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24
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Rhinos
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v
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York Knights
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38
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Fundraising Friendly
3rd January 2005
Rhinos Start the Year with a Loss
The kick-off was delayed by ten minutes to allow the massive 3,500 to get into the ground, ten out of ten to York for organisation. Before kick-off and I was already sweating as to whether I'd get back to my car before the York Parking Gestapo had it towed to some pound in the middle of nowhere!
We knew in advance that it would be a Rhinos side lacking the majority of the first team stars, with only Feather, McDonald, Bai and Pocing on duty as recognisable first-teamers. This was a chance for the youngsters to shine, and to give Tony Smith a gentle 'I'm ready' nudge in the ribs. It was pleasing to see Lee Smith, Scott Murrell, John Gallagher and Nick Scruton all included, and all keeping their first-team colleagues on their toes.
Mick Cooks York looked unlikely to be taking prisoners. Ex-Rhinos Academy starts Austin Buchanan and Peter Fox were in the starting thirteen and they looked up for the game as soon as they took the field. The Rhinos won the toss and elected to force York to play into a rapidly descending sun in the first half, it meant that the travelling support would be behind their backs in the second.
Lee Smiths kick-off went out on the full, it was to be a bad omen for the game, but fortunately one that York didn't capitalise upon immediately. With just three minutes on the clock, the young Rhinos made amends with a 40-20 (perhaps a law that should be explained to their mentors?). Willie Poching initially made a drive to the line but was held just short. McDonald then took the ball up and offloaded inside superbly to Nick Scruton who crashed over. Liam Botham slotted the ball between the posts for the extras, and we were 6-0 up, a massive improvement on last year.
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On six minutes, York hit back. What looked to the 'untrained' eye like a York knock-on was deemed as 'fine' by Mr Laughton and in the resulting confusion Yusef Sozi went over. Thorman converted for 6-6, it was 'game on'.
Twelve minutes in, and my 'Man of the Match' Lee Smith, pushed the Rhinos ahead once again. A superb inside pass from John Gallagher manufactured the space for Smith to stroll over and score next to the posts. Botham obliged with the boot for 12-6. |
Trees Remained
Planted |
Fourteen minutes had passed before York registered their second score, and once again in controversial circumstances. What again appeared to be a knocked-on ball was picked up and moved left for substitute Bates to cross. Thorman missed the goal, but the League two side were giving a fantastic account of themselves.
A Thorman penalty after the Rhinos laid on in the tackle levelled the scores with just six minutes remaining, but two minutes later the Rhinos re-established a six point margin. A grubber kick on the last was fumbled by the defending Callaghan and Jordan Tansey was on hand to touch down for the easiest of scores. Lee Smith added the conversion and established an 18-12 point lead that we would take into the break.
Leeds
MoM? |
It had been a decent first half, but York would re-double their efforts and boss the second.
It took the home side just three minutes to get their second half scoring underway. The sides exchanged knock-ons, with York making the most of the Rhinos gift moving the ball deep into Rhinos territory. As the ball was moved out wide, Fox found space on the overlap and went in. Thorman missed the conversion but the margin was back to just two.
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On forty-eight Leeds were penalised for holding down in the tackle and York used the ball well with Callaghan making up for his firt half fumble by crashing over. Thorman goaled to give the Knights the lead for the first time at 22-18. Leeds redoubled their efforts and kept their line intact for ten minutes, but it would be the Knights who scored again next.
With twenty minutes left, on a non-existant stadium clock, Peter Fox went over in the right hand corner for his second. Thorman missed but there was now daylight for the home side at 26-18.
On sixty-seven, the Rhinos died with the ball on the last tackle and York moved the ball rapidly downfield and out to the right wing where a very impressive Peter Fox went over for his hat-trick, flicking the 'V's' at the Rhinos coaching staff that had released him over the winter. Ross converted well for 32-18 and the game was slipping from the young Rhinos grasp.
With ten minutes left, it slipped from out grasp as the Leeds defence opened up and let Ross cross. He converted his own for 38-18 and Scrutons try, converted by Botham on seventy-three minutes was scant consolation. The young Rhinos had been comprehensively beaten by 38-24, a big improvement on last year, but not good enough.
There is very little import, or significance to todays result. The Rhinos Academy, with a smattering of first teamers, were beaten by a very competent York side who will do well this season. No doubt some York fans will claim that they are now 'Superleague Champions' after being the first team to topple the Rhinos, but in reality, it's nothing lost for the Rhinos.
Tony Smith will have been impressed by Lee Smith, John Gallagher and Nick Scruton, all who played tremendously, but will be left with a headache about the futures of Feather and McDonald who were both mediocre today. We now have another three weeks to prepare before Barries Testimonial where I'd expect a lot more first-teamers to be on show.
Match Facts
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No.
|
Player
|
T
|
G
|
DG
|
|
No.
|
Player
|
T
|
G
|
DG
|
|
1
|
Smith
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
1
|
Blaymire
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
Bai
|
|
|
|
|
2
|
Buchanan
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
Watson
|
|
|
|
|
3
|
Potter
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
Buttery
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
Callaghan
|
1
|
|
|
|
5
|
Gardner
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
Fox
|
3
|
|
|
|
6
|
Murrell
|
|
|
|
|
6
|
Thorman
|
|
3
|
|
|
7
|
Gallagher
|
|
|
|
|
7
|
Levy
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
Scruton
|
2
|
|
|
|
8
|
Sozi
|
1
|
|
|
|
9
|
I'Anson J.
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
Elston
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
McDonald
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
Sullivan
|
|
|
|
|
11
|
Botham
|
|
3
|
|
|
11
|
Ramsden
|
|
|
|
|
12
|
Ablett
|
|
|
|
|
12
|
Smith
|
|
|
|
|
16
|
Poching
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
Paterson
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19
|
Feather
|
|
|
|
|
14
|
Jackson
|
|
|
|
|
25
|
Golden
|
|
|
|
|
15
|
Cain
|
|
|
|
|
10
|
Stenchion
|
|
|
|
|
16
|
McDowell
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
Gibson
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
Forsyth
|
|
|
|
|
14
|
Tansey
|
1
|
|
|
|
18
|
Bates
|
1
|
|
|
|
15
|
Gordon
|
|
|
|
|
19
|
Liddell
|
|
|
|
|
31
|
Williams
|
|
|
|
|
20
|
Thorman
|
|
|
|
|
32
|
Brown
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
Kane
|
|
|
|
|
30
|
Tootill
|
|
|
|
|
22
|
Ross
|
1
|
2
|
|
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Kick Off:
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15:10
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Half-Time:
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18-12
|
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Attendance:
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3,509
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Referee:
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Ron Laughton
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