to just 10-7 after 25 minutes of play.

Stocksbridge ended the first half in the ascendancy as they played their sloping home pitch well and were rewarded with another unconverted try; not entirely sure how it happened as I was at the bottom of a ruck but it probably involved a forward pass or some other unpunished misdemeanour as Aireborough began losing the ref as he tired of the chat (a.k.a. poor banter) and increasing penalty count at the breakdown.

HT: Stocksbridge 15 v Aireborough 7

Aireborough fancied their chances in the second half against a bigger, tiring, opposition who would have to labour up the hill as they kicked off. With battle recommenced the two teams began slugging it out once again in the Stocksbridge mud. Stocksbridge continued to play tight rugby at the breakdown, playing to their strength and making good yards. A well worked short lineout, which probably didn’t go the lawful 5m, gave a fat prop space to run into the Aireborough ’22 and further phases resulted in a fourth unconverted Stocksbridge try and a 20-7 lead.

Aireborough’s position was made worse shortly after when flanker Jonny Mackey was sin-binned for an off the ball shove of an opposing player. However, the 14 men of Aireborough held firm for the 10 minute period and, with Mackey back on the pitch, began to use the slope to their advantage with accurate kicks from Ollie Catherall and Nick Holdsworth.

As Aireborough began to apply pressure, holes began to form in the Stocksbridge defence and Lewis Barrett took full advantage of one such hole, after a little juggle, to score his first try on his return to the club from Heath. Another superb conversion from Nick Holdsworth reduced Stocksbridge’s lead to 20-14 with 10 minutes, or so, to play.

With their tails up, and smelling blood in the air(e), the Wolf Pack again began marching down the hill and pushed Stocksbridge back into their ’22. One such attack saw the ball spun out wide to Liam Cree on the wing with plenty of space ahead of him; just as the after burners were turned on Cree pulled up with either an ankle or hamstring injury – with his opposite number showing no mercy to the lame Cree as he caught up with him and tackled him to the floor.

As the minutes ticked by, a penalty was kicked to touch and the lineout was won. The subsequent rolling maul was stopped and as the ball was spun out to the backs it was knocked on and cleared by a swinging boot of a Stocksbridge player. Suddenly there was a foot race to retrieve the ball and with Stocksbridge winning the race, scrambling Aire defence thwarted the attack in their own ‘22m for a line out. Aireborough had lost 70m from a very promising position following an error – which just about summed up their day.

Aireborough were unable to get back into the Stocksbridge ’22 in the dying minutes and the referee put Aireborough out of their misery with a shrill of his whistle.

FT: Stocksbridge 20 v Aireborough 14

A disappointing day for an Aireborough side that put 100% effort into the match but were not clinical enough in attack and clocked up far too many unforced errors and penalties. On another day, with Aireborough in a better run of form, this could easily have been an away victory but it just seemed to be one of those days!

Richard Holmes, named Man of the Match by default as there were no other non-drivers left in the clubhouse, was shocking in his downing of the post-match pint. Stocksbridge highlighted the good work done by our number 6 (which I think was Jonny Mackey) – so shout out to you, although this could have been in jest following your sin-binning. Tom Clayton and Anthony Clitheroe both had standout games respectively.

All in all – one to forget about and concentrate on the impending visit of league leaders Knottingley – who seem to be getting little nervous as the promotion hunt hits ‘squeaky bum time’ with two successive loses to Halifax Vandals and Wensleydale respectively.