Match Report

Doncaster Festival

Ionians Alligators v Guisborough, Sheffield Tigers, Selby & York U12’s

27^th March 2011

G1 - Guisborough: Guisborough kicked off and the ball immediately went dead for an Alligator scrum and a chance for George Boynton to pass out wide to Michael Walker.

The Alligator’s were full of enthusiasm and pounded their way through Guisborough’s defence at every turn. The line passing was at its best and a beautiful wing pass to Charlie Webster enabled him to receive it perfectly and touch down the first try.

Guisborough fought well, trying desperately to gain possession, which they did after the Alligator’s knocked-on. Guisborough took the scrum and went into a maul but couldn’t prevent Oscar Cavil ripping the ball away. A quick off-load to James Millington and then out to George Boynton who kicked into touch for a Guisborough line-out.

The Alligator’s quickly gained a scrum deep into Guisborough’s half but after re-starting the scrum four times, the Alligator’s eventually lost the ball, giving Guisborough the advantage. The Alligator’s didn’t let Guisborough keep the ball for long before re-gaining possession and with a stunning array of passes from Michael Walker to Matty Gill to Charlie Webster and back over to the other wing for Ethan Canet-Baldwin to attempt a sprint for the try line. Unfortunately, despite their combined efforts, Ethan was brought down a little over half way, ending the first half 5-0 to the Alligator’s.

The Alligator’s kicked off the second half and immediately gave chase to intercept the ball. Charlie Cartmells’ effortless tackling eventually paid off as he gained possession and passed out to Ethan Canet-Baldwin who bolted across the try line and scored. Guisborough restarted with a kick flawlessly caught by James Millington who off-loaded just before getting tackled.

A scrum to the Alligator’s in their own half was quickly grabbed by Guisborough and instantly knocked-on giving the Alligator’s the advantage. The Alligator’s kick into Guisborough territory was returned and Finlay Hills positioned himself beautifully to receive the high ball before getting tackled.

Oscar Cavill’s steal of the ball enabled him to gain some good ground before passing to Jack Hatfield and over to Michael Walker.

The Alligator’s won a Guisborough line-out and as James Millington entered the maul, he was clearly seen desperately trying to prevent Guisborough from stealing.

As the last play was called, an Alligator scrum gave George Boynton the opportunity to take possession and kick into touch, ending the game 10-0 to the Alligator’s.

G2 - Sheffield Tigers: The Alligator’s kicked off and Sheffield’s biggest player made light work of catching it as he began charging forwards. James Millington rose to the challenge of bringing him down, which he did by lunging him into touch.

Sheffield were brilliant ball handlers and passed with such ease and accuracy that the Alligator’s had to work hard to gain possession. Charlie Webster made a great effort to keep hold of the ball and with help from James Millington, Sheffield worked equally as hard.

Charlie Cartmell’s brave attempt to bolt down the wing very nearly paid off but, alas, he was nudged into touch, giving Sheffield the line-out.

Sheffield were taking and winning line-outs with considerable ease and, although tackled by Michael Walker, safely delivered it across the pitch and over the white wash for their first try of the game.

James Millington’s courageous efforts to force his way through the ‘giants’ of Sheffield, using his muscles to prevent them from edging him into touch was inspirational to watch. James managed to off-load to Oscar Cavill who was ultimately taken into touch close on half time. With a successful line-out, Sheffield managed to cross the try line to make it 10-0 to them at half time.

As Sheffield got the second half going, Charlie Webster caught the ball and off-loaded to Michael Walker who kicked into Sheffield’s half, followed by a good chase and maul by the Alligator’s.

Charlie Webster continued to play a crucial part, even when Sheffield grabbed and dumped him into touch. Sheffield soon sailed through a chance opening, passed out wide and crossed the try line.

Ethan Canet-Baldwin made a great steal after chasing his man but an unfortunate knock into touch denied him what would have been a wonderful try. Charlie Cartmell also made a concentrated effort to clear several Sheffield players when an Alligator penalty went his way.

As an Alligator scrum collapsed, Jack Hatfield gained possession and tried to fight his way through, eventually kicking deep. Sheffield retaliated with a thunderously high kick, wonderfully caught by Finlay Hills at full-back.

Some great tackling by Ethan-Canet-Baldwin and Michael Walker close on the try line gave the Alligator’s a glimmer of hope and another good effort by Jack Hatfield to keep play up field an off-load to Michael that ensured Sheffield didn’t add to their try count.

