Baildon RUFC

With record rainfall courtesy of storms Ciara and Dennis turning the Jenny Lane playing surface into treacle, a home side determined to defend an unbeaten home record and horrible gale force winds, Rotherham Phoenix were always going to have to work hard to get anything from this game. To field a team of only fourteen players made the challenge nigh on impossible. Not that you could tell from the spirit, work rate, application and tenacity for the full match duration. Rotherham’s scramble defence was notable with some magnificent try saving tackles. The visitors may not have found much reward moving the ball out wide in challenging handling conditions, but their pick and go game was accurate with good penetration and ball retention.

Baildon had an edge at the set piece and were able to exploit space out wide with their extra man advantage.

Baildon’s first followed a good penetrating drive from Dan Fletcher and a Harrison Strauss break to set up good field positon.  The Jake Duxbury wrap around move set Luke Strauss up for a run in.

(5-0)

Adam Hewitt was notable in the set up for the next, tidying up loose ball and breaking the gain line in the narrow channels. Jake Duxbury once again combined with Luke Strauss. Nathan King, who would look for work all day, tracked the play, popping up on his opposite wing to finish the move off with a pie.

(10-0)

Joe Robsinson, Adam Hewitt and Pete Lowth made yards. Rotherham turned Baildon’s ball over but couldn’t find an exit. Nathan King’s outstanding run from deep set up Jake Duxbury who was able to add the conversion to his own try.

(17-0)

Matty Dixon looked in, but a great cover tackle from Phoenix denied him. Will Sismey was also short. Nathan King put Matty Dixon away again but the last defender used the touchline well to prevent the score.

Jake Duxbury put Dan Fletcher into space. Fletcher might have made it, but the treacle like mud slowed him down and by the end of his run Fletch was doing a passable “moonwalk” as if attached to a giant invisible elastic band. Jake Duxbury backed up to finish off for the bonus point try. Duxbury also added the extras.

(24-0)

 A Josh Strauss break put Adam Hewitt in space. Hewitt’s deft hands released Will Sismey for a try on his debut.

(29-0)

Beautiful rugby with accurate, quick passing saw Baildon’s finest try of the match. Backs and forwards were involved with great interplay. Oli Murphy picked the final inside pass off his toes and was in under the posts.

(36-0 HT)

Baildon rang the changes in the second half, giving the bench some game time.

Paul Macnamara set off at a gallop and put Jake Duxbury in. Duxbury converted.

(43-0)

A Jake Duxbury teasing kick bounced awkwardly. Although Rotherham did the hard work and looked to have cleared up in front of their try line, the ball squirted out of a ruck and Harrison Strauss, who had chased the kick well, was on hand to dot down.

(48-0)

Baildon’s next was run from their own 22 as the home side ruthlessly exploited the space out wide. On this occasion Matty Dixon would not be caught. Jake Duxbury converted.  

(55-0)

Rotherham had a prolonged period of pressure on Baildon’s try line, but the defence held albeit with Aaron Wilson and Harrison Strauss seeming to make the lion’s share of the tackles. After one too many penalties in the red zone, a yellow card was shown to Oli Murphy.

Aaron Wilson had a half chance when the ball was hacked downfield.

Matty Dixon made yet another break and Luke Strauss who had opened Baildon’s account at the start of the match, closed Baildon’s account with a final score. Ollie WIlliams added the extras.

(62-0)

Rotherham continued to press with their pick and drives with neutrals and even some home supporters willing them on. In the end the clock ticked after what must have seemed like a very long day at the office.

(62-0 FT)

Baildon may have felt that they had left points out there, but in the conditions this was a very good result and the defence was good.

Rotherham deserved something more than respect for the effort that they invested. They never gave up.

Thanks to both teams, coaches, supporters, volunteers, sponsors and match officials.