Match Report

Ionians Alligators v York & Darlington U11’s

28^th March 2010

The Alligators started the day with a thundering volley of try’s against an unsuspecting York ‘B’ side, who kicked off straight into the hands of the Alligators’ full-back. With a charge forwards, through a barrage of York players, the Alligators stormed over the try line minutes later. Even at this early stage, the Alligators new they controlled the game and kept up the pressure. Scraping through openings and dragging their opponents with them, they secured a second try without breaking a sweat. After one Alligators unlucky attempt to ground the ball was denied for being held up, a third try eventually came after a mad brawl on the try line. The Alligators then secured their fourth try after a sneaky pass out to the wing followed with a desperate bolt over the try line by the ever vigilant wing man.

The Alligators were now on fire and were not about to slow down. A brave push deep into York territory saw the Alligators peeling their opponents off like rag dolls and paved the way for their fifth try, quickly followed with a sly slip of the ball to the wing and over the line for number six. Going into half time having netted six try’s was a great achievement for the Alligators and gave them the adrenalin to keep going and amass an unprecedented cache of try’s.

The Alligators scored their seventh try with a powerful burst of energy, and after fighting off his foes, a brave Alligator dived over the line. The eighth try came in spectacular style after a high ball was well caught, and with a push through the line of attack, the Alligators managed to stretch out and ground the ball. For the ninth try, the Alligators once again found themselves having to stretch over the line, this time with the smallest Alligator doing his bit to add to tally.

The Alligators showed no mercy as they continued to pound through careless openings and weak defence lines. They worked together like a scrupulously placed team, with no-one wanting to break the link. Try’s ten and eleven came as a result of this hard working pack of Alligators demonstrating their finesse and taking full advantage of every opportunity to gracefully notch up their final two try’s against a defeated York ‘B’ side.

York hit back in the second game against the Alligators, who now faced York’s ‘A’ side. Several kicks back and forth got the game under way and after a concentrated effort by the Alligators to push their way over the try line, the try was denied for not releasing. The first half was pretty much an even fight for both sides with some impressive defence work preventing the ball from getting to either end easily. Seconds before half time, As York surged on, just tipping the try line and scoring, they were really giving the Alligators a hard time, although both sides were sending players slamming down with flying tackles. Sadly it was York who triumphed, leaving the Alligators hurting.

Darlington was the last game and a first encounter for the two sides. It was the Alligators who marked the score sheet first with a brilliant volley up field and a marvellously engineered bit of ball work to stylishly place the ball over the try line. Darlington hit straight back and forced their way through Alligator territory to snatch their own try. The Alligators were now showing signs of fatigue and it was all they could do to keep Darlington at bay. Another try by Darlington and a tough struggle to secure one for the Alligators gave a 10-10 half time score.

Both sides went into the second half with a vengeance and determined to win. The Alligators showed great prowess in keeping Darlington contained in their half and held possession with great stamina. Unfortunately the brave fight for the final and, winning, try went to Darlington. A fantastic wallop up field very nearly gave the Alligators a glimmer of hope, with a well chased ball, but the wallop was quickly returned and stayed down field until the final whistle.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Oscar Cavill for a courageous and powerful performance. Oscar always manages to deliver the goods when the Alligators most need him to. His effortless work in a maul is a tremendous asset to the squad and his natural ability to overthrow his opponent and regain possession is quite masterful.

MATCH SUMMARY:

Results:

Alligators 55 - 0 York ‘B’

Alligators 0 - 20 York ‘A’

Alligators 10 - 15 Darlington

Try Scorers:

Elliot Adamson 3

Jack Hatfield 2

Oscar Cavill 2

George Boynton 1

Robert Davis 1

Kyro Kelly 1

Ethan Canet-Baldwin 1

Alex Turner 1

Joseph Bradley 1

Total Alligator Tries: 13

Conversions:

NOT TAKEN

Attendance: (Away) 14/23 - (61%)

Match Report

Ionians Alligators v Goole & Hull U11’s

21^st March 2010

With a few key players missing, the Alligators knew they had their work cut out. Undeterred by the absences, and still equipped with high calibre players more than capable of a stunning performance, they set out to prove themselves, and that they did.

The first game, against Goole, started with a long kick up field, deep into Goole territory. Well controlled from the start, the Alligators gave chase and didn’t waste the well placed kick. Both sides were highly motivated and ready for the fight as they rattled around centre pitch for much of the first half. It was tough for the Alligators as Goole held them off with a good strong defence. Although neither side scored during the first half, a good game was beginning to unfold.

Going into half time with the score 0-0 was a first for the Alligators and they were determined not to end the game without scoring. After a motivating half-time speech, the Alligators tried desperately to defend against a defiant Goole. Unfortunately, it was Goole who scored first with a sudden dash to the try line when a lapse in concentration by the Alligators allowed them their one and only opportunity. After hitting the cross-bar for an unsuccessful conversion, Goole were in the lead by just one try. The Alligators hit straight back with a tremendous battering to get through Goole’s defence and bolted over the try line within minutes of Goole scoring. All now rested on a successful conversion to put the Alligators ahead. It came and they remained ahead by two points to end the game 7-5 to the Alligators.

