Close but no cigar for Aireborough

Lapses of concentration cost Aireborough dear on Saturday as Old Modernians punished a tiring Aire defence around the breakdown to record their first home win of the season, 27-17, and condemn Aireborough to yet another league defeat.

However, it could easily have been a different tale with a different outcome as Aireborough were level on points after 65 minutes, with both the slope and momentum in their favour as they fought from 12-0 down at halftime to draw level 12-12 with 15 minutes to play.

Aireborough had started the game at a ferocious pace, playing up the hill and determined to limit Old Mods in both possession and territory as they looked to use their hill to maximum advantage and smash Aireborough aside in the first half.

An early penalty attempt from Captain Ollie Catherall was just wide as Aireborough continued to press Old Mods in their own half and strong running from the back three of Kris Brook, Matty Jones and Wild Bill Child made good yards returning Old Mod clearing kicks.

A contentious refereeing decision on the half-hour gave Old Mods a dangerous 5m scrum in the Aireborough ‘22m – having initially awarded a ‘22m drop out to Aireborough following a clearing touchback from Bill Child, only to seek the advice from the home touch judge and reverse his decision to award an attacking scrum. The number 8 from Old Mods broke down the blindside and quick hands put their winger into the corner for an unconverted, and undeserved, try.

Aireborough, clearly aggrieved at the decision, lost their cool toward the end of the half and rash decisions and a panicked defence resulted in a converted try on the brink of half-time as Old Mods capitalised on a fragmented rush defence to find big holes in the away team’s defence.

HT: Old Modernians 12 v Aireborough 0

Encouraging words from Si Davies and Ollie Catherall settled the team during the break and Aireborough started the second half strongly, using the hill wisely with some accurate kick-chases to pen Old Mods in their own half.

Rich Lister, reacting faster than a deliberately staged arson attack that would leave Chris Clarke and his team at Fire Investigations UK (visit them here to learn more: https://www.fireinvestigationsuk.com/) weak at the knees, reduced the deficit to 12-5 with some quick thinking to touch a loose ball down on the try line. Ollie Catherall was wayward with a tricky attempted conversion on the far touchline.

Ten minutes later Aireborough were level, Jonny Mackey (reminiscent of a rampaging Dave ‘Tank’ Greenwood’ in his heyday - buy him a pint at the bar and he’ll tell you all about his monstrous tries from 3metres out…) touching down following an Aire catch-and-drive from a lineout in the Old Mods ‘22m. Ollie Catherall slotted the conversion to bring the score to 12-12.

And this is where I started the match report… Aireborough in the ascendancy and looking at a first away victory of the season. Aireborough, through either tiredness or a lack of communication, failed to defend the fringes of a rook properly and the Old Mods number 9 sniped twice to make good ground before finding supporting players to score two tries, one of which was converted – with a penalty thrown into the mix for good measure.

A try from walking wounded scrumhalf James Underwood, sponsored by his better half and the very talented freelance graphic designer Sarah Greene (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-greene-97824420/ or visit https://www.sarah-designer.com/ to see examples of her great work), separated the two Old Mods tries and gave Aireborough hope but ultimately it was no more than a consolation as Aireborough lost by 10 points to leave Old Mods empty-handed.

FT: Old Modernians 27 v Aireborough 17

Coach Si Davies, either delusional or drunk (or possibly both) praised Man of the Match Lewis Barrett for his “Good go forward and a solid defensive display from him. Probably the best game I have seen him play in an Aireborough shirt”.

The brown ale moment was awarded to resident joker Thomas Copsey who, despite having a solid game in the centres next to Lewis Barrett, comically failed the 6-pint milk challenge after the match and was left with a red face and green shoes after confidently boasting that drinking 6 pints of milk in 30 minutes was easy. Don’t try it at home kids!