Didsbury Toc H 17 – Garstang 15

Both Didsbury and Garstang started the game at a fast pace with plenty of physicality and forward running. Didsbury had a tough game up front faced with a big mobile pack! Garstang have benefitted from a few recently signed Vale of Lune players adding both weight and experience to their team. The first score to beat the deadlock took 30 minutes when Didsbury had the technical edge in the scrum against their bigger opponents and scored from a push over try that was disputed between scrum half Will Luffman & No8 Chris Craig. With 2 regular kickers missing it was left to full back Tom Makin to attempt the conversion but unfortunately the kick drifted just wide of the up rights. Didsbury were spurred on by the score and quickly responded when outside centre Pete Davies broke through the defensive line and sprinted in under the posts to score his first try of the season. Makin added the extras to bring it to 12-0. Garstang then responded with a well worked team try for the winger to go over, touchline conversion added to bring the scores in at half time 12-7.
Garstang started the 2nd half with large replacements on enabling some good forward drives up the centre of the field, good tackling from Didsbury kept them out until a fresh legged 2nd row got the ball on the wing at halfway and proceeded to go over a couple of attempted tackles and gallop in to score in the corner, again a difficult conversion added to bring the scores all level 12-12.

Didsbury were awarded a penalty soon after but failed to secure the points. When play resumed a fracas erupted following an incident at a scrum which saw Didsbury Captain Mike Hyde and Garstang’s 2nd row sent to the bin for 10 minutes. Garstang were also unlucky to lose their scum half to a red card for joining in. With the numerical advantage to Didsbury they pressed on up the field, however the spirited defence held firm and they took the lead with a long range penalty, 12-15.
Didsbury then threw everything at Garstang in the final stages of the game and were shocked when a try by winger Enita Okidiko was ruled as a forward pass in the dying minutes. Didsbury didn’t lose heart with this but continued to strive for a final score. This came when the ever alert scurm half Luffman spotted a flat defensive line and chipped over from a ruck just inside the Garstang half that allowed Makins pace to show as he chased through to score. The conversion was missed and the ref advised there was less than a minute left to play. From the kick off a Didsbury player was ruled offside at the breakdown and a penalty was awarded in what was a kickable location for the good Garstang kicker. The nail biting final play of the match saw nerves get the better of the in-form kicker and he narrowly missed for Didsbury to win 17 -15.

Didsbury will be happy with the win but there are some areas to improve on this week in training and hopefully a full strength side will travel the short distance to face undefeated league leaders De La Salle next week. Commiserations to Garstang who will be upset to have narrowly lost this match but will surely be successful in the remainder of the season with a well drilled team bolstered by the new experienced players. There current position in the league is no reflection on their actual ability demonstrated in this match.

For some excellent match photos by John Fryer, please visit http://www.photoboxgallery.com/fryerfoto/collection?album_id=2249303277