The mud keeps it even!

By: Jayne Edwards

Thatto Heath Crusaders u8's 4 -4 Oldham St Annes

On a sunny but chilly Sunday morning the lads turn out in numbers to face Oldham St Annes on our own turf (or is that mud???)

 

Captain for the day is Ben Edwards who wins the toss & takes the ball good yards for Thatto’s first attack. Strong runs from Joe M, Michael & Kameron who set up Karl, using his pace, goes in for a trade mark try into the left corner – well done. 1-0.

 

Time to see what St Annes have to offer & solid tackling from George, Ryan then Karl forcing them into touch on the third attack, turn over. Our ball & after a barnstorming run from Ryan, our lads head up field but St Annes get their own back forcing Connor into touch this time, turn over.

 

Big hits & good team work in defence from Thatto, but we couldn’t stop St Annes from going over for a try in the corner to even the scores up. 1-1.

 

Our attack & good yards made by Nathan, George, Ben, Joe M & Michael setting up Ryan for a run around move, but, he’s held up within sniffing distance from the try line on the last tackle.

 

Big hits from Connor, Joe M, Karl, Callum and 3 copy book tackles from Ryan (who stormed out of his line like a man possessed) meant St Annes had nowhere to go.

 

Good drives from the Thatto lads, no try this time, but they soon force St Annes into conceding a knock-on near their own line. Up steps Karl for a run around set move for his 2nd try. 2-1

 

St Annes hit right back though to score their 2nd of the match. 2-2.

 

Thatto are determined to strike again and on the next set, Kameron bursts right through the middle of their defence, spinning out of the last tackle to score (with a big grin on his face!). 3-2

 

No time for celebrating though as St Annes make it 3-3 on the stroke of half time.

 

It’s the 2nd half team’s turn & Thatto are defending for the first set. A quick scoot on the last play is forced into touch by Ben & Karl.

 

Thatto’s attack. George goes the length of the field to score a superb solo effort. 4-3.

 

Good defence from Karl, Jack, Nathan & Joe W force a knock-on. Solid driving runs from Joe W, Lewis B, Matthew & Jack before Nathan runs from dummy half only to be held up before the line.

 

Great tackling from Matthew, George, & Ben before Karl halts their number 12 with a big hit. St Annes power over from close to the line for their 4th of the match to even the scores up again.

 

Defence is the name of the game for the next few sets as both sides cancel each other out with solid tackling. Matthew forces their player into touch for the hand over.

 

Strong running from all the Thatto lads Joe M, Jack, Matthew, Callum, Connor, Joe W, Ryan & Nathan. Although we can’t cross their try line the lads are loving this mud!!!

 

Good tackles from Ryan & Lewis A followed by solid individual tackles from both Kameron & Ben to make sure we keep St Annes out.

 

Final whistle & a 4-4 draw being a fair result in the end.

 

Well played to both sides & a great Team effort by all the Thatto lads.

 

Time to hit the showers boys!!!

 

 

Todays Team:

Ben Edwards, Callum Taylor, Kameron McCabe, Lewis Atherton, Nathan Webster, George Webster, Ryan Smith, Connor Watts, Michael Gallagher, Lewis Bracken, Joseph Mercer, Joseph White, Jack Benyon, Karl Ingham, Matthew Atherton.

 

 

 

Today’s Awards:

 

Man Of The Match – Kameron McCabe

 

Best Runner – George Webster

 

Best Tackler – Matthew Atherton

 

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