Below par peformance

Scunthorpe 33 Sandal 22 3rd Feb. 2024
Sandal’s visit to Scunthorpe did not hit anywhere near the peaks expected, failing to meet the optimism created with their four previous outings in Regional 1 North East. In fact parts of their game, particularly in defence, were miserably poor with the home side producing a match winning score of 22-nil in the first quarter, running out eventual winners by 33-22.
From the kick-off Scunthorpe, with the help of a strong following wind, went on the offensive to put pressure on the visitors line. After six minutes a relieving kick by Tom Hodson was gathered by the home side full back who ran some 25 metres untouched to score under the posts and with the extras Scunthorpe had taken a 7-nil lead after six minutes. Five minutes later a converted try was added to take the home advantage to 14-nil. Sandal attempted to make progress but any attacking moves were snuffed out by a strong defence and pushed back into their own half with the result that Scunthorpe soon added a penalty to their score to increase their lead to 17-nil. Sandal’s defence continued to be loose and ragged which let the home side score another converted try after 20 minutes to increase their lead to 22-nil. Fortunately Sandal’s play in the second quarter proved to be more productive when Danny Grainger crossed in the 26th minute and seven minutes later Tom Hodson touched down in the corner to reduce the points gap. Neither try was converted but the build up to each score was good and encouraging for the second half with Scunthorpe taking a 22-10 lead into the break.
The third quarter assumed a steady start with Sandal hoping to make good use of the wind but it was Scunthorpe who put points on the board first with a penalty after 58 minutes, taking the score to 25 -10. There was more to come when in the 64th minute the home side formed a rolling maul from which an unconverted try was registered, with a penalty being added six minutes later to take the score to 33-10. By now Sandal were looking totally demoralised but continued to make ground when allowed. But as full time approached Archie Milner made a telling break and at the tackle Cam Allen picked up the loose ball and had the prescience of mind to go alone along the touch-line to score under the posts. Now playing in stoppage time Scott McGregor forced his way forward and handed on to Archie Milner who made no mistake in scoring his side’s bonus point try and with Tom Hodson’s conversion the final score ended with more respectable 33-22 in Scunthorpe’s favour Sandal’s performance was disappointing falling well below the standard set in recent games.