Match Reports

Burton Vets 18 v 19 Longton Vets

Longton Vets should have been at home to Linley Vets but, after they became the fourth team to cry off on the Vets already this season, Longton managed to find an away fixture at Burton through the Staffordshire Fixtures Pool. 

Longton's match preparations were savagely disrupted, however, when three players cried off on Friday and three more cried-off on Saturday morning.  Despite pleas for help from the 2nd team, Longton made the short trip to Burton with 13 players, and had to rejig the side appropriately. 

Burton, to their credit, lent Longton a couple of men, who's presence on the field was appreciated, although additional substitutes were lacking when Longton had a couple of injuries - meaning we had to keep our walking wounded on the pitch throughout. 

As expected, Burton were equal to the big Longton forwards, and matched the Vets in the tight.   But, once again, the quick Longton half-backs and centres were able to out-pace their opposition, and just needed a couple more of their regular players out their with them to enable promising moves to be finished off with scores.  As it was, throughout the game Longton's backs came close to scoring, but just needed that extra familiar face to help convert the pressure.   

But, on occasion, Longton were able to convert their pressure.  Firstly, from a ruck that Longton won on the Burton 22, quick ball from Graeme Wilson (Scrum-half) out to Sanjay (Fly-Half) was shipped to Griff and on to his centre partner Steve Cartledge, who cut through the Burton cover and scored under the posts.  Graeme converted. 0-7.

Burton's reply came when they scored from a ball that was hacked ahead and not cleared quickly enough by the Longton cover.  7-7.

Longton replied immediately.  From another ruck just outside the Burton 22, Longton secured the ball, and it was shipped straight to Griff, who sped down the wing and then made the Burton full-back look comical as he bought an outrageous dummy to allow the speedy Vet to score in the corner.  Conversion missed. 7-12.

Burton scored a penalty to bring the half-time score to 10-12 in Longton's favour.

The second-half saw much the same pattern, with the Burton and Longton forwards locking horns throughout, neither taking a backward step.  But Longton's backs continued to just get the edge in their encounters with their opposite numbers.

Longton's second half try came from Graeme Wilson popping out from the back of a ruck just inside the Burton half and, with speed that no-one (including Graeme) thought he still had, he sniped up the wing then cut inside to beat one defender, cut inside to beat a second, and then straightened up to beat the approaching full-back on the angle to score under the posts.  Graeme converted his own try. 10-19

Burton scored another penalty (13-19), and managed a consolation try near the final whistle, which was greatly assisted by the ref being unsighted to a crossing manouvre in midfield that could have come straight out of the New England Patriots' playbook. Conversion missed. 18-19 final score.

This was a great match, played in a really good spirit, between two close sides and was Longton's toughest test yet.  Longton Vets look forward to the chance to play a return fixture against Burton later in the season.

Longton Vets managed to maintain their 100% record - played 4, won 4 - and now have a few weeks off before they travel to Rugeley for their last match of 2009.

AC