Hope Valley RUFC

Venue: Home
Result: Loss
Final Score: Hope Valley 3 - Aldwinians 25

Penalties:

• Rick Spencer - 1

Venue: Home
Result: Win
Final Score: Hope Valley 31 - Buxton 3rd 0
Tries:

• Dean Ancell - 1
• Richard Mosley - 1
• Rory Williams -1
• Ben Furness - 1
• Luc Charmasson - 1

Conversions:

• Rick Spencer - 3

Match report by Rick Spencer

After a heavy down pore Valley hosted a local derby game against Buxton which saw Valley come out on top for the second fixture in a round against the local rivals.
Valley started with a lot of confidence playing with the wind using a lot of high ball and putting the Buxton defence under presser which paid of with a poor clearance kick caught by Lock Dean Ancell on the Buxton 22, who then broke through three tackles for his first try for Hope Valley, converted by Rick Spencer.

From the kick off Buxton again were camped in there own 22 and again cracked under the pressure from Valley with a good try from Richard Mosley.

With some excellent forward work in the pack and line out Gary Allen caught a well delivered line out throw from Andy Woodall and Valley were on the attack again. With Buxton coming in from the side of a ruck a penalty was awarded to the attacking Valley side, Spencer took a quick tap and was just stopped short. Again Buxton cleared to the wing where Rory Williams was ready to counter, and did with a great individual run and a try in the corner again converted by Spencer.

By this time Buxton heads were dropping and just to rub salt in the wounds Ben Furness ran from his own half to break through a lot of tired Buxton defence for another great try converted by Spencer.

26 – 0 at half time and Valley were determined to keep the Buxton side out and keep the nil score for there efforts.

Buxton started the second half with a better attitude and threatened the Valley try line but some superb tackling from Tom Hodgson, Lee Hutchinson and Will Wain kept the visitors out.

Valley were awarded another penalty, which was kicked across field by Richard Spencer to Luc Charmasson who took it, chipped on and caught his own ball to then show great strength to drive over with three Buxton tacklers trying their best to stop him.

This was a one sided game with Valley Again beating Buxton with a convincing margin of 31 -0

If you would like to play rugby for Hope Valley Rugby Club call Richard Spencer on 07944 829503 or come to training on Wednesday night at Hope Valley College at 6.30pm all welcome.

Venue: Home
Result: Loss
Final Score: Hope Valley 14 - Stockport 20

Venue: Away
Result:Loss
Final Score: Hope Valley 14 - Carrington 29

Venue: Home
Result: Win
Final Score: Game Conceded (Walkover)

Venue: Home
Result: Loss
Final Score: Hope Valley 36 - Broughton Park 43
Tries:

• Skrat - 1
• Jonny Elliott - 1
• Luc Charmasson - 1
• Richard Mosley - 1
• Gary Allen - 1
• Rick Spencer - 1

Conversions:

• Rick Spencer - 3

Penalties:

Venue: Home
Result: Loss
Final Score: Hope Valley 14 - Wilmslow 37
Tries:

• Tom Hodgson - 1
• Rick Spencer - 1

Conversions:

• Rick Spencer - 2

Report By Robert Mortimore

Its been an interesting start to Hope Valley’s season with some impressive displays both home away with wins against both Buxton and Sandbach with some truly awesome tackling and energetic performances throughout the side. So today’s game was another chance for the away contingent to prove their worth even with a small squad to pick from.

With grey clouds circling over the ground today the rain was inevitable and with a damn pitch and a wet and slippery ball the first half saw Valley begin with some neat passing and quick offloading down Wilmslow’s right side of the pitch. Hodgson made some ground into the home side’s 22 and causing their defence to hold firmly under pressure.

The home side began to force some pressure down Valley’s right wing however Spencer was able to reach out with a neat and vital tap tackle on Wilmslow’s nifty winger. However it was the home who created the first points of the half cutting through Valley’s defensive line but were unable to convert and so Valley bounced back with a well taken ball in slippery conditions from Berry down the left wing and pushing hard through Wilmslow’s defensive line.

Valley’s hard work down the right wing earned them a penalty 200 yards out on the right side and Spencer was unlucky to shave the left upright with a slippery pitch not helping their cause.

Wilmslow then added more points with a fast moving passage of play down the left wing and slid over for another try with the outstretched arms of Valley just missing out on halting the onslaught.

After a dominant passage of play from the hosts Valley did manage to put in some hard hitting tackles and energetic forward momentum into the hosts 22 with Scrat showing his hunger and desire to get points on the board for Valley.

