Chapel arrived at Glossop with a spring in their step after winning their first two challenges on the bounce. This however was the lad’s first away test. Adding to this not only did Glossop narrowly miss out on promotion last season; this is a league where almost everyone wins their home games and struggles away. Knowing this would be a tough test – Dom and Stanny got the lads fired up and it was clear the lads in gold and blue were keen to continue their form.
The whistle went and both sides proved they were definitely up for this game – this was set to be one for the spectators right from the very start. With the two teams bucking heads in the midfield it would be a game where any mistake would prove costly…
A penalty from Glossop allowed Andrew Davies to add the first score of the day. (0-3)
This penalty however, seemed to wake the sleeping beast that was the Glossop side. They soon crashed over the line after a heavy and sustained attack. Some slips in the Chapel defensive line allowing their heavy forwards to break through. The Glossop kicker then added the extras. (7-3)
A penalty either side then made it 10-6.
A converted try for Glossop made it 17-6 at half time.
It was a heavy first half to say the least. No one can fault the effort from the Chapel lads. They had a faced a very organised and physical Glossop side who were clearly very up for this match. The Chapel lads had held their own however in the scrum, defensive line and lineout. A couple of errors here and there but even King Moss couldn’t knock his subordinates’ spirits.
Back out the lads went – this time even more ready for a fight. This was a dogged, full-blooded game and the type of test the lads had been looking for after three consecutive promotions.
A clever kick off meant that Glossop’s well-fed flanker caught their own ball. Proving difficult to stop he crashed through a number of tackles before giving it to his equally heavy associate to crash over the line. (22-6)
Chapel then went on a bit of a rampage and actually realised they were in a proper match here. The boys dominated the play for a majority of the second half winning ruck after ruck - the additions of Brave Steer, Jim Bowbeer and Ollie Lawrence only adding to this momentum.
This persistence allowed the ball to be finally handed to the time travelling wizard Joash Riley. The man who is so quick due to the G-Force he doesn’t need to tie his boots (true story). Joash managed to score in the corner furthest away from him – of course no one was going to catch him anyway. (22-11)
After this sustained pressure and renewed vigour Chapel created a number of lineouts. They had eight lineouts in fact - all in the oppositions twenty-two - all eight were won by Glossop! This meant the forwards had a dogged battle to win the ball back every time. But they did. With superior rucking and real character showing through the boys continued to force errors from the Glossop pack. This allowed another week for Macca to look like Michael Flatley with notorious quick tap penalties.
Chapel during this increased desire to attack and level the score left open a couple of gaps for breakaway tries. (36-11)
Chapel continued to fight right until the very end. The boldness of the lads to fight back was summed up when Brave Steer managed to crash over the line for the final score of the game. (36-16)
Despite the defeat Chapel’s young side will have learnt a hell of a lot from this match – lessons that will prove invaluable