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NORTH WEST RUGBY NEWS.

Broughton 2nd's 24 - Hope Valley 2nds 5
Broughton 2nds continued their development by producing a hard fought victor over a powerful, well drilled and experienced Hope Valley team. Broughton were swelled with numbers for this home fixture but still managed to play the first half without a recognised tighthead prop and with no jumper in the lineout for the whole of the match, but welcomed back the experience of Colin Singleton at fly half. Singleton controlled the forwards and ran the backs giving the whole team the experience that has been lacking, connecting the forwards and backs together over the last few weeks, as he recovered from injury. Nick Jones playing out of position at tight head prop took the brunt of the Hope Valley front row and went through 2 props before reveting back to his customery position of second row in the second half, he'll be sore for a few days but his for his pain the foundations of a great victory were built.
Hope Valley started well attacking the broughton line, but the home team soaked up the pressure and soon won the ball back and mounted an attack of thier own. The visiotrs gave a great display of defence throughout the game but the home team use of the ball stretched the visitors wide which allowed Soli the space on the wing to sail throught for the first score. Hope then pushed back with a disalloed score, held up by the broughton defence and were punished with another score to extend Broughtons lead. Hope never gave up and the two teams were matching each other in defence but a moment of lapsed consentration in the second half saw Hope get a breakaway try out running the (so called) fast lads from Broughton to score under the posts. Broughton were also disallowed a score, again held up over the line but some controlled aggressive running allowed Jake only a hint of space to break throught Hope's defence to score under the post. The final score came when Dave lever latched on to some great play by the forwards driving to the line and releasing the backs, a bit of white line fever before passing out to Mark Prescot to score in the corner to seal the victory. Even thought this squad is considered a development team (1/3 over 40 and the rest less than 20) the experience of the few, showed when 150+years of experience bewteen three players drove the ball in a rolling maul to make a mockery of the youngs mans game, setting up the platforms for the young guns to take the headines and winning, securing, recycling and making good on the mistakes that inexperience brings but at the same time bonding the team together for another awesome victory - roll on next weeks Raging Bull Plate cup game against Aspull 1st.

Ref Watch: - Allowed the visiting team to to get to get to him with their constant moaning, positioning good, some decisions were questionable but were consistant with his interpertation throughout the whole match for both teams. Explained any decision that needed explaining and allowed the game to flow - consistant - 7/10 - good game

Broughton Park 5ths V's Broughton 2nds
Broughton 2nds traveled away with the knowledge that over the last few games there has been a definite improvement in the standard of play as the young lads learn the rules and adapt to the union format. However, not only did they have to contend with the usual poor Northwest referee but were hampered by their own club when the first team held on to five reserves and forced the seconds to travel with only 13 players. All the good work from previous weeks were wiped out with the lack of contineuity as the players were again out of position, borrowed players with no heart and a feeling of were not important to the future of the club. However that said the spirit of the seconds made for an exciting game and it was the visitors who first opened the scoring with a well worked try under the post which left the home team shocked. Trys were exchaged and at the interval the score was even. Tactical substitutions from Broughton Park ensured that the visitors got the weaker of the reserves which showed in missed tackles and laughter as Park got a couple of try's in front. The referee was posted missing at the rucks and loose play which allowed Park to take advantage of their experience over the youthful and less exsperienced visitors. But again with steely determination from the youth in Broughtons team, young Rees weaved and dodged through the defence to lead the Broughton fight back. The visitors got the best of the rugby, while the home team got the best of the decisions. The game was made all the harder when Cal Smith and Colin Singleton were lost to injury so Broughton finished the game with 13 players (but only 11 with Broughton's heart). Park were deserved winners but not but this score line and only if Broughton were allowed to travel with a full team the game would not have been beyond them.

Ref Watch - Obviously new the laws of the game but insisted on only watching the visitors. Only made the hard calls when was asked to watch for them. Fit enought to keep up with play - 6/10
Broughton first team were 15-13 winners in a near top of the table clsh with Glossop 3rds - Which leaves Broughton 3rd in the league, one point behind the leaders, with a game in hand

Carrington 1st XV 80 - Broughton 2nd XV 17
Broughton 2nd team traveled to Carrington with a rag tag and bobtail team deleted of the numbers from the previous week and decimated for the first team reserves.
It was always going to be a difficult game but the team spirit, drive and determination made for a great game in a sunny day that was perfect for running rugby. The home side got on the score board early and increased their lead by a couple of tries before the visitors found their feet. Broughton played the better rugby all afternoon and flatterd carrington with the score. Brought lacked experienced in defence and produced too many gaps for the one or two players from Carrington who could run. When the visitors covered the gaps either the ref gave the home team the rub of the green or boring rugby followed with a kick and chase game, with only one winner when the visitors only travelled with 11 players.
Broughton were always in the game, with the experienced and youthful Colin Singleton directing the forwards to the breakdown, spinning the ball out to the backs to hit up time after time, which lead to Kaid Backhouse first of his two tries. The second of his tries was a gem. You will have to watch a lot of rugby to see a better try. With broughton going forward, Carrington could not live with them. Phase one, two and three, hit up and the side af a ruck, re-cycle the ball, hit up a yard at a time, ruck, ruck, re-cycle, re-cycle always ball retention. Phase four, five and six - just the same, maintaining discipline, being directed by Colin Singleton, phase seven eight and nine, the young guns getting in on the act, again a yard at a time, backs and forwards, ruck re-cycle, retention, hit up then ... pop it out to score .... awesome rugby .... only bettered by Ian Mac's support play for the final try, a full eighty meters, out running the rest of the ever present support to collect a lay back when Kaid Backhouse ran out of steam only yards from the line with a well time Carrington tackle to prevent his hat trick of tries.
There is hope for the future, the training is paying off, the dedication is there, the talent is there, Lets hope the numbers are there this Saturday for the home game.

PLAYER PROFILE. COLIN SINGLETON.

AGE.                fortysomething.
HEIGHT.          5ft 9ins.
WEIGHT.         12st.
POSITION.      9/10
CLUB.              Broughton.
PREVIOUS
CLUBS.             Wigan rl, Langworthy arlc,
   Salford ru, N Manchester,
Leigh ru, Oldham ru,
Thornton cleveleys,
   De la Salle, Burnage,
Broughton.

elisepascal@hotmail.co.uk.