Meltham All Blacks
Match Reports
Sunday 3rd December 2006
Meltham All Blacks Under 8’s – Away at Halifax
Halifax 0 - Meltham 50
After playing Halifax Vandals at the festival in October, Meltham travelled to Halifax expecting a hard battle.
Although the final score does not reflect the game, Halifax, came out fighting.
However four first half tries from Jordan Williams (2) and Christian Pestell (2), put Meltham in the driving seat and Meltham went into the half time break with a twenty two point advantage.
In the second half Alex Zatorski burst through a sturdy defence and dived over the try line. Jordan went over for his hat-trick which was then converted by Tom Hindle.
Tom was then unlucky as he was tackled a yard from the line and lost the ball. It deserved a try after making a run nearly the full length of the pitch.
But this was a day when the smallest players, Lewis bull and Jordan James matched the big boys driving forwards and involved in the tackles.
Jack, Clifford, Christian (3) and Jordan (4) put the All Blacks on top by making it the third successive week when 50 points have been put past the opposition.
The team worked well together George Sykes-Kenworthy and Christian Pestell guarding the wings, putting players into touch. Darren Walker making great yards forward and converting to put the team well in control. RyanWhite and Carl Sykes were ever reliable in the rearguard when required to defend
Meltham All Blacks Under 9’s – Home to West Bowling
Meltham 26 – West Bowling 40
On a very muddy pitch and with a freezing wind, Meltham and West bowling did very well to finish the game. Meltham started the brightest with Michael Tooley scoring in the corner early on.
Shortly after an injury to Jacob Glover saw Meltham down to eight men, playing up the slope and against the strong wind. The boys worked hard to try to get away from their own line but just could not break West Bowling’s defence and the visitors scored at regular intervals.
Just before half time Meltham scored the try of the game, with Oliver Szlachcic taking play to the left and beating two would be tacklers he gave a clever inside pass to Daniel King who changed direction and took on the defence offloading in the tackle to the supporting Michael Tooley who had the pace and power to score a great try in the corner to make it 10-32 at the break
In the second half Meltham’s defence was a lot stronger with Most Improved Player Ryan Hirst playing through the pain barrier to tackle and drive the ball hard.
Daniel king scored Meltham’s third try from a quick play of the ball to reward his hard work throughout the game. Man of the Match Michael Tooley got his hat trick soon after and he won the top tackler award for some brilliant defensive work, so it was only fitting that when he scored his forth try it gave the game a more respectable score line. All nine players were awarded the player of the Week award for their grit and determination.
Tries were scored by Michael Tooley (4), and Daniel King
Conversion was scored by Daniel King. Ryan Hirst and Michael Tooley
Meltham All Blacks Under 10’s – Away at Siddal
Siddal 18 – Meltham 18
The two previous games this season between these two evenly matched teams had left honours even with a win apiece, and so it was no surprise that this third meeting was once again a tight game.
Meltham got off to a flying start with Man of the Match, Luke Pogson scoring the first of his three trys within the first minute of the game.
Meltham who were without a couple of their regular players, then had to work hard in defence as the large forwards of Siddal applied the pressure on the Meltham defensive line. This pressure finally paying off halfway through the first half when Siddal crossed the line to level up the score.
Meltham then managed to put a bit of daylight between the two teams with two quick trys. The second of which was a fine example of flowing rugby with the ball passing through four pairs of hands before reaching the Player of the week Calum Linton who dummied two defenders and powered his way over the line.
In the second half Siddal quickly closed the gap with two unanswered trys, before Meltham once again took the lead with a converted try.
After Siddal had again levelled the score and with 5 minutes to go, the result of this match could have gone either way with both teams being unlucky not to break the stalemate. The draw however was perhaps the fairest result.
Tries were scored by Luke Pogson (3), Calum Linton
Conversion was scored by Elliot Currid
Meltham All Blacks Under 11’s – Home to Keighley
Meltham 16 – Keighley 36
High Winds and poor pitch conditions made the task of Keighley at home a tough one for the All Blacks. Keighley were well disciplined and benefited from the larger pack on the day.
Meltham were kept off the score sheet in the first half whilst conceding 18 points. Making the task of a second half comeback a hard one.
Two tries from Elliot Morris and one from Oliver Kirk, with conversions from David Dyson and Jack Thackery in the second half made up the points difference.
With a strong defensive display Man of the match was Jordan Fleary
Meltham All Blacks Under 12’s – Away at Siddal
Siddal 12 - Meltham 12
This was a superb contest between two very good evenly matched sides.
Meltham were there own worst enemy at the start conceding four consecutive penalties which gave Siddal the opportunity to barge over close to the line.
This was the wake up call they needed to tighten up their discipline.
As the first half progressed Meltham started to take control, and it wasn't long before George King had crossed the line to even up the score. With Sam Rochford and Toby King working overtime in defence, the big Siddal pack was finding it very difficult to gain field position. Patrick Diavewa and Michael Holmes were creating havoc whilst driving the ball forward, it was because of this good field position that the opportunity for George King to score his second try was created. In the second period Meltham carried on ware they left off constantly forcing errors with their aggressive defence.
Lucas Baines was on the receiving end of a great pass to score and put Meltham further in front. With five minutes remaining Sam Rochford suffered an injury that forced him from the field , this seemed to break the players concentration and Siddal sneaked in for two late trys to snatch a draw. Man of the match was George King and top tackler was Sam Rochford.
Meltham All Blacks Under 13’s
Meltham 8 – Farnley 8
Due to the very heavy muddy conditions and standing water nobody was expecting to see a game of high quality but were treated to a fine attacking and defensive game from both teams. Nobody from either teams let there side down as excellent running and ball handling thrilled the spectators. Both teams contributed some bone crushing tackleing but this was a very clean game as far as penalties were concerned. Meltham going down hill took an 8-0 lead in the first half with tries scored by Andrew Lambert & Nathan Richardson. The second half was just a good a game with Farnley’s No8 scoring 2 tries to level the score. Best back was Andrew Lambert & Best Forward was Josh Zatorski coaches player of the week was Sam Hirst.