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Birchfield 27 - 14 Ashton RU

20/ 2/2008

ONCE again this was a frustrating Ashton performance where a terrific spell of total dominance was undermined by what had gone before.

After a nondescript opening 10 minutes, the Birchfield full back came forward and kicked over the defence, only for his opposite number Tom Hibbert to halt his progress with a bodycheck.

There was nothing dangerous in the challenge, but not only did the referee award the justified penalty, he decided to dispatch Hibbert to the sin-bin.

The penalty kick was off target but within minutes Birchfield broke through the centre for a try under the posts was easily converted.

Directly from the restart, the home side came forward, Ashton were penalised for handling off the floor, and this time the penalty was slotted straight between the posts.

Hibbert returned, but the visitors constantly seemed to choose the wrong option and, after allowing their hosts to drive over for a pushover try, an interception try quickly followed, from a somewhat misguided loose Ashton pass close to their own line.

Then, with 22 points conceded, they seemed to look at what had been the worst half hour they had put together all season, and for the rest of the half they took play into Birchfield territory.

The second half began with Ashton on top. A penalty was used to find touch in the corner and a clean take at the front of the line was quickly moved inside.

A neat flick to Hibbert saw him fly under the posts for a try to which he added the goal points.

Mick O’Meara was unlucky not to go in for an interception try when he nipped in between the two opposing centres, only to be pulled back for a knock on.

The chance seemed lost, but the Ashton pack stole the ball at the set scrum and, as the home side attempted to wheel, Dave Stanley picked up at Number 8 and went in for a try, which Hibbert converted.

Five minutes later Birchfield broke forward again, and from a set scrum close to the line a well-worked move brought them a further try.