Toc H Foster hopes of league survival?

Didsbury Toc H belied their league form to record a 43-24 victory over visitors Workington, and perhaps leave the Didsbury side a chance of avoiding relegation. Didsbury were able to welcome back Aidan Murphy (flanker) and Joe Bradbury (fly-half) to the starting team. Unfortunately flying winger Dave Hoare failed a pre-match fitness test, ruling him out of the match.

Toc H started the game solidly, but it was the visiting Cumbrian’s that registered the first score when a pass was intercepted to lead 0-7. This was unfortunate, because if the pass had gone to a Didsbury hand there could well have been a try the other way.
Didsbury’s pack had the bit between their teeth and had the upper hand in the scrums all match, and were able to force their opposite numbers back using an extremely effective rolling maul.
This forward dominance was soon converted into points with a try for Dave Foster from a pushover scrum, and 15 first half points by Olly Thomas (1 try, 1 penalty and 2 conversions). Workington battled their way back into the match with a close range converted try, before Foster struck again for Didsbury before the break to take the score to 17-14 at halftime.

The halftime score line didn’t reflect the dominance that Didsbury had shown in the first half, and only errors had allowed Workington their two tries.

With the coaches message of cutting down on the errors still ringing in their ears, Didsbury couldn’t have made a worst start, as they failed to deal with the kick off allowing the visitors to make easy ground and eventually touchdown for a try, and take the lead 17-21. Toc H refocused after that early setback, and the pack upped the intensity with all players carrying the ball and making serious inroads into Workington territory, particularly Foster, Aidan Murphy and Tony Ames. Didsbury soon retook the lead with a penalty try from a pushover scrum, and their fifth try was the result of Toc H pressuring the Workington team’s possession, creating a turnover for Thomas to complete his brace of tries. With the game nearing the end Aidan Murphy showed the quality that had been missing during his injury absence, as he took the ball and cleverly slipped the pass to the on-rushing Alex Bone to race under the posts to score Didsbury’s sixth try of the match. Thomas added the conversion to take his personal tally to 23 points for the match (2T, 5C, 1P), and the final score 43-24.

Didsbury will be pleased with the performance, and the much needed 5 league points to take them off the bottom of the league table. The whole squad deserves credit for the victory, but Dave Foster was later named man of the match.
Next week Didsbury visit current bottom of league side Egremont in another crucial fixture.

For photos of the game please see John Fryers website Click here for Fryer Foto