“The day that God invented Rugby League he didn’t do anything else but sit around and feel good.” – Jack Gibson.
The Cobras were on the road this week, with a trip into the unknown at Westhoughton. After the initial get together to handout directions, the cars departed. With no roadwork’s enroute everybody arrived safe at their destination, although the home team appeared to have gotten lost as Crosfields waited patiently for their arrival. With kick off time approaching and passing, and with mutterings amongst the supporters of delaying tactics it was hoped that Crosfields would not be put off their game. With the playing surface not in the best condition, apparently the resident goat had been sent out to pastures new, and the ground hard after the days of baking sunshine, the team quickly got through their warm-up and after a last minute intake of water, were ready to go.
“I WAS NEVER A BIG FAN OF THE PRE-MATCH WARM UP” Jonathan Davies
Captain for the day Dean won the toss and the Cobras looked to continue on from last week and start strong. And how they did.
Strong drives by Alex and Rav, both of who were to go on later to win awards for their efforts, followed by Joe set up great field position, as the Lions were on the back foot, Tom spotted his chance for a quick play the ball and passed to Ben who rounded the defence to touch down near the corner. The home team’s first possession saw big tackles from Louis and Tom before a knock on saw the ball turnover, although the Cobras handed the ball back immediately through an error. With the team under pressure Joe and Kian combined to bring down the attack from the play the ball, then the No.13 weaved through the defence before Joe, again made a covering tackle to bring him down, another tackle from Tom before Louis showed his strength tackling the ball carrier into touch. From the turnover Kian drove forward taking Crosfields away from their line, from the play the ball Josh saw the opportunity to hand the ball on to Ben who took the opposition by surprise and dashed down the touchline in front of the cheering Cobras supporters, as he cut inside it seemed a certain try, but huge credit must go to the No.11 who never gave up and brought Ben down just yards short of the line. Louis found his efforts resisted and Joe was also thwarted just short, Ben took the situation by the scruff of the neck, spotting the home team being short of numbers on the left, he picked up stepped right and in the blink of an eye he was over again. From the restart tackles by Tom, Rav, Ryan, Alex and Louis kept the home team at bay. Instead of taking a break Alex took the next drive forward stepping past the first would be tackler before five defenders eventually brought him to halt. Rav was to be the next drive taking on defender after defender on a huge charge forward, much to the delight of the Cobras followers. A weaving run by Joe followed by Ryan and a charge forward by Elliott paved the way for Kian to take the ball at speed and round the defence, before diving salmon like to score at the corner.
The break in play saw the introduction of substitutes, with one having an immediate effect. Luke’s first action saw him bring down the No.1 as he raced towards the line, followed by a tackle in the opposite corner on the next play as the No.13 was bungled into touch. With Alex and Rav taking a well deserved rest after great work in attack and defence, Dean and Sam carried on from where they had left off, driving the team forward with strong runs. From a quick play the ball Joe looked to have rounded the defence to score only to be tackled just short, next was Marshall who had the door closed on him just as it seemed he was about to touch down, and when Josh charged in he was stopped millimeters short. A panicked play the ball saw the Cobras come away with nothing. After a forward pass from the Lions, Luke passed to Tom from the ruck and he glided over on the right hand side. This try was met with particular delight as Marshall planted a big kiss on Tom!!!!!!!
The ball was claimed straight back, as the knocked on and from the resulting play the ball Tom found Luke who outpaced the defence to score. In defence themselves tackles by Luke, Joe and Sam kept the Lions out, but as the Cobras backs were turned a quick scoot by the No.8 and he was in for his team’s first try. With the Cobras keen to make amends, drives by Josh and Marshall saw Kian slice through the Lions, just as he crossed the whitewash he appeared to lose control of the ball, but the referee was happy to award the try, Kians second.
“I think you enjoy the game more if you don’t know the rules. Anyway, you’re on the same wavelength as the referees.”Jonathan Davies
With the home team in high spirits after their try, they attacked strongly with Luke, Sam, Ryan, Joe, Josh and Kian all being involved in tackles and in some cases on more than one occasion. From the turnover Dean drove forward, from the play the ball Ben fed Sam who only had one thing on his mind, running wide before straightening up he ran the length of the field, once again showing off his newly practiced dive to score. With the Cobras now pressed hard on their own line keeping possession was important, although Joe had other ideas up his sleeve, collecting the ball behind his own line once again he showed his talents, shrugging off tackles weaving and stepping, to hot foot it the entire length of the field to score.
Half time
LIONS 1 – 8 COBRAS
Straight from the restart the Cobras were caught out with the No.8 racing around Louis and Ryan to score in the corner. The Cobras were keen to hit back quickly, Tom made yards forward gliding across the surface, Rav Alex Ryan and Josh all continued the drive forward before Joe passed to Ben who weaved his way over to complete his hat-trick. The Lions substitute was next on the ball running strong, but Joe had the measure of him, tackling him into touch. Louis took the next drive before Tom fed Joe, showing his pace to race in from half way untouched. In defence Louis showed his strength tackling , with Luke and Alex aided by Kian they forced the error from their opponents, Luke picked up the loose ball and made good yards forward, which Kian continued, at the play the ball Luke went into standoff, passing out to Tom who seemed to effortlessly eat up the turf to score in the corner. Once more in defence the Cobras were strong Alex and Rav again along with Ben, Sam, and Marshall the Cobras kept their line intact. On the next play Louis was unlucky to lose the ball, the replay clearly showing that the No.11 had ripped the ball away. This time it was the Lions turn to look strong in attack and after good tackles by Alex, Kian, Tom and Ravthe No.7 scooted over for a well deserved try. With the Cobras now playing with a standoff at every playthe ball moved about with speed. Louis, Rav and Sam all making yards before Kian, Alex and Louis again were all held up short. Louis was involved again in defence this time linking up with Sam and Kian to force a mistake. Then came the move that showed how confident the team were, Luke passing to Joe on a run around, with Joe dummying to Luke before finding the gap to go over to complete his hat-trick, putting the ball down one handed with a little glance to the side line to check dad was watching. With time ticking down Alex, three times in the set, and Joe made tackles before Sam fell on the loose ball. With Luke, Joe and Ben all alternating the standoff position a long run by Luke followed by a drive from Rav saw Joe pass out to Louis running cross field shrugging off tacklers before forcing his way over right on the corner flag, the referee happy the try had been scored. More strong defence from Louis who now had his tail up along with Ben, Alex again, Marshall, Tom and Rav once more kept the Lions at Bay. The referee informed both teams of the last set each, as Marshall made great yards forward along with Tom before Joe passed out to Luke, allowing him to show his pace to score taking a defender over the line with him, completing what was to be his and the teams third hat-trick of the day. In the Lions last possession Dean and Sam and Joe and Luke made tackles as a dropped ball saw the end of the game.
Final score
LIONS 3 – 14 COBRAS
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