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Whiteheads RFC | 1st Team 21 - 11 | 1st Team

Match Report
11 September 2016 / Team News

Whitehead RFC Vs Markham RFC Saturday 10th September 14:30

Whitehead RFC Vs Markham RFC Saturday 10th September 14:30

 

Whiteheads took a positive start to the season with a clean sheet against Pontllanfraith into their first home game of the season entertaining a Markham team who are unbeaten against whiteheads and come off the back of a clean sweep of Division 3D last season.

 

Whiteheads were off to a great start with Markham giving away a penalty well within kicking distance making it 3-0 whiteheads after 5 minutes. A further run of play resulted in a Drop Goal by Adam Gibb making it 6-0 to whiteheads within the first 10.

 

A strong whiteheads defence held firm against a Markham attack which centred on their Fullback who made several probing attacks but the Blue Wall held Firm. A Further Penalty to Whiteheads bring the scores to 9-0 was cancelled out by a Penalty to Markham which was converted to take the scores 9-3.

 

Whiteheads attack was in full force with several probing runs made by Shane Pocock and Matt Dodds ably assisted by Local Lib Dem MP Thomas Forsey. A stunning solo run past all 15 of Markham’s players from whiteheads 22 put Matt Dodds under the posts for Whiteheads first try which was converted by Adam Gibb taking the scores to 16-3.

 

Markham enjoyed much of the ball towards the end of the half with several attacks on the whiteheads five yard line. With a warning from the referee for consistent infringements Whiteheads defence held firm eventually leading to Markham knocking the ball on at the stroke of half time with the scores at 16-6.

 

Whiteheads lineout dominated for much of the game with Tom Blacker winning more of Markham’s ball than Markham could win in a dominant performance by the pack. It was this dominant pack that pushed over the Markham try line in the 65th Minute with last week’s man of the match and now top try scorer Rhys Williams once again getting over the whitewash to the delight of the home crowd making it 21-6 to Whiteheads.

 

The intensity of the match started to show in both sets of players during the second half and Whiteheads formidable defence started to creak through fatigue. But still the boys banded together and held firm making several counter attacks that threatened the Markham line.

 

It was in the 75th Minute that Markham made a threatening attack to the Whiteheads line which resulted in Shane Pocock being sent off for retaliation to a suspected eye gouge (The scram marks around his eyes suggest the retaliation was justified) However no sanctions were brought to Markham by the referee. With 14 men on the field Whiteheads held out Markham for as long as possible but to no avail with Markham going over in the corner to make it 21-11.

 

The Blue wall rallied and held out the game well to take an historic win over Markham and keep some well-deserved momentum going into the next game against West Mon. Well done boys a thoroughly deserved win against a very strong Markham side.

 

Sam Perry

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