| |
|
| |
| |
Search |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Tuesday November 1st 2011 |
< Back |
 |
|
| POST MATCH AUDIO FROM YORKSHIRE LANCASHIRE CLASSIC |
|
|
 |
|
The Lancashire and Yorkshire Head Coaches give their thoughts after the classic ’War of the Roses’ clash on Sunday when Yorkshire defeated Lancashire 28-26 for the nineth successive time.
John Fieldhouse - Lancashire Head Coach
“I feel we have been mugged this afternoon, pockets pinched and I’m definitely in shock really, I was told by the linesman that there was four minutes to go after we scored what I thought would be the winning try. Jonathon Smith kicked the goal; we’re twenty six points to eighteen up, four minutes to go.
“On my watch there was four minutes to go, when I looked at my watch eleven minutes later we had played forty seven minutes when the referee blew the whistle and Yorkshire had just kicked the goal to win. I’m still shocked.
“It was a good decision to decline the conversion when they got within four points of us and I would have made the same decision as well but even then there was one minute to go which means one set. On the third tackle one of the Yorkshire lads drops a ball; the referee didn’t see it and the linesman gave a penalty to Yorkshire so they kick it into touch. Meanwhile there’s one minute to go when they get the ball back.
“They peg it back into play and on the fourth tackle they score a try, now they have had seven tackles, kicked into touch all in one minute. I don’t know where his clock was or what his thoughts were but maybe he wanted to play until Yorkshire scored.
“Even though it’s disappointing it’s a round robin competition two game championship so I have got every confidence in my players in the squad I have got, the players that have played today, the players that couldn’t play today. It’s going to be hard because some of our better players will probably have to back up in two weeks time with a Saturday knock out quarter final and play against Cumbria on the Sunday.
“I am confident that we can overturn Cumbria and the points difference that they have over us to see us win the championship for the first time for many a year. It’s in our own hands the players are smarting after this defeat so they will have every right to make sure that they are justified championship winners after the Cumbria game.”
Tony Spence - Yorkshire Head Coach
“It was a gripping win against Lancashire by two points with the last play of the game. The spirit in the team after the Cumbria game has been superb, we regrouped, we’re a new team and we can’t wave a magic wand. If you’re given a bit of time as a group together and whatever team is put out on the park, you will never take away that Yorkshire spirit.
“Whoever puts that black and white shirt on at the end of the day, it is sort of inbred in us all that you go for the full eighty. It was a big decision not to take the kick for goal after the second to last try but we just went for it went for broke and on this occasion we remarkably came up trumps.
“I know Ashley (James) he plays for my club and he is a prolific goal kicker and field kicker and when we were grouped in the centre of the field I said to them all don’t worry Ashley will kick this (the scores were tied at 26 all), I would have put my mortgage on him kicking it. He’s a quiet lad doesn’t get nervous, doesn’t get overawed, just kicks the ball.
“We could only play until the referee blew up for full time, we had that never give up attitude, it counts for a lot and the body language was still good. I thought when they scored their last try it was a mistake by Bart O’Brien to run away without picking the ball up. He had a good game but on that occasion his hands let him down, Lancashire capitalised and up to that point they were out on their feet. I thought we can take this our lads body language was still good they’ll die in a few minutes and we’re up for this and we did it.
“I had some doubts in the opening stages with their forwards making some good metres and to be fair we got caned for penalties, I think it was about four one in the opening twenty minutes and the score board reflected that. Even though we did drive upfield they came back strongly and scored again but yeah I was worried at times I must admit.
“When you put a new team together you don’t know what their character is like you have to play these games and see what happens, if the kids are up for it. I think that if we can keep these lads together for two or three competitions I think that the best is still to come and we will be back were we belong.”
Steve Manning
BARLA Media Manager
|
|
|
|
|
|
The British Amateur Rugby League Association.
West Yorkshire House, 4 New North Parade, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. HD1 5JP, England
Tel: 01484 599113, Fax: 01484 510682, info@barla.org.uk |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
