Merit Match Reports 2008

Marauders Merit side travelled away to East Riding RLFC knowing that they would be in for a greater examination of their credentials than their very first outing.

After a closely fought opening 10 minutes the home side took full advantage of a lack in concentration to go 4 - 0 down.

Big Gaz Millward soon equalised after the restart scattering players left right and centre before crashing over for a debut try, 16 year-old Konrad Hanson converted, 4 - 6.

East Riding gave the Marauders no time to settle on their 2 point lead and bounced straight back within 2 minutes to record their second unconverted try 8 - 6.

Half - Time East Riding 8 - 6 Marauders

Moorends started the second half on fire and young full-back Konrad Hanson danced and stepped himself over on 44 minutes for a try converted by himself, 8 - 12.

Even with powerful running from Gavin Millward, Rhys Bailey and Owen Abbott the Marauders next try seemed to be evading them, East Riding took full advantage of a spilled ball to go 80 metres to score a unconverted try to bring the scores level, 12 - 12.

On the hour mark the onslaught by the Marauders pack started to take its toil, Gav Millward broke the home defence before feeding Norris who turned the ball back inside for Martin Dennis to go over, Shane Southgate converted, 12 - 18.

Four minutes later Shane Southgate demonstrated his experience stretching the Marauders lead with a well taken tactical drop goal 12 - 19.

Danny Hornsby sealed the away win darting over from acting half after great forward play by Norris, Abbott, Millward and Bailey, Konrad Hanson converted, 12 -25.

Full - Time East Riding 12 - 25 Marauders

Man of the Match 1. Gavin Millward

2. Shane Southgate

3. Danny Hornsby

Marauders Tries

Gav Millward 1

Konrad Hanson 1

Martin Dennis 1

Danny Hornsby 1

Goals

Konrad Hanson 3

Shane Southgate 1

Drop Goal

Shane Southgate 1

Marauders Merit League campaign kept on course with a solid performance by everyone involved with the squad.

Moorends applied the pressure on the Barbarians straight from the first whistle and opened the scoring after 5 minutes when Shane Southgate found Martin Dennis with a beautiful long ball, Dennis outpaced the cover defence before turning the fullback inside out before going over for the first try, Konrad Hanson converted, 6 - 0.

Big John Carr then scattered the visitors defence on 10 minutes to charge the remaining 50 metres for the Marauders second try, Konrad Hanson converting, 12 - 0.

The baying crowd had to wait until the 15 minute for the next score Rhys Bailey made a 30 metre break before drawing the full-back to send Martin Dennis in for his second try of the game, 16 - 0.

Three minutes later Bailey again relieved the pressure when he broke away from his own try line before feeding Andy Evans who galloped in under the posts, Konrad Hanson converted 22 - 0

Excellent ball movement by Martin Rowlands opened the Barbarians defence for Danny Hornsby to ghost in under the posts, Konrad Hanson converted, 28 - 0.

Dave Fern and Gaz Millward hard work paid off when a quick play the ball by the latter allowed Shane Southgate and Martin Rowlands to link with Dean Wright who launced Martin Dennis on a 70 metre run for the next try on 35 minutes, Konrad Hanson converted, 34 - 0.

Two minutes later big John Carr was on the end of a flowing movement before crashing over in the corner, 38 - 0

Half-Time Moorends-Thorne Marauders merit 38 - 0 Scunthorpe

Barbarians Academy

The second half became a lottery as the Marauders had to play a reduced team game, Dale Murphy scorced down the wing to open the second half scoring on 43 minutes, Konrad Hanson converting, 44 - 0

Four minutes later big Andy Evans brought a dummy straight from the Half-back handbook to race 50 metres un-touched to the try line, Konrad Hanson converting, 50 - 0.

The Barbarians recorded their first score of the game when their prop barged over in the corner after a purple patch, 50 - 4.

Brett Staveley used immense strength to carry three Scunthorpe players over the line with him for the next try, Konrad Hanson converted, 56 - 4

Scunthorpe gain hit a little purple patch in which they recorded three un-converted tries to take the score to 56 - 16 before Danny Murphy capped his debut with his second try after the ball was moved from a scrum, 60 - 16

Full-Time Moorends-Thorne Marauders merit 60 - 16 Scunthorpe Barbarians Academy

Marauders Man of the Match

1. Martin Dennis

2. Danny Hornsby

3. Gav Millward

Marauders Tries

Martin Dennis 3

John Carr 2

Dale Murphy 2

Danny Hornsby 1

Andy Evans 2

Brett Staveley 1

Conversions

Konrad Hanson 8/11

Marauders Merit also made it a 100% record against title chasing Grimsby based South Humber Rabbitohs, containing an excellent mixture of experienced players like Paul (Spooner) Hopkinson, Shane Southgate and Martin Rowlands showing the quality to guide the young and new around the park.

Martin Dennis opened the scoring for the Marauders on 3 minutes after Hopkinson and Rowlands combined to release the youngsters pace, 4 - 0.

