Aire 32 - 5 Leeds Modernians

Match ball kindly sponsored by Step Change: An experienced Telesales and Customer Research company working on accounts like EE, the UK’s market leading mobile phone network.

Aire were determined to kick on from last week's first half performance against Castleford with an eighty minute showing against local rivals Leeds Mods, knowing all too well that only that would do.

In an exact opposite of events at Castleford last week, a bright start saw Aire earn a penalty 30m out, which on Nunroyd turf Nick Holdsworth slotted neatly, returning from a week's rest. Nick is sponsored by Step Change, who also kindly sponsor our home match balls for the 2017/18 season.

From the restart, hands in the ruck from Aire gave Mods a shot, which their fly half dragged wide. 3-0 Aire.

Then came a showing of great rugby, which saw Aire fully in control by half time. The first score came courtesy of captain Ollie Catherall, sponsored by Scoff, who taking go-forward ball from a lineout drive, ghosted through the Mods midfield with a huge overlap outside, for a well taken team score. The conversion 15m in from touch was added by Nick Holdsworth, and 10 minutes gone Aire were 10-0 up.

Backs and forwards were to combine well throughout the afternoon, and the second score came from a similar period of territory - penalty to the corner, accurate lineout, then forward and backs combining to within 5m of the line. Chris Chapman spotted the lack of numbers around the ruck as Mods scrambled to defend their line, and grounded the ball forcefully with an extended right paw. Chappers is currently unsponsored - please let us know if you'd like to support us by taking up available sponsorship opportunities. Extras missed, 15-0.

With Aire's set piece totally dominant, Mods were struggling to get any sort of foothold in the game, with Nick Jackson's arrows accurate, and right foot taking ball against the head, Adam Jackson (sponsored by Pizza House) , Jonny Hiles (sponsored by Large) and Tom Pendriss (sponsored by Ilkley Dental Care) provided the power in the engine room aiding Martyn Booth and Charlie Middleton (thanks to the Middletons for the pork pies after the game!) in causing havoc at scrum time during the afternoon.

The third try saw Ollie Catherall in again, in a similar way to his first; Phil Shopland-Reed (sponsored by WKH Plastics) and Luke Exley working hard round the corner off the lineout, great distribution from Stu Wilson (sponsored by GMex Construction) and a great line in the centre from Liam Cree (sponsored by Phil Knowles), opening space for Catherall to dot down untouched.

The remainder of the half saw Mods finally get some possession, and Aire's hunger in defence was immense, constantly driving Mods back up the slope to keep the door closed. HT 20-0 Aire firmly on top.

In recent weeks, Aire have been ahead or in games at half time, only to drop off and end with disappointment. This week was not one of those, despite knowing that Mods would throw everything at them in the second period.

And Mods got off to a bright start in the second half, earning a string of penalties following errors from Aire, Mods kept possession for a number of phases eventually sneaking round the outside of Aire's stretched defence. Disappointment for Aire under the sticks mandated a return to action similar to that of the first half, and Tom Pendriss smashing the Mods second row directly on catching the restart was just the ticket.

Aire then continued to build pressure, and Pendriss was stopped just inches short having taken a superb line off Stu Wilson 10m out, the next phase seeing the ball held up. From the resulting scrum, Aire's secondary drive turned the Mods back row away from Jonny Mackey (sponsored by Dave Greenwood) who picked up and drove under the sticks for his 198th try of the season. Extras added, 27-5.

Aire continued to play, and from a kicking exchange, found space in midlfield. Backs and forwards combining neatly, and Nick Jackson (sponsored by Furniture Clinic) had options right and left as he went in from 30m, making the kick easier by working round towards the posts. Aim askew for the extras, 32-5 with 25 to play.

Aire continued to dominate, and in the latter stages, Catherall's nerves were tested having been on a hat-trick for nearly half the game - with men to spare, a casual run through a non-existent Mods defence saw the skipper go in for what must surely have been the easiest score of the afternoon. In the most audacious showing of jug-avoidance in recent seasons, the knock-on was so deliberate the ref briefly moved whistle to lips, deciding against it only to spare further embarassment.

Aire saw the game out with little further incident. Mentions must go to the back three of Harley Stevenson-Cocks, Tom Copsey and Bill Child who worked tirelessly on muddy ground in difficult conditions for the speedsters, and the welcome return of both Matt Osborn and Rob Johnson saw the pair inject some x-factor from the bench.

Brown Ale: the easiest of selections this week, skipper Catherall picked up the brown ale award for blatent jug avoidance (jug still outstanding...)

MOM: This also went to captain Ollie Catherall, who marshalled his troops impeccably all afternoon. The team shared the champagne moment this week for a great all-round effort.

Next week sees Aire travel to LMD - 2.15pm ko, supporters welcome.