Top of the Table Upset

A rainy afternoon for the 2.15 kick off, away against League Leaders Huddersfield.

Despite the conditions an excellent game was played in front of the Sandal first team with their Captain Austin Thompson and their management: Joe and Richard Bedford with Tom Hicks and Tom Baxter, who were instrumental in coaching the second team for the game.

The first half started well for Sandal. After gaining the ball from their own kick off, it was spun wide by scrum half George Hulme and went through the backs hands: Scott Cranmer at 10, Joe Allott and Andy Buckingham centers. A quick ruck turned the ball inside to prop Ben Booth at pace, who sprinted ten meters for the line and touched down outside the right hand post for an excellent try. On form Jacob Barlow got the extras, 7-0 to Sandal after 5minutes of play.

The first half continued with Huddersfield spending most of it in Sandal's half. Scores were denied to Huddersfield by great tackling from Sandal, in particular by back row: Brindley, Garwood and Sandal Senior Colts star Billy Addy.

The second half started with Sandal prop Ben Booth taking the high ball at speed and feeding it to center Andy Buckingham, who made a break to the Huddersfield 22. This set the scene for Sandal's total dominance in the second half. All the team were playing at the top of their game. Twenty minutes in, following a Huddersfield line out in their 22, Scott Cranmer charged down a clearance kick which was picked up by George Hulme and fed down the line to full back Michael Coopey who burst into the gap to score near the posts. 14 -0 to Sandal with Barlow getting the conversion.

The Sandal pressure continued, but credit to Huddersfield all the possession and yards gained were hard fought by Sandal.
With ten minutes to go, George Hulme, who played an excellent game throughout, from a Huddersfield scrum harassed his opposite number, gaining possession and kicking through to the Huddersfield five meter
line, a ruck ensued with Sandal gaining possession for Joe Allott centre to score in the corner. Despite the distance and angle Barlow did the business and got the extras. The final score was 21- 0 to Sandal. An excellent game enjoyed by the numerous Sandal supporters.

All the team played well, but the Sandal front row of: Booth, Bingle, and Hoyland with sub Nick King held the forwards together and dominated Huddersfield. Also, the second row of: Skipper Michael Knowles and John Guy never stopped working, setting a great example for the young players coming through from the Senior Colts.

Finally, the men of the match goes to Scrum half and Vice Captain George Hulme for bossing and organizing the forwards and providing excellent ball in very poor conditions to his backs and also Billy Addy for his excellent ball carrying. With players like Billy the future is looking good for Sandal .

Written by BK