In the second half Valley began the brighter and shone through the damp conditions to show their superb mental attitude which needed some points for the hard effort and with the hosts piling on the pressure the cracks began to show in Wilmslow’s defensive line and Valley charged over for a superbly worked try and with a cool collective mind Spencer was able to convert to give his side some courage and dignity.

Unfortunately for all their hard work and determination they were unable to stop a surging drive forwards from the hosts and conceded a well worked try but this did not deter Valley’s much improved performance in a thoroughly damp and dingy second half.

Valley put up an awesome display down their left side driving back the hosts heaving pack and out of their own 22 with chest pumping and hearts racing a truly awesome display of character from the away side.

The hard working Valley continued their hard work and superb team ethics with Lee racing forwards and urging on his side with a superb show of character and feeding the ball onwards to Hodgson and Wain and Valley raced over a well earned try and once again well converted from Spencer to give Valley some pride in a toughly contested hard fought game with two very different half’s of rugby.

Valley ended this contest with their pride intact having managed to take some hard worked points from a wet and slippery day with both sides finding it hard to keep a hold of a wet and slippery ball.

Man of the Match: Lee

Saturday 4th October 2008
Venue: Home
Result: Postponed (date to be arranged)

Venue: Home
Result: Loss
Final Score: Hope Valley 9 - Congleton 50

Penalties:

• Rick Spencer - 2

Drop Goals:

• Rick Spencer- 1

Venue: Away
Result: Win
Final Score: Hope Valley 29 - Sandbach 27
Tries:

• Andy Woodall - 1
• Dave Everard - 1
• Richard Mosley - 1
• Paul Nichols - 1

Conversions:

• Rick Spencer - 3

Penalties:

• Rick Spencer - 1

Report by Robert Mortimore

Hope began the game facing down hill into the glare of the sunshine and with a well executed clearance kick from Spencer to halfway, Everard and Mosley were able to use their upper body strength to drive Sandbach off the ball with firm hard hitting tackles in the home side’s half.

Spencer then made a darting and pacing run into the opposition’s 22 with superb support from his pack showing real hunger for the ball and Valley edged forwards within inches of the try line only to be held back by a stubborn Sandbach defence.
Andrew Woodall the ever present talisman in midfield made a succession of crunching low hard tackles to the ensuing home side’s front row followed up with Harry Williams collecting the ball with cool hands and off loading to Warren who in turn cleared the ball to Sandbach’s 22.

Paul Nicols continued Valley’s electrifying start with a darting run through Sandbach’s defensive line evading four lunging tackles using his quick feet to wrong foot the home side’s defence and earned his side a penalty. A few moments later and Nicols was again on the rampage offloading with quick passing and moving to Rory Williams and with some neat interchanges in midfield, Everard made an inspiring run down the right wing dodging in and out of the opposition’s defence to go over for a try.

From the restart Dave Warren made a powerful surge into Sandbachs back line and even when Sandbach retrieved the ball Valley were able to steal the ball against the home side’s lineout with Harry Williams leaping highest for the ball with hunger and aggression and with Sandbach using hands illegally in the ruck Valley were rewarded with a penalty and Richard Spencer cooled and calmly converted.

After the restart the home side began to push themselves back into the game and if it had not been for a truly inspirational defensive strong hold from Valley, Sandbach would have been back in the game. The home side were beginning to bounce into life and with some more hard work from the front row they were able to push over the try line for a hard worked try.

However this neat passage of play from the home side seemed to spark Valley back into life and with some silky handling and neat offloading down the left wing Valley were able to pierce a hole in the home side’s defensive wall and charged through for a try from Nicols who was well on his way to getting man of the match.

With yet more neat passing and smooth flowing work down the right wing Valley were able to strengthen their lead with a simple but effective try from Warren thanks to some neat offloading from Mosley and yet another well taken conversion from Spencer.

But Sandbach once again probed down right side they were able to move into Valley’s 22 and with further hard work down the right side they were able to claw through for a try and with a neat passage of play they charged over for another try and the score had been pegged back to ten points, nail biting action for the away supporters.

But once again the stubborn hard working Valley were able to shine through the home side’s dominant patch and with a sustained passage of play from Valley in a crucial moment in the game they were able to penetrate down the left side with Warren and Mosley showing some beautiful slick passing allowing Woodall to charge over for a vital try and superbly converted by Spencer.

However Sandbach were not finished and with a brisk passage of play they were able to crash over for a try and conversion.

Man of the match : Paul Nicols