Manchester Tough It Out At LSH

Report by Marcus Edwards

Both Manchester and LSH had ten players available. The match would be played as a ten-a-side fixture over two twenty minute periods with the teams made up of five forwards and five backs.

Manchester’s forwards started with a front row line-up of Caitlin Knight, Jess Davids and Casey Thompson combining with possibly the smallest ever second row of Michaela Gurney plus Katy Bacon ! The half backs comprised Jess Johnson (Captain) playing in her usual role as scrum half, with Olivia Farrow as fly half. The rest of the Manchester backs comprised Chloe Snape playing at centre and Helena Edwards plus Ellie Davidson as left and right wingers respectively.

As with previous matches Manchester started slowly, giving away game momentum to the opposition. From the onset LSH were able to put together several attacking phases finally resulting in a try after less than two minutes play. Within three minutes of the restart LSH were able to score a second try despite some good covering tackles made by both Olivia and Casey.

It soon became apparent that set pieces were going to be difficult for Manchester to win, with LSH using their more physical players to push the Manchester scrum back off the ball, coupled with using their players’ height advantage to easily win lineout ball.

Any loose ball by Manchester was also cruelly punished with LSH using their physical advantage to push out our players at any maul or ruck. This led to LSH driving through the centre of our defence for their third try after only ten minutes play.

With Manchester players being ‘sucked’ into the fringes at any breakdowns LSH were now able to exploit spaces out wide resulting in their fourth try of the half after sixteen minutes. This was to be the last score of the half leaving Manchester trailing 24-0.

Some tactical changes were implemented after half time, especially with a view to stopping LSH’s first half forward play domination. This was soon tested from the restart. At the first scrum Catlin, Jess D and Casey managed to hold their ground allowing Manchester to secure some decent quality ball. The lineout was ‘fixed’ with Catlin (rather than competing for the ball, a lost cause due to the height advantage held by LSH’s tallest player) immediately tackling the main LSH lineout catcher after the catch, thus preventing the run through.

At last Manchester was able to put together some phases and move the ball deep into LSH territory. However a handling error on LSH’s 22-metre line was picked up by the quick LSH backs allowing them to run the ball back and score their fifth try after five minutes of the second half.

With the Manchester scrum now holding, Michaela and Katy were able to play more like back row forwards, interfering with any attempts by LSH to play around the fringes and picking up a few loose balls for Manchester. Katy particularly showed good handling skills whether on the left or right side, releasing quality ball to the Manchester back line before taking any contact.

Without the continued forward domination, LSH switched tactics and moved the ball out wide quicker. Conversely, on winning any possession, Manchester found it difficult to move forward past the gain line, due mainly to the backs being set up a little too flat when facing such an aggressive LSH defence. For a period of several minutes the match play ebbed and flowed around the half way line until LSH managed to break a few tackles and score their sixth try in the thirteenth minute.

During this competitive period it was noted how Katy, when not in a set piece or competing at the fringes, had taken on the added role of team sweeper (in the absence of any fullback) without any prior coaching for this position. She followed our back line in defence, running the angle to the opposite corner anticipating the need to provide a potential try saving covering tackle if any LSH backs managed to break through Manchester’s defence line. This she successfully achieved against some very quick LSH players on a couple of occasions. Bearing in mind that this match is only her second for Manchester (Katy only started playing touch rugby in December of last year) it all bodes well for her future in rugby, especially with her displaying plenty of natural ability.

Despite continued tackling heroics, LSH pressure forced several Manchester handling errors, resulting in LSH’s seventh try to close the league scoring for teh match in the sixteenth minute. Two minutes later LSH’s most physical player managed to break through Manchester’s defence and score LSH’s eighth try after handing off both Ellie’s and Katy’s (yet again sweeping in from the opposite side of the pitch) best attempts to tackle her.

From the restart Manchester regained possession and after some good running by Jess D Manchester were awarded a scrum, two metres out from the touchline and twenty-five metres out from LSH’s try line. The ball quickly came out on the blindside of the scrum and Jess J, seeing that the LSH winger who should have been covering the blindside had in fact moved to the centre of the field, quickly ran down the wing to exploit this gap, scoring Manchester’s consolation try.

This was expected to be the end of the match but with a further ten minutes allowed by the referee, it was LSH who had the final word after several attacking phases.

Overall there were several positives for Manchester to take out from this match:

• Firstly, team spirit was again excellent.
• Secondly, the way Manchester’s forwards were able to work out how to equalise game play against LSH’s potent forward line up.
• Thirdly, how many of the Manchester players adapted quickly to their unaccustomed positions, although Katy went beyond the call of duty taking on three roles – surprisingly effectively!