joefoxon wrote:The second ever footby match between Mercury and Craitland was played at Ironworks Road in Tow Law, with
neither side having experience of the new rules, eliminating try-goals, as well as other changes.
Mercury's Daniel Brown kicked the game off, with Will Mortensen taking the ball just inside his 10. The ball was moved upfield well by Craitland, and they quickly found themselves in a dangerous position. Yaqin Ula put the ball into the air, and got lucky when Mercury centre Steve Evans failed to take it cleanly. He was backed up by Alan Clark, however, who started Mercury's first attack of the game, running clear of the oncoming Craites. Mercury gave away the first penalty of the match, when Neil Winter was caught offside, when he could easily have allowed the ball to bounce. Craitland put the ball into touch, and took a play on, from 15 metres out. The ball was dropped onto the ground by Paulio Fredriksen, who found a gaping hole in the defence, running through for the first try. Jon Pellegrino slotted through a simple kick to make it 5-0.
Mercury got on the scoreboard straight after, with a brilliant kick off from Daniel Brown flying straight through the posts to make it 5-1, with Craitland to kick off from their own goal line. Steve Evans took it in short of the centre line, a few short passes took them 20 metres up the field, before a careless foul by Oscar Hjansen gifted Mercury a penalty. Another 20 metres were gained, taking the hosts just inside the Craitish 10. A long throw out wide gave Joseph Baker chance to dive in for a try. Daniel Brown's kick sailed just wide, keeping Craitland in a narrow 1 point lead.
Mercury were slow in taking the ball upfield on their next chance, with Gheorghesen doing well to intercept a short forward pass, however a poor kick downfield to Kraig Fredriksen was intercepted by Steve Evans, taking his team forward to the centre line. Mercury were building for another attack, and when Brown received the ball in a dangerous position, everybody's money was on a goal, and he obliged them, kicking the ball straight through the middle of the posts from 25 metres out. Another try came from the goal line kick off, with Mercury finding it easy to get the ball through Craitland's defence. Brown kicked an easy goal to open a 5 point lead for Mercury. The hosts received the ball deep in their own territory, but Luke Hamilton dropped the ball into touch, giving Craitland a play on 5 metres from the Mercury line. The gap was opened up for another Craitland try, and Pellegrino scored his second conversion of the afternoon to level the scores.
The two sides were exchanging possessions without scoring, but before the interval, Pellegrino restored Craitland's lead with a long goal kick, giving them the advantage at the break.
The second half scoring opened with a penalty score for Craitland, as Jón Klevets was fouled 8 metres from the Mercury line, with Alan Clark ending up in the sin bin. With the extra man, Craitland were able to overpower Mercury, but Hjansen gave the ball away 20 metres from Mercury's line, after running offside on Zyxveldtsen's kick. Mercury took the ball into Craitland's half from the kick, levelling the score with Joseph Baker's try. Brown's conversion was helped in by the post.
Mercury were unlucky not to go five in front when Lydveldt Dehbo took in Neil Winter's pass, and the game slowed down after that. Craitland were taking their time with possession, being careful to avoid mistakes, and it paid off when they retook the lead after the hour mark, but Pellegrino missed the conversion, keeping Craitland only one in front. With 10 minutes to go, Mercury missed a goal attempt, and three minutes later, Craitland kicked a one pointer, forcing Mercury to play for a try. The try almost came from Alex Milner, but he dropped the catch, turning possession over to the Craites for the last two minutes, however, the Napian goal judge had spotted a push by Gheorgesen, awarding Mercury a penalty score to level the match. Brown failed to find touch from the penalty kick, and Craitland had one last throw of the dice to win the match. The final whistle came quicker than they would have liked however, and a draw seemed a fair result for both sides after a well played match.
Mercury 17-17 Craitland
Tries: 3-3
Conversions: 2-2
Goals: 2-2
Penalty scores: 1-1
3' - P. Fredriksen (try) 0-3
3' - Pellegrino (conv.) 0-5
4' - Brown (goal) 1-5
10'- Baker (try) 4-5
14' - Brown (goal) 5-5
17' - Donelly (try) 8-5
17' - Brown (conv) 10-5
20' - Ula (try) 10-8
21' - Pellegrino (conv) 10-10
36' - Pellegrino (goal) 10-11
43' - Penalty score 10-13
49' - Baker (try) 13-13
50' - Brown (conv) 15-13
62' - Chentzansio (try) 15-16
73' - Klevets (goal) 15-17
78' - Penalty score 17-17