Browse Sections

• Local football
• Local cricket

Old Bedians 24 - 12 Ashton

2/ 4/2008

HAVING played their last few league outings in high winds, pouring rain – or a combination of both – Ashton found that last Saturday’s game was to be no exception.

With torrential rain at their backs, they spent the first quarter of an hour in the Bedians half, yet it was the home side who went ahead with a break up the right-hand side for a converted try against the run of play.

Both sides were finding it difficult to play any constructive rugby under the circumstances, but when a Bedians kick was held up on the wind, Ashton were able to use possession to find touch in the left-hand corner.

A clean catch at the front of the line by Dale Roberts was used to set up a rolling maul and as it surged over the line, hooker Neil Oldham got the final touchdown.

Tom Hibbert converted, but although the rain eased off for the rest of the half, a greasy ball and heavy conditions hampered any real chance of open play.

Within minutes of the restart though, the Manchester side put a series of rucks together, repeatedly recycling the ball until a gap was opened which saw them score a well worked converted try under the posts.

The rain came down again, triggering a 25-minute war of attrition in midfield between the forwards, but with neither side making any real headway until another brief respite in the weather saw the home side score another converted try in the corner.

Facing drizzly squalls and the gusty wind, it looked as if Ashton might have no way back but they were far from finished, winning clean lineout ball and showing decent handling skills to send Andy Kennedy over for a converted try.

With another deluge descending, the last 15 minutes again saw the packs slogging it out through the mire until a maul went down, Ashton were ruled to have offended, and Bedians brought the game to an end with a successful penalty.