Carnforth RUFC

1st XV Match Reports

Garstang 25 Vs Carnforth 18

In this re-arranged Junior Tetley Vase, Carnforth travelled to local rivals Garstang on Saturday and after coming back from a half time deficit they succumbed to a late try to fall at the first hurdle. Carnforth were forced into a few changes, Stuart Whitham, Sam Ripley, Adam Capeling and Richard Short coming in for their first starts of the season.
It was Garstang, led on to the field by a lone bagpipe player, who had the better of the early exchanges as they set up camp in the Carnforth half. After 10 minutes they pressure was rewarded when a charged down kick resulted in a converted try and a 7 point lead. Carnforth gradually came into the game with Ripley and centre Nigel Bennett making a couple of good runs. Carnforth moved inside the Garstang half and looked like scoring when a series of line outs and forward drives were enforced, however, a combination of wrong options and dogged tackling kept Carnforth at bay.
Garstang increased their lead with a well taken drop goal from their influential stand off who has having a far better game than his full back. The home side were doing well marshalling the Carnforth attack who time and time again looked like scoring. Ian Hill, Shane Rich and Short all going close to getting Carnforth on the scoreboard and to infuriate Carnforth even more, the hosts broke clear to score their second try for a 15 point lead. The conversion attempt going well adrift of the uprights. Carnforth got the just rewards close to half time when again the forwards laid the platform to allow hooker Dan Stafford to charge through for a try, Bennett converted despite slipping over. With the last kick of the half Garstang converted a penalty to take an 18 – 7 lead into the second half.
Carnforth knew they had it all to do and they came out for the second half in determined fashion. The forwards were gradually getting on top, Stafford taking a couple of strikes against the head. The line outs were strong, Jay Heaton, John Greenland and Hill taking some quality ball to release the half back pairing of Whitham and Stuart Walker.
The visitors got back into the game when Walkers initial burst allowed centre Phil Metcalfe to power his way though for a determined try to reduce the gap to 6. Carnforth made a couple of replacements with Kevin Hardy and Paul Kirkpatrick coming on for Capeling and Colin Stubbs. Skipper Simon Gaskin was calling the shots and Hardy slotted over a 40 yard penalty to further reduce the gap.
Carnforth were now looking the favourites to go into the draw for round 2 and when Hardy put over a penalty from the touchline to level the scores the home crowd sensed that their team were doomed. However Garstang are a very spirited side as they shown over the years and they were not going to give up. With the scores level and extra time looming both teams were looking for one final effort and it was the hosts who found the gap to score a try out wide, superbly converted to give them a 7 point lead.
Carnforth had a couple of late chances, Jerrard Winstanley and, Bennett and Hardy all trying but to no avail as Garstang held on for a victory. The sides meet again this weekend in the first league encounter of the new season, kick off is at 3pm at Carnforth.