Match report by Ken Roberts
For the first time since the start of the season the Roosters were something close to full strength and they showed what a good side they can be as they ended a run of 11 straight league defeats with a comfortable victory at home to Hull side Myton Warriors, a victory that owed as much to resilient defence as the points that were posted.
Regulars Marc Jones, Will Rigby and Tom Smith missed the game for various reasons but Roosters welcomed back from injury Richard Openshaw and Paul Morgan both of whom were very impressive, although both just losing out for the man of the match award to all action hooker Lee Salisbury. Debutant Jake Lynch showed up really well on his first game in the NCL and it is easy to overlook the efforts of Joe Connor because the big forward plays so consistently well every week, but overall, there were no weak links in the team this week and every man played his part.
Roosters took the lead after 10 minutes when Jordan Parker sent a high kick into the visitors’ half on the last tackle and Mike Halsall retrieved the ball and put a low kick to the in goal where Morgan was on hand to score 15 metres from the corner. Parker’s conversion attempt hit the outside of the post, although that proved to be his only miss of the day (4-0).
The home side thought they had increased the lead on 21 minutes when Salisbury dived over between the sticks, but the referee had already blown for an infringement in the move and a penalty was awarded to Myton. Three minutes later Myton had a try chalked off themselves when Nathan Slater was pulled back for a forward pass, but the visitors did nudge in front with the next attack. Kris Walker “dummied” to pass and shot through a gap for a try next to the post which he converted himself (4-6).
Just after the half hour the Warriors were penalised for holding down right in front of the posts and it was too good an opportunity to miss so Parker equalised with the kick (6-6), but Roosters left it right until the last play of the half to regain the lead. A Myton attack broke down on half way and Morgan booted a loose ball downfield where Parker picked it up and sent Halsall over for a try that Parker improved (12-6).
The try just before the break was a “sickener” for the Warriors and it seemed that they had still not recovered from it when the second half started, the Roosters hitting them with 2 Parker converted tries in 2 minutes, the first coming on 44 minutes. That try came when Mike Foster was held just short of the line and when Joe Connor charged onto the ball the outcome was always going to be a try next to the post (18-6). Next over was Salisbury, scoring an easy try after George Kemp had “skinned” his opposing winger – Adam Piggott down the touch line and passed out of full back Alex Hobman’s tackle (24-6).
On 52 minutes the Hull side had forward Allan Dunham sin binned for dissent but the Roosters failed to take advantage of the extra man. They did seal the win however with a try out of the “top drawer” on 68 minutes. Parker sent a chip over the defence on half way and Bradley White raced through to collect and sprint between the sticks. Parkers fifth conversion turned out to be the last scoring action of the game (30-6).
Referee:- Mr Dean Bowmer (Wakefield).
Half time= 12- 6. Full time= 30- 6.
