MatchReport2012
Saturday 18 February
Carnegie Challenge Cup
Preliminary Round

ROCHDALE MAYFIELD 14 - 33 UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE ALL GOLDS
At Castleton Sports Centre

HISTORIC FIRST CHALLENGE CUP WIN FOR ALL GOLDS

Two tries in the opening three minutes of the second half from the University of Gloucestershire All Golds turned around a narrow 10-8 half time deficit and set up a historic first Carnegie Challenge Cup win for the club.

The All Golds withstood Rochdale Mayfield's physical approach, giving as good as they got while having the sharpness to make the most of their opportunities.

Mayfield had edged a tight first period as they recovered from an eight point deficit but the All Golds' early second half strikes turned the game the visitors' way.

Mayfield began well and exerted the early pressure but the All Golds struck after four minutes, Lewis Warner chiming into the line to send Phil Cowburn over for an unconverted try.

Warner then made a searing break from a Mayfield kick but his offload went to ground and the chance was lost. However, two minutes later a penalty for lying on compounded by one for dissent had the All Golds back in the danger zone and Rory Sharratt twisted his way over to score. Matt Bradley's conversion attempt came back off the post but the All Golds had got the perfect start.

Slowly Mayfield got themselves back in the game and Ben Simpson broke several tackles to open the home account. Ieuan Higgs converted to put them right back in the game. Both sides then traded sets before Eric Johnson spotted a gap on the short side and sent Carl Abraham over. Higgs couldn't convert but Mayfield had the edge.

The game swept from end to end with Mayfield using Simpson as a battering ram while the All Golds tried to use their pace out wide but on a short and narrow pitch they rarely got the space outside the defence.

Mayfield had a great chance to score just before the break, Matt Calland forcing his way over under the posts but superb defence from Jordan Rice meant that he could not ground the ball.

As the second period began, the heavens opened with a fierce hailstorm and the All Golds made full use of the elements. Matt Bradley put up a huge bomb which was missed by Rob Kershaw and James Greene touched down the loose ball.

With the next set, Bradley repeated the trick and this time James Gahan profited from Kershaw's fumble. Bradley converted to put the All Golds in front.

The tie was really warming up and Mayfield hit back as Sean Snape scrambled over to pull four points back for Mayfield.

The home side now piled on the pressure and thought they had scored when Aidan Gleeson touched down Johnson's clever kick through but he was ruled offside.

Spurred by the reprieve the All Golds stormed upfield and Cowburn exploited a gap to weave over for his second try. Bradley's goal gave the visitors a ten-point margin.

The All Golds put themselves under pressure with a mistake from the restart and had to survive two successive sets on their line before escaping and earning a penalty that Bradley kicked to put two scores between the sides.

Mayfield searched desperately for a score to get back into the game. They forced a repeat set when Gahan was caught in his own in-goal after fielding a high kick but again the All Golds kept their line intact. On the visitors' next venture upfield Rice snapped a drop goal to put a precious extra point between the sides.

The Rochdale side seemed to lose heart at that point and though they strived for a score, the error count rose. Straight from a scrum after a simple knock on, Matt Fiander charged through to the posts leaving Bradley an easy conversion to seal the win and start the celebrations.

MAYFIELD: Ieuan Higgs; Rob Kershaw (Capt.), Carl Abraham, Sean Snape, Kristian Duffy; Taurean Sheehan, Ben Butterworth; Simon Moore, Eric Johnson, Aidan Gleeson; Ian Sampson, Matty Moore; Matt Calland. Replacements: John Foy, Mann Biggins, Jack Ashworth, Ben Simpson.

Scorers: Tries; Ben Simpson (14), Carl Abraham (21), Sean Snape (49), Goals; Ieuan Higgs 1 from 2, Aidan Gleeson 0 from 1.

ALL GOLDS: Lewis Warner; James Gahan, James Greene (Capt.), Phil Cowburn, Pat Evans; David Sanders, Matt Bradley; Nathan Rainer, Jordan Rice, James Walter; Callum Mulkeen, Mike Stewart; Rory Sherratt. Replacements: Liam Long, Yannic Parker; Matt Fiander, Dawid Luow.

Scorers: Tries; Phil Cowburn (4, 59), Rory Sharratt (11), James Greene (41), James Gahan (43), Matt Fiander (79), Goals; Matt Bradley 4 from 7, Drop Goals; Jordan Rice (73).

Referee: Paul Marklove (RLC Appointment)
Touch Judges: J Woodward, T Woodward

Penalties: Mayfield 7, All Golds 9.
GLDO Forced: Mayfield 1, All Golds 0.
Men of the Match: Mayfield; Eric Johnson , All Golds; James Walter.

GAMESTAR: Prop James Walter was immense for the All Golds. In a game where forward domination was key, he was the man that got the All Golds moving forward and played his part in some heroic goal-line defence.

GAMEBREAKER: The All Golds' two tries at the start of the second period both from Matt Bradley bombs into the teeth of a hailstorm turned round an interval deficit and set the University on their way to victory.

 

Chris Wilson

Media Manager

Gloucestershire Warriors RLFC