Hope Valley RUFC

Date: 28th November 2009
Venue: Away
Result: Win
Final Score: Hope Valley 96 – Dukinfield 5

Tries
Mike Woodhouse x 2
Dean Ancell x 4
Luc Charmasson x 2
Steve Hudson x 2
Lee Hutchinson x 2
Martin Spencer x 1
Tom Hodgson x 2
Dave Warren x 1

Conversions
Ric Spencer x 8

Match Report
On a muddy and waterlogged pitch Valley put pressure on from the start, winning a scrum on Dukinfields 22. The ball was won, and passed swiftly down the valley back line for Woodhouse on the wing to score 0-5. Valley continued to dominate in difficult conditions , and Ancell broke through the Dukinfield ranks to score 0-10. The ball was kicked through by Warren with plenty of Valley players pressurising and enabling Charmasson to score , with Spencer getting his first conversion of the day 0-17.

Dukinfield responded and their back line attacked the Valley 22, only for Hudson to grab a cheeky interception, racing away to score under the posts, converted by Spencer for 0-24 after only twelve minutes. Dukinfield responded well though, and from a lineout close to the Valley line they scored to make it 5-24. This acted as a wake up call for Valley and showed them that the game was far from won. Another scrum was won by the Valley pack on the Dukinfield 22, and Hutchinson somehow managed to dodge the Dukinfield players and score under the posts. 5-29.

The valley backs produced a great piece of running rugby, with the ball being passed down the line and back inside. The valley attack was relentless, and Ancell skipped past three defenders to score again, converted by Spencer 5-36. A blindside attack from valley brought another try to Woodhouse, filling in on the wing, and showing a surprising turn of speed, converted by Spencer 5-43. Next Hudson again showed his pace scoring a breakaway try from the valley 22, converted by Spencer to make it 5-50 at halftime.

The second half produced a try for replacement Martin Spencer, following up a break by Hodgson from the halfway line. 5-55. Hodgson was again in the thick of the action, breaking off the back of a scrum ten yards out to score, 5-60. Valley drove again into the Dukinfield half, and a kick through by Spencer was gathered by Warren to get his name on the score sheet, 5-65. Valley continued to pressurise, winning their lineouts and driving on, and more powerful  running from Ancell giving him his hat trick 5-72.

To Dukinfields credit they continued to compete, and their experienced pack caused valley some problems in the loose. A break in play saw Dave Ryder take to the field with the water bottles to bring some levity to the afternoon. It’s great that he is released into the community on Saturdays to play rugby…

Play resumed and the surging runs continued, with Ancell breaking to set up Hodgson for his second try 5-77. The valley backs then got back in the action with a good run from Woodhouse, and Charmasson in support got his second try, converted by Spencer to make it 5-84. Again the ball was passed through the back line for the ever present Ancell to score, again converted by Spencer to make it 5-91. The game was finished off with a try to Hutchinson which would have looked better on a football pitch, hacking the ball through and controlling it before he could pounce over the try line, final score 5-96.

The game was played in  a great spirit and the score does not do Dukinfield justice, as they competed throughout. As one of their players commented “We did really well until they got the ball” .

Feed on comments to this Post