The Alligators faced Hull for their second game. Historically, past encounters have all gone in favour of the Alligators, having amassed a staggering 72-0 over two games already. Hull were revved up and ready for the challenge as they came out fully charged and desperate to discredit the Alligators. Some well placed kicks and brilliant line-outs gave the Alligators the advantage by keeping the ball in Hull’s half. Midway through the first half, the Alligators made their move and fought through a barrage of Hull players to gracefully dive over the try line, and with the conversion, made it 7-0 at half time.

As the second half got under way, the Alligators kept pushing forward and executing some brilliant ball work to keep play deep in Hull’s half. A disallowed try for holding up agitated the Alligators and gave them the heightened aggressiveness required to plough their way through several rampant Hull players to come within yards of the try line on several occasions before finally getting their reward and scraping over the line for a second time.

The Alligators, now in front by 14 points, were not about to let Hull catch up, and played their hearts out to keep the ball exactly where they wanted it. Some smart passing and equally as good receiving placed the ball out on the wing were it was gracefully carried over the try line in the top corner for a well fought third try.

The game was now very much controlled by the Alligators and all they had to do was keep possession and bide their time. Doing this was easy for the Alligators because they had done so for most of the game. Not content with just three try’s, the Alligators took the opportunity to make one last ditch attempt at notching up another try. It came just before full-time with a brilliant piece of ball work allowing the Alligators’ to thunder over the line for a final time. An impressive 28-0 at full-time gave the Alligators a well deserved and proud accomplishment.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Jack Hatfield for yet another exhilarating performance. Jack masterfully adapted himself to several positional plays today and played them without fault. Jacks’ tackling ability and his ‘get stuck in’ approach is a marvel to watch and can be quite deadly for the opposition. When it comes to tackling, often close to the try line, you know you’re in safe hands with Jack, who can always be relied upon to stop a man dead in his tracks.

MATCH SUMMARY:

Results:

Alligators 7 - 5 Goole

Alligators 28 - 0 Hull

Try Scorers:

Sam Howard 2

Jack Hatfield 2

Robert Davis 1

Conversions:

Michael Walker 3

Jack Hatfield 1

Attendance: (Away) 17/23 - (74%)

Match Report

Ionians Alligators v Selby U11’s

7th March 2010

In what turned out to be an exhilarating game of rugby, full of challenging and skilful playing by highly charged individuals, had an unfortunate ending for the Alligators, losing by only two trys. They warmed up well and beamed with excitement for their encounter with Selby, a side known to be ruthless and well organised.

Their enthusiastic start quickly gave the Alligators the chance to gain ground and begin playing in Selby territory. Some impressive and accurate kicking sent the ball flying up field, quickly chased up by the Alligators. An unfortunate near try escaped them as the ball fell into touch and deprived the Alligators of claiming try number one. Selby hit back with several ‘forward looking’ passes that eventually gave the Alligators a chance to take possession and bolt for the try line. Once again, they came very close and was stopped just a yard or two from the line by the extra vigilant Selby.

Selby gained the first try of the day after a sneaky ball pass to a fast sprinter waiting out on the wing. The Alligators very nearly caught up and if the pitch had been a couple of yards longer, would have brought the Selby player tumbling down for sure.

The Alligators did a great job at keeping the ball in Selby’s half and retaining possession, but could only hold off Selby for so long before they barged though a lapsed opening and over the try line for a second time. By now, the Alligators were once again suffering with injuries and the temporary loss of two key players didn’t help. Despite the casualty count, the Alligators kept driving forward with immense stamina, winning scrums with perfectly executed balls and accurate passing.

Emotions were running high for the Alligators, going into half time. They were desperate for a turn round and knew they were going to have to work even harder for any chance of getting one. After much perseverance and some pretty cool passing, their chance came with a brilliant pass to the wing and a sudden scurry across the try line.

The Alligators were now working harder than ever, stealing balls at every opportunity, utilising great intercepting techniques and making good ground with excellent mauling and rucking. Yet again, the Alligators found themselves only a yard or so from the try line, desperately fighting to cross the white wash and notch up the trys. Unfortunately, a penalty awarded against them for not releasing prevented what would have been a brave and well earned try.

Possession during this half rested mostly with the Alligators and their ability to turn things round most certainly prevented Selby from walking away with the score line. The final try of the day came from Selby and was perfectly passed out to the wing for a quick short blast over the try line in the top corner, narrowly missing being forced into touch by a dynamic and avenging Alligator in hot pursuit. The Alligators came close to scoring for a third time, just shy of full time, but a knocked-on ball gave the referee no option but to declare a no try.

An eventful and thoroughly enjoyable game could well sum up today’s match. The Alligators’ performance was a remarkable step up from last week’s dreadful onslaught by Driffield. A well focused, better prepared and eagerly enthusiastic team very nearly gave the Alligators victory over Selbly, and if they had, it would have been thoroughly deserved. This was a good result for the Alligators, even though they didn’t win.

MAN OF THE MATCH: Michael Walker for his enthused commitment during today’s game. Despite his six week absence from the squad, Michael showed no mercy and got stuck in to all aspects of the game. His tackling, Michaels’ biggest attribute, was second to none and he was always on the spot to bring his opponent crashing down or high-flying into touch. His superb try and double conversion clearly confirmed his valuable position in the squad.

MATCH SUMMARY:

Results:

Alligators 14 - 24 Selby

Try Scorers:

Michael Walker 1

Oscar Cavill 1

Conversions:

Michael Walker 2

Attendance: (Home) 16/23 - (70%)