Whitehaven 18 - 10 Didsbury Toc H

After the previous week’s lack lustre performance by Toc H against St Benedict’s, they were looking for a response from the team for the visit to Whitehaven. And with ten minutes left the Didsbury side were on course for an away victory, but two late Whitehaven scores secured the win for the home side 18-10.

Didsbury made the long journey with a good squad, although they are still without last season’s top try scorer Dave Hoare, and the backrow pairing of Aidan Murphy and Andre Swan. But the backline named looked threatening with Olly Thomas moving up to fly-half from fullback, and exciting centres Ali Gray and Tom Makin lining up together for the first time.

Toc H started the game well, still with the pre-match team talk ringing in their ears, and forced Whitehaven onto the back foot with some fine defending stopping the home sides big forward runners . Olly Thomas was able to convert an early penalty opportunity to give Toc an early 0-3 lead. This lead was short lived however as Whitehaven converted a penalty of their own to level the scores. With a man advantage, due to Whitehaven having a player yellow carded, the Didsbury pack made several attempts to get their rolling maul over the tryline. But with the ball just short of the line, Gaz Oakley fired the ball to Ali Gray who crashed his way over by the posts for his first try for the club. Thomas added the extras and Didsbury led 3-10. The number of players were soon level at 14 each, as Didsbury’s Jack Hardisty was harshly sent to the bin. Whitehaven pressured the Didsbury line with the half nearing an end and after defending resolutely space was found for ‘Haven to score out wide. The conversion was missed and the referee signalled for half time, with Didsbury narrowly ahead at 8-10.

The second half saw both defences cancel each other out, with every attack (from both sides) nullified by some resolute and robust tackling. With the game entering the last ten minutes Whitehaven were awarded a penalty, which was converted well to put the home side in the lead for the first time, 11-10. With Didsbury behind, but in a position to take a losing bonus point, they pushed hard to win the match with Alex Bone making a nice break up the middle of the pitch. But the ball was turned over and Whitehaven could clear their lines. Didsbury’s defence had held firm for 74 minutes, but the first time the home side were able to break a tackle it had disastrous consequences for Toc H as the ball was popped to a player at pace who was able to race in for a try in the corner from the halfway line. With the scores now at 16-10 Didsbury were still going to come away with a losing bonus point for being within 7 points, but the tricky conversion from out wide sailed over stretching the lead to 8 points 18-10. With fulltime looming Didsbury pushed hard for another score but nothing came of their late endeavours and they came away with no league points, but with a gutsy performance to build on.

Although they came away ultimately empty-handed Didsbury performed well on the day and can take a lot from the match; every player to take to the field demonstrated their determination for the club with a number of top performances, and Didsbury’s scrum had the better of the contest all match, with the visiting pack taking over half a dozen balls against the head.

The team face Aldwinians at Ford Lane (3pm kick off) next Saturday, and will be looking for some much needed league points.