Furness vs Didsbury Toc H (Mike Hyde's Report)

Furness 20 Didsbury Toc H RFC 5

Didsbury travelled up to Barrow in Furness for a top of the table clash in North Lancs 1.

In horrendous weather conditions Didsbury started the better of the two sides. The first 10 minutes was done at a frantic pace, Gareth Price took a quick tap penalty on the opposition 22m line. Didsbury then mauled their way towards the try line only to be pulled down inches short, this allowed slick handling in the monsoon conditions to allow winger Pete Davies to beat 2 men on the outside to score in the corner.

The game was closely contested until just before half time when the ball popped out the back of a 5m defensive scrum allowing the Furness scrum half to score under the posts. Strangely the Furness fly half missed the easiest of conversions, to make the game level at 5-5.

The second half started with the same intensity as the first, both sides applying pressure to test the defences. The Furness Fly half created some useful attacking opportunities and eventually created an overlap to score in the corner, again unconverted. Didsbury then found another gear and upped the pace however the home defence was very strong and Didsbury couldn't get over the line as much as they tried. Late in the second half Didsbury were caught offside which allowed Furness to extend their lead to 13-5 following the successful penalty. Unfortunately in the dying minutes of the game. And with Didsbury chasing the match, a defensive error allowed their winger to gather up the ball and run in for a gift of a try. The score line does not reflect the game as it was much closer than 20-5. Didsbury can take solace in their efforts.

Next Saturday Didsbury’s 1st XV are at home in the League against Bury, 3pm kick off.

Last Saturday’s Team: Batt, Bailey, Hoare, Williams, Davies, Wilkinson, Moran, McDonough, Foster, Walker, Reeves, Stevenson, Price (Vasseur), Tyler, Murphy