G3 - Selby: The Alligator’s kicked off and Selby were quick to take the ball. Charlie Cartmell made a good effort to get down the wing and over the try line but was soon taken into touch for a Selby line-out. Oscar Cavil was quick to overpower Selby in the line-out and gain possession.

A penalty awarded to the Alligator’s soon gave Charlie Cartmell the chance to push through Selby’s defence and score the first try for the Alligator’s.

Finlay Hills once again showed that he was not afraid of the high ball and caught another high-flyer but unfortunately just stepped into touch, giving Selby the line-out.

An inspirational handling display that started with Oscar Cavil and made it way through several Alligator’s before a good drive by Jack Hatfield and an off-load to Oscar secured another try for the Alligator’s as Oscar also completed the move and charged over the try line.

A Selby penalty deep in Alligator territory was soon thwarted as the Alligator’s quickly overturned play and took control with considerable ease.

Close on half time, George Boynton very nearly secured another try for the Alligator’s but unfortunately knocked-on as he attempted a cunning little off-load to Oscar Cavil. The half time whistle then sounded, ending the first half 10-0 to the Alligator’s.

Selby got the second half going with a kick caught by Charlie Cartmell, who unfortunately knocked-on giving Selby the scrum.

The Alligator’s made every effort to keep play in Selby’s half and prevent them from gaining possession with some great ball work. A brilliant pass to Michael Walker secured the Alligator’s final try of the game as Michael weaved his way through the Selby defence and crossed the try line for touch-down number three.

The game soon ended with a scrum to the Alligator’s and a 15-0 win.

G4 - York (Semi-Final): The toughest game of the day and probably against the best prepared team in the festival. York kicked off with a well orchestrated kick, designed to optimise the chase. However, the Alligator’s quickly responded and wasted no time in making the tackle and entering the maul on the half way line.

York hit back with a good kick, well chased and well taken. They passed with complete accuracy to weave through the Alligator’s and glide over the try line to score.

After the re-start, York maintained the pressure as Jack Hatfield gave chase and tackled his man but could do little to stop the off-load. Michael Walker tried intercepting the new carrier but even Michael’s fast legs couldn’t reach the York try scorer as he crossed the line.

Mauling from the Alligator’s was at its best with James Millington gaining momentum, with the added force of Charlie Cartmell, before passing out to Oscar Cavill.

York’s next opportunity to score was thwarted close to the try line as Finlay Hills made the tackle and prevented a sure try by regaining possession and going down into a maul.

York stepped up the pressure on the Alligator’s in the dying minutes of the first half with two try’s in quick succession as they scrapped through weak openings to give a 20-0 half time lead.

The Alligator’s kicked off the second half and Michael Walker immediately followed it up with a great tackle to stop York dead. Although Michael stopped the player, the ball was soon off-loaded and York ran down the wing and scored. Michael gave chase and executed a brilliant try line tackle but just couldn’t prevent the inevitable grounding.

The Alligator’s got a slight break when a dropped ball close to the try line gave them a scrum and a chance to keep possession.

George Boynton, feeling the threat of York closing in, kicked high and into what he thought was relative safety until York got underneath the high ball and thundered back towards the try line and scored.

York weren’t the only ones able to receive high balls, as Matty Gill showed when he mastered catching one with considerable ease, taking it straight into the maul. Charlie Webster also proved that he too wasn’t exempt from the catching the high ball as he grabbed one heading over towards the touch line. He stopped the ball from going out of play really well but York overpowered him, lifting him clean off the ground and dumped him back down.

Just as the last play was given, Kyro Kelly, whose mauling is also becoming quite a welcome force, and Michael Walker tackled York and prevented them from notching any further try’s, ending the game 30-0 to York.

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MAN OF THE MATCH: Charlie Cartmell for an exceptional performance. His devotion throughout the festival was like a breath of fresh air and, at a time when numbers were low, a very welcome and gratifying contribution that ultimately rewarded Charlie with a well deserved try against Sheffield. Charlies’ tackling was also a very pleasant and satisfying improvement and most certainly played a part in helping the Alligator’s make the semi-final stages of the tournament.

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MATCH SUMMARY:

Results:

Alligators 10 - 0 Guisborough

Alligators 0 - 15 Sheffield Tigers

Alligators 15 - 0 Selby

(Semi-Final)

Alligators 0 - 30 York

Try Scorers:

Charlie Webster 1

Ethan Canet-Baldwin 1

Charlie Cartmell 1

Oscar Cavill 1

Michael Walker 1

Total Alligator Tries: 5

Conversions: None Taken

Attendance: 14/21 - (67%)

Away