Holy Mass!

It was a busy week for the Didsbury selection committee with a huge swathe of the regular first team squad unavailable; in the pack they were missing: Chambers, Swan and Murphy and in the backs: Wilkinson, Makin, Chivers, Hoare and Mullins (6 of which had started in the previous week’s victory over Egremont).
But when the team needed bolstering they turned to the steadying hand of former 1st team legend Richard Massingham at fly-half, now 44 but still playing every week for the lower teams this enforced change made for a very unfamiliar looking backline. With Mass at 10, James Southall (returning from an 18 month injury layoff) paired up with Alistair Gray (who himself was returning from a long term injury) in the centres, and Alex Bone on the wing.

Keswick, who had faltered of late after an outstanding start to the season, began the match at a great tempo which caught Didsbury cold and still trying to get to grips with team mates that either hadn’t played together before, or not for a long time. Keswick scored three great first half tries, all of which they created from turnover ball being spread wide quickly and using their pace to get round the Didsbury defence. But the last ten minutes of the half saw Didsbury start to battle their way up field, and a number of forward drives went very close to getting over the line. But Keswick’s defence held up well and Didsbury were forced to settle for a solitary penalty, converted by Olly Thomas. Keswick would have been slightly unhappy to only lead 17-3 at halftime, after a number of scoring chances were wasted by the home team.

The second half started much better for Toc H, with Massingham using his long kicking game to pin Keswick back, and make considerable ground. A forward drive by the Didsbury pack again got close to the line, and with the ball quickly recycled James Southall forced his way over for the opening try carrying several tacklers over the line with him. Thomas missed the conversion (17-8), but Keswick were able to soon score their fourth try after some neat interplay out wide (24-8). Didsbury were starting to get a real foothold on the game, and restricted Keswick’s possession for the remainder of the match. From a penalty Gaz Oakley kicked the ball into touch inside Keswick’s 22, and from the resulting lineout the pack caught and drove over the line for skipper Mike Hyde to get his third try of the season. Thomas wasn’t able to add the extras, but the gap was closed to 24-13. With 6 minutes left to play Didsbury again secured a lineout, a little further our than their previous score, but the pack again drove towards the tryline. Mike Hyde broke down the blindside and popped the ball to Oakley who raced his way in for a try at the corner, with Hyde shouting him on in close support. Although the conversion dropped short Didsbury had got within losing bonus point territory (24-18), and were able to subdue any late Keswick attacks.

Didsbury’s coaching staff would have perhaps hoped for more than a losing bonus point, but with all the selection problems and Keswick’s outstanding start to the match they could leave the lake district satisfied. Positives from the match would be the continued good from of flanker Mark Harrison, and prop Tony Ames who put in some booming runs in broken play. Next Saturday Didsbury welcome St Benedicts to Ford Lane (3pm kick off).