Broughton Park 2nd XV v Vale of Lune 2nd XV (Report by Fred Swarbrick )

The Vale XV :-

Ross Pillow
Matti Davenport
Tom Needham
Dacc Rowlands
Isaac Thornton
Matt Thackeray
Dan Clare
Sam Walton
Lee Starkey
Jamie Antcliffe Capt.
Martin Pike
Ike Eastwood
Rich Dewar
Dave Penrice
Hayden Mills
Eddie Abdelghafar
Dando Peries

Travelling down to Broughton Parks Hough End ground both Reg Robinson and Cliff Huck were keeping an eye on the temperature gauge which was climbing to a dizzy height of 32 degrees centigrade. Arriving and leaving the car the heat simply hit you. We’ve all met this on our trips abroad but it’s got to be said there was no intention of playing a game of rugby at these times.

It would be right to say, prior to the game their understanding Manager Paul Peters did not apply a warm up regime.

Once again the Vale side was to show many changes from the previous week and it was going to be interesting to see new faces on the field.

It was good to see experienced hands present with Jamie Antcliffe taking the reins at fly half and Ross Pillow along with Tom Needham supporting Matti Davenport to provide a most experience front row trio.

I’ve got to say I don’t recognise Dacc Rowlands or Isaac Thornton but hell they must have been grafting as the Broughton Park scrummage was moved backward at every scrum in the early stages.

With Matt Thackeray using all his tremendous experience taking his place in the back row along with Dan Clare and Sam Walton the eight were to provide a most competitive unit.

The continuing retreat by the Broughton Park 8 warranted a change in their front row resulting in uncontested scrums _Was this a ploy on their part ??. It soon came to be seen as their three quarters were being allowed increased room to set up some devastating attacks. Helped by some poor handling and tackling in the Vale threequarter line. In fact after 3 minutes, this before the changes in their front row, they crossed for a try near the posts allowing the extra 2 points.

The heat was having some effect even in these early stages and within 10 minutes the Vale XV responded with a superb try by fullback Heiden Mills. Showing real speed – and he is quick – breaking a number of tackles with a swerving run Heiden crossed their line. He was to feature throughout the game with his undoubted pace and guile.

After the original setback the Broughton Park side re-grouped and with some loose tackling they were to cross the Vales line once again resulting in 7 pts this 18 minutes into the game.

Lee Starkey was working hard at the base but struggling to get Jamie Antcliffe at fly half into the game not being helped by an inevitable static scrum. Would things have been so different if competitive scrummaging had been in place – Was it a ploy ????

At centre Rich Dewar and Ike Eastwood were working hard and were meeting some hard running attacking opposition proving difficult to control and with overlaps appearing wide out the Broughton Park threequarters were proving difficult to stop. Jamie Ants was having issues with his kicking maybe due to his first game back after the Summer – wasn’t today Summer ?/ - Ike Eastwood took the reins and in fact produced some exacting controlled kicks into the Broughton Park defence.

On 26 minutes Park once again crossed with Ade Titioye a colossus in the middle of the Park crossing.

The Vale XV after a necessary water break were struggling but after taking the game to Park on 35 minutes Isaac Thornton crossed with support from Dan Clare. Dan in many ways is a dynamo and after a somewhat quiet first half he returned to his usual game, full of energy, in the 2nd half.

The heat was having a marked effect on the Vale side and Manager Paul Peters was to bring Eddie Armcathor and Dando Peries off the bench to add some freshness into the Vale side. Both immediately proved their worth and it will be good to see them performing on the Park in future weeks.

Back to the game and once again the figure of Ade Titioye – Park centre -was in battling mood and breaking a number of tackles crossed for a try wideout.

Following this score Heiden Mills using his undoubted pace moved up the field evading desperate tackles to link with Rich Dewar for a try.

““At this stage your scribe was distracted as a girl in the crowd decided to feed her baby, No he wasn’t staring, but it did for a couple of minutes, take time to regain any concentration…. Sorry lads”” !!

Back to the game Jamie Antcliffe later crossed for a 5 pointer taking the Vales score to 15 points with Isaac Thornton crossing for a 5 pointer taking the Vale score to the 20 points mark.

A difficult day for the Vale XV, not helped by the change to uncontested early in the game – Was it a ploy ?? and the heat of the day, didn’t help either, after a long hot journey,

Must select the Man of the Match and there were a number of contenders but must select Heiden Mills hoping he will continue to use his pace and swerve at all times allowing him to cross for more tries as the season progresses.

Importantly lads make yourselves available regularly but particularly next week as we come up against the Kendal XV at Home !!!! and likely to be on the main pitch.

Fred Swarbrick