TraffordMVRFCC

 

Trafford MV 2nds got their season underway with a local derby against Altrincham Kersal 2nds, and with it being a hot day it was always going to be a tiring match. TMV started the game off really strongly, pulling Kersal across the pitch easily, with our kicking pinning AK back giving them little chance of getting out of their '22 zone. A driving maul which ended up over the line courtesy of Phil Simms got well-deserved points on the board. Credit needs to be given to all the players who were playing out of position, it was never going to be comfortable, with us then losing our scrum half very early in the 1st half the reshuffling only got more inconvenient. We spent a good 75% of the first-half in the Kersal half, just lacking a little bit of execution to convert that territory into points. The score was 7-0 at Half Time.

 

The second half proved to be a proper contest, sometimes we were our own enemies by thinking we needed to be fast off rucks or letting them disrupt our rucks, but Kersal were certainly fired up. The backs got a rare slice of possession which worked really well between Liam Brimble and Chris Ward which led to TMV 2nd try putting us 12-0 up. This is where our problems started, careless penalties and a distinct lack of substitutes started to show, and Kersal were back in the game, a break off maul try followed towards the end of the game by 2 breakaway tries ended the match with a 12-19 win to AK.

 

Tiredness really crept in over the last 20 mins, broken tackles etc gave Kersal the momentum they needed. Special mention to Jacob Grant who covered nearly every blade of grass and bailed us out numerous times in defence, he will be missed when he leaves for University.

 

Overall, a very evident 1st match of the season with positives and negatives to take away into training. Roll on next week! Score 12-19 Tries: Phil Simms, Liam Brimble. Conversion(s) - Connor Ryan x1 Player Of The Match - Jacob Grant