3 minutes later Sid forced himself over from acting half back to inch the Marauders further in front, 8 - 0.

Rhys Bailey was showing the form that must earmark him for an excellent future, his aggressive running and tackling was the bench mark for his team mates to follow against a much bigger side, Bailey was rewarded early for his efforts - breaking the Rabbitohs defence and out sprinting the cover to go over for a try converted by Konrad Hanson, 14 - 0.

The visitors hit back with a converted try of their own on 12 minutes 14 - 6, the introduction of Andy Evans brought a quick return as the big forward stepped the defence and crashed in over the top of the visiting full-back on 18 minutes, Konrad Hanson converted, 20 - 6.

A big hit from John Carr dislodged the ball Craig Neil scooped it up and set Shane Southgate on long run before he sent Martin Rowlands over in the corner, 24 - 6.

The big South Humber forwards got onto a roll and with the Marauders on the back foot the Rabbitohs took full advantage scoring out wide and also added the difficult conversion, 24 - 12.

Shane Southgate and Paul Hopkinson split the visitors defence with a well worked run a round which saw Southgate stepping the Rabbitohs full-back to score in the corner, 28 - 12.

Half-time Marauders Merit 28 - 12 South Humber Rabbitohs

South Humber came out firing in the second half and recorded the first try on 45 minutes which was also converted, 28 - 18.

The Rabbitohs try brought out the passion in the Marauders who replied within 3 minutes with Martin Rowlands and Owen Abbott sending Craig Neil over for a try converted by Konrad Hanson, 34 - 18.

With the game flowing up and down the crowd did not have to wait long for the next score that went to the visitors by the way of another converted try, the Rabbitohs were not allowing the home side the chance to open up a large gap in the scores and were still in the game, 34 - 24.

The Marauders training under Peter Green started to show on the hour mark, the introduction of Andy Evans for his second spell produced the same result as his first appearance, crashing onto a short ball from Danny Hornsby the big prop scattered defenders to go over for his second try converted by Konrad Hanson, 40 - 24.

Greg Neil took full advantage of the tiring Rabbitohs when he showed a clean pair of heels to wind the 50 metre foot race going over under the posts, Konrad Hanson converted, 46 - 24.

Brotherly love paid its part in the next Marauders try on 71 minutes when Craig Neil set the fast footed Greg on his way stepping around defenders before darting under the posts for a try converted by Konrad Hanson, 52 - 24.

The Rabbitohs hit back with a converted try on 74 minutes, 52 - 28, but the last saw went to the hard working David Fern, Fern found himself on the end of an excellent passing move that involved

Hopkinson, Southgate and Bailey, John Carr converted, 58 - 28.

Full time Marauders Merit 58 - 28 South Humber Rabbitohs

Man of the Match 1.  Rhys Bailey

.....................................2.Andy Evans, Paul Hopkinson, Danny Hornsby

Marauders Tries

Martin Dennis 1

Greg Neil 2

Craig Neil 1

Martin Rowlands 1

Shane Southgate 1

Andy Evans 2

Dave Fern 1

Rhys Bailey 1

Sid Malam 1

Goals

Konrad Hanson 6

John Carr 1

The game turned into a territorial tug of war before the Marauders opened up the home side again on 20 minutes, Martin Rowlands long ball found his centre Brendan Neil, Neil cut through the Rabbitohs defence before sending Cliffton Richardson into the corner with a lovely inside pass, 0 -10.

The introduction of two props from the bench proved a decisive factor in the first half, from the kick-off Gav Millward took the ball back nearly to the half-way line, acting half back Shane Southgate jumped and Propped a short ball up to Wayne Rafferty who scattered the Rabbitohs defenders before winning the 60 metre race to the try line, Konrad Hanson adding the extras, 0 - 16.

The Rabbitohs had a strong set of six that ended deep inside the Marauders half with a dangerous looking chip kick, the situation was defused by Cliffton Richardson who collected the tricky ball to show a clean pair of heels to win the 80 metres race going in under the posts, Konrad Hanson converting, 0 - 22.

The last 10 minutes of the first half saw the young Marauders tighten and turn the screw, big hits in defence by Dean Wright, Gav Millward and Bomber Neil paved the way for the experienced trio of Shane Southgate, Martin Rowlands and Paul Hopkinson who’s probing paved the way for further 16 point haul, 17 year-old full back Martin Dennis returned the ball after the Rabbitohs had been forced to kick from inside their own half of the field, making 20 metres before being half tackled him allowing him to slip the ball to Rhys Bailey, Baileys clever ball allowed Dean Wright to out pace the Rabbitohs to the try line, Konrad Hanson converting, 0 - 28.

Owen Abbott, Karl Taylor and Greg Neil built the platform for the next Marauders attack, excellent passing through several pairs of hands saw Brendan Neil sending Martin Dennis over in the corner, 0 - 32.

Just before the break excellent centre play by Brendan Neil opened up the home defence down the left channel, drawing in the cover defence before launching Martin Rowlands to the try line, Konrad Hanson landing the conversion, 0 - 38.

