YORKSHIRE UNDER 17’S REGISTERS A PERFECT EIGHT OVER CUMBRIA
Yorkshire Under 17’s got their Tri Series campaign off to a great start with a 48-6 victory over Cumbria at a sunny Stanningley ARLFC after leading 30-6 in front of a healthy crowd.
In a very good team performance man of the match, fullback Fletcher Paley (Hunslet Warriors) had an outstanding day both in defence and attack illustrated initially by a seventy metre crossfield chase back to tackle a Cumbrian winger after he had intercepted close to his own line and looked destined to score.
He went over for a brace of tries and was immaculate with the boot kicking eight from eight with including a quartet from the touchline.
Yorkshire took the game to the visitors in the opening quarter of the first as the ‘White Rose’ county led 24-0 and it took Cumbria until the 23 minutes to muster their first attack inside the Yorkshire twenty metre line.
On three minutes captain Durante Pritchard (West Hull) and Paley combined to put winger Oliver Greensmith (Crigglestone All Blacks) for the opening six pointer.
The hosts continued to press and six minutes later doubled their lead when Kian Oldroyd (Stanley Rangers) found Steve Gibbs (Oulton Vikings) who passed out wide for Drew Judge-Clark (Dewsbury Celtic) to score in the corner.
It got even better for the hosts when hooker Dan Barcoe (Stanningley) went over for a brace in a five minute spell. On 14 minutes he scored from close range and on 19 minutes went over from the play the ball by the posts.
Although in complete control Yorkshire had a fright from a Cumbria interception which was foiled by Paley and on 23 minutes Cumbria on their first attack they knocked on ten metres from the Yorkshire line. They continued to press and Rob Salt (Barrow Island) scored their opener four minutes later and Owen Hayles (Ellenborough Rangers) added the extras.
This stunned Yorkshire into action and they scored their fifth six pointer of the game with the last play of the half. Gibbs, Oldroyd, Brad Gallagher (Oulton Vikings) combined to send Nigel Dangrae (Stanley Rangers) over in the corner for a 30-6 lead.
The second began as the first half with Yorkshire taking the game to Cumbria with a quick fire double from Paley ensuring no comeback. On 43 minutes quick hand saw him drive over and on 43 minutes he struck again this time from close range for a 42-6 lead.
The game became more competitive by both sides with Cumbria forcing Yorkshire to defend well seeing them have to drop out and saw Zac Olstrum (Ellenborough Rangers) held on the line
Yorkshire though had the last word four minutes from time on the 66 minutes when Pritchard passed inside for second row forward Kai Gasgoine (Upton) to blast through a tired and defeated Cumbria defence.
Paley kicked his final goal to finish with a points total of 24 for the game.
Head Coach Richard Milner gave his thoughts post match
“I thought in the first half we played well, we took our foot off the gas a bit in the second half and became a little complacent but I thought overall we did well. When we got those three or four early tries we were in cruising mode and it really backfired against us in that second half going away from those things that we had been doing well.
“Our fullback Fletcher (Paley) he played well today I don’t think he will have been far away from the man of the match but I thought he had a decent game and I feel that we have a little bit more to come out of him as well.
“We have a couple of more training session before our final game a trip to Lancashire in which we will iron some things out and hopefully we can get a little bit more cohesion together and co-ordination amongst our troops and we can go forward.
“We have got a twenty four man squad which to me I think is a little bit too much but it is part of coaching and you have to make those decisions. This moment in time we are going over to Lancashire probably to challenge for the championship and that’s something we are ready as a squad to do.”
YORKSHIRE: 1. Fletcher Paley (Hunslet Warriors), 2. Drew Judge-Clark (Dewsbury Celtic), 3. Nigel Dangare (Stanley Rangers), 4. Brandon Bachelor (Stanningley), 5. Oliver Greensmith (Crigglestone All Blacks), 6. Durante Pritchard (West Hull) Capt, 7. Kian Oldroyd (Stanley Rangers), 8. George Stones (Shaw Cross Sharks), 9. Danny Barcoe (Stanningley), 10. Sam Smith (Queensbury), 11. Kai Gascogne (Upton), 12. Brad Gallager (Oulton Vikings), 13. Stephen Gibbs (Oulton Vikings). Subs: 17. David Horner ( Castleford Lock Lane), 15. Joe Gamayon (Hunslet Warriors), 14. Ed Wilcox (Stanley Rangers), 16. Jordan Bull (Castleford Lock Lane).
Tries: Greensmith, Judge-Clark, Barcoe 2, Dangrae, Paley 2, Gascoinge
Goals: Paley 8/8
CUMBRIA: 1. Zac Olstrum (Ellenborough Rangers), 2. James McCartney (Wath Brow Hornets), 3. Dane Richardson (Wath Brow Hornets), 4. Kai Gilhespy (Ellenborough Rangers), 5. Aaron Burns (Kells), 6. Owen Hoyles (Ellenborough Rangers), 7. Sam Curwen (Wath Brow Hornets), 8. Kieren Eldon (Wath Brow Hornets) Capt, 9. Keir Shepherd (Askam), 10. Elliot Campbell (Barrow Island), 11. Matty Brown (Barrow Island), 12. John Irving (Ellenborough rangers), 12. Rob Salt (Barrow Island), Subs: 14. Joe Power (Wath Brow Hornets), 15. Jake Pearce (Wath Brow Hornets), 16. Ellison Holgate (Wath Brow Hornets), 17. Louis Fearon (Ellenborough Rangers), Unused subs: Luke Thompson (Barrow Island), 19. Alfie Thomas (Barrow Island).
Tries: Salt
Goals: Hoyles 1/1
Referee: Connor Astbury
Touch Judges: Jake Butcher, Cameron Worsley
Half-time: 30-6
Man of the match: Fletcher Paley (Yorkshire)
Steve Manning
Yorkshire Media Manager
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