Congleton received Helsby for the opening game of the league season on Saturday with a few changes from the previous weekends cup match. After a presentation of new shirts from Club President Mark Greaves the team were eager to get down to the pitch and a 45 minute warm up saw them keen to get the game under way.
Helsby kicked off and Scott Carter did well to catch and set up the ball under some heavy pressure. Congleton started well with solid scrumaging and good handling in the backs, they took the game to Helsby and even took some ball against the head. On 15 minutes Congleton drove Helsby off their own ball at a scrum and Kyle Ridgway picked up the loose ball, slicing through the defence to score a fine opportunist try. Dave Podmore converted giving Congleton a 7 - 0 lead.
Congleton played out the next twenty minutes camped in Helsby's half and used moves practised at training to good effect but were unable to convert possession into points. Just before half time and against the run of play, Helsby's number 7 made a break of thirty meters through some lack lustre Congleton defence, offloaded to his support and Helsby scored an unconverted try.
Half time score: Congleton 7 Helsby 5
The second half started with Helsby snuffing out numerous attacks from Congleton, who kept pushing hard to extend the lead but suffered from the referee’s whistle at the breakdowns. One infringement, 6 minutes into the half, allowed Helsby’s fly half to convert a penalty to take the lead 8 – 7.
Congleton substituted Alex Dewell for Mike Sommerfield who came on to the field and straight into the action at hooker. Congleton stepped up the pressure and kept Helsby pinned down in their 22 but a wayward miss pass was intercepted by Helsby’s centre who outsprinted Congleton to score a second unconverted try pushing the score to 13 – 7 to Helsby.
Congleton brought on Whiteley who added fresh legs to the team; he replaced Scott Carter who came off having played himself into exhaustion. A rallying call from Captain Davies meant Congleton restarted looking like they meant business.
There followed a period of play with Helsby attacking Congleton’s line and some stout defence from Congleton kept them out. Prop Watt suffering a gash to the head from a ruck but after some first aid and plenty of tape he was keen to get back in the game showing the spirit the team has developed this year.
Congleton now took the game back to Helsby and never let their heads drop; the forwards carried the ball well with Rory Kirkham showing strength and ability on the ball. The Woodman brothers did what they do best – run at people – hard! The forwards ran quick penalties sucking in the defence and recycling the ball to allow the backs to run at the defence stretching them wide. The clock was ticking but Congleton still could not cross the line. With two minutes left a series of phases saw Congleton push Helsby wide out right then Manning fed the ball left to the backs and Joe Wilcox ran a clever line to burst through the Helsby defence sprinting 10 meters to score to the left of the posts.
The spectators held their breath as Podmore stepped up to take the conversion with the score at 13 – 12 to Helsby. With ice running through his veins Podmore slotted the ball through the posts and the referee blew for full time. The crowd went wild and Congleton celebrated their first win of the season 14 – 13.
The team played well and should be pleased with the result; it showed that the hard work and training over the summer is paying off. There are areas to keep working on at training but the signs are good for the rest of the season
Team:
1. A. Watt
2. C. May
3. Jamie Woodman
4. S. Carter
5. A. Dewell
6. S. Thompson
7. R. Kirkham
8. John Woodman
9. M. Manning
10. K. Ridgway
11. J. Wilcox
12. C. Davies (c)
13. M. Berrisford
14. D. Podmore
15. E. Williams
Reserves:
M. Sommerfield
G. Whiteley