Half-Time South Humber Rabbitohs 0 - 38

Moorends-Thorne Marauders

Moorends eased further ahead on 49 minutes after a grubber kick into the in goal area resulted in the Rabbitohs defenders fumbling, Jamie Moore pounced on the loose ball to add to the score sheet, Konrad Hanson converting, 0 - 44.

Danny Hornsby, Cliffton Richardson and Paul (Spooner) Hopkinson took the ball to the right before Martin Rowlands switched play finding Owen Abbott with a long ball before he crashed over taking two defenders with him, Konrad Hanson converting, 0 - 50.

The Rabbitohs finally got reward for being very competitive all afternoon, sucking the Marauders defence in they moved the ball quickly to the left, the scrambling defence seemed to make a great tackle but the ball was unloaded out of the back door and moved to the left quickly for Mat Khan to crash over, Jamie Clough failed with the conversion, 4 - 50.

The Marauders went straight back at the home side and a big hit by Bomber Neil dislodged the ball, from the scrum Shane Southgate guided the Marauders into the middle of the park before he popped up a short ball for Gav Millward to crash over, Konrad Hanson adding the conversion, 4 - 56.

Full-Time South Humber Rabbitohs 4 - 56

Marauders

The Marauders looked dangerous every time they had the ball in their hands and defended stoutly to a man against a game and determine Rabbitohs outfit.

Man of the Match 1, Greg Neil

...............…………………2, Cliffton Richardson

………………...............…3, Brendan Neil

Marauders Tries

Cliffton Richardson 3

Jamie Moore 1

Owen Abbott 1

Gavin Millward 1

Wayne Rafferty 1

Dean Wright 1

Martin Rowlands 1

Martin Dennis 1

Marauders Goals

Konrad Hanson 8/10

Moorends Marauders Merit team powered into the Rugby League Conference Merit final against a Sheffield Forgers outfit that

contained the bulk of their full first team.

The Marauders opened the scoring very early on the back of a devastating defensive set that contained the Forgers deep inside their own half, Danny Hornsby, Karl Taylor & Jamie Moore took the ball up hard and to the right before Paul (Spooner) Hopkinson , Martin Rowlands and Shane Southgate moved the ball quickly back to the left, Southgate found Cliffton Richardson who crashed through the visiting defence to crash over for the first score, 4 - 0.

Sheffield hit back 5 minutes later after some very slick passing brought them within striking distance, Joe Howe scooted from acting half catching the home defence flat footed to record the Forgers first points, 4 - 4.

The introduction of Trev Lake from the bench tipped the game in the Marauders favour, devastating running by the big forward saw him punching through the Forgers before off loading to the supporting Paul Hopkinson, Hopkinson turn the ball back inside for Karl Taylor to give the Marauders back the lead, Konrad Hanson converted, 10 - 4.

Paul Hopkinson’s clever half-back play brought up a try from a father and son combination, Hopkinson’s short ball to Ernie Lake saw him punch through turning the ball back kinside to his son Trevor, 14 - 4

Excellent footwork and a couple of dummies from Shane Southgate opened up the Forgers on the half-way line, Southgate raced 20 metres before sending Dean Wright the remainder of the distance to go in under the posts, Konrad Hanson converting, 20 - 4.

Konrad Hanson stretched the lead with the last kick of the half with a 35 metre penalty for off-side, 22 - 4.

Half-Time Marauders 22 - 4 Forgers

Moorends came out for the second half and received the idea start, a big hit by Greg Neil dislodged the ball in the tackle, young 16 year-old Rhys Bailey gathered the ball and raced 60 metres going over under the posts, Konrad Hanson converted, 28 - 4.

The Marauders made a hash of the kick-off allowing the ball to bounce and go out, from the drop out the Forgers attacked to their left before using very quick hands going back to the left allowing Turnell to crash over, Dan Gray converted, 28 - 10.

Moorends again pushed further in front with Cliffton Richardson dancing over on 50 minutes giving Konrad Hanson an easy kick, 34 - 10.

The next 15 minutes turned into a real arm wrestle, Rhys Bailey, Greg Neil, Danny Hornsby and Cliffton Richardson for the Marauders and Sam turnell, Jimmy Holmes and Vinnie Caldwell for the Forgers all making major contributions in defence and both sets of half-backs probing each others defensive lines, ironically its was a set of penalties for off side that piggybacked the Forgers deep inside the Marauders half, fine play by Caldwell saw him send Phil stubbs over, Dan Gray converted, 34 - 16.

Again the Marauders hit back, powerful driving by Jamie Moore followed by a equally powerful drive by Ernie Lake saw him crash over taking three defenders with him, Kev Lake converting, 40 - 16.

The Forgers where never going to lay down and silky ball work saw them again breach the Marauders defence with Jimmy Kiron touching down, Dan Gray converting, 40 - 22,

The Marauders had the last say, Kev Lake put a penalty deep inside the Forgers territory and straight from the tap Trev Lake bulldozed over taking 4 players with him, 44 - 22.

Full -Time Marauders 44 - 22 Forgers