A bizzare one at HLH today, a big crowd were entertained with a shared 11 tries.
HLH came out like a house on fire being 29-0 up at HT. Displaying free flowing rugby and an imense kicking game pinning Halifax in their half most of the first half looking like a cricket score was pending and then displaying the most bizzare try I've seen to date, HLH kicked over the top with the entire Halifax team just stopping standing still and not reacting allowing the HLH winger to jog to the ball uncontested.
However the second half was much different, clearly a half time bollocking kicked Halifax into gear to which they turned it up a notch. Scoring 4 tries to HLH 2 in the second half showing desire to get the bonus point.
Halifax boasted a heavy pack with several players being hard to stop, however the HLH pack outgunned them with slick hands and set moves, the scrum was equal in the first half with each Halifax player having atleast 2/3st on each LH opposite number. However the longer the game progressed the LHL scrum took control.
In the last 20 minutes Halifax young quick backs and great support play allowed them to get 3 try's and the potential all important bonus point.
I think fatigue and some Complacency kicked in towards the back end of the game from HLH allowing the tries however fair credit to Halifax's determination and grit.
I believe their pack will cause some issues throughout the season and their backs will continue to score, a good game and a fair result from what I saw.
Some bizzare results across the board in Y2.. what happened to ripon?? And were baildon on top form or has ossetts recruitment let them down??
Looking forward to next weeks game at queens terrace
Baildon 36-0 Ossett
Bradford & Bingley 32-15 Ripon
Bridlington 58-15 Northallerton
Roundhegians 29-22 Bramley Phoenix
Huddersfield Laund Hill 43-22 Halifax
Halifax Vandals 21-26 Otliensians
Nothing a massive suprise.
Ripon missing their 100ft tall 2nd rower and the young 8 they had for most of last year who did plenty of damage unsure why? They also moved their talented 13 to wing for this match which was a mistake. On the other hand Bees looked very good and organised in attack, played with a calmness we didn't see last year and excluding a good intercept from ripons 12 and a try conceded after a hearty shift in defence from bees, ripon not given many chances in attack.
Baildon always strong at home and the dry summer will help their backs to a strong start. Ossett will always be stronger at home so nothing to worry about for them.
Big Win for Brid as expected. Favourite to go up? Potentially already a long season ahead for Northallerton. Need to pick up some results at home to give themselves a chance.
Roundhegians and Bramley very similar would imagine this was a tight game and neither result would have surprised.
HLH picked up a bit last season and were much better than their finishing position suggested. If they've recruited well then they have a good chance of finishing high up the table. Knowing little of Halifax other than the odd story seems like they could struggle. Will be reliant on their big pack to win games through the winter months.
Personally from last season I thought Vandals had one of the better packs in the division and they play the steep hill at home very well. Despite the warm dry weather being a massive bonus to Ensians and their backs this is still a statement win for a team who doesn't have the biggest pack. Vandals will do well again this season and be hard to beat especially at home but underestimate Otliensians at your peril.
Ripon's hopes of a dream start came unstuck against a determined and well-organised Bees side. In answer to the questions, big Lock is currently resting, waiting for boggy ground and the young 8 is now with Mowden Park after a summer in New Zealand. Ripon lost another couple of key players from last season and aimed to start well with no less than six new signings in this first league outing. Clearly the pre-match hype wasn't sustainable and with a dysfunctional line out, unsteady scrum and poor communications in general, Ripon never looked like taking control of this game.
Bees contested everything and worked well together to take a 10 - 0 half time lead. Despite some spirited play later on, Ripon didn't close to a losing or try BP and Bees went on to get their five points, though the their third try was an absolute gift from a line out which looked like the parting of the Red Sea.
Massive home game for Ripon next week v Hegians and celebrating the opening of the new stand and other ground improvements, which we hope visitors will appreciate.
Prediction results to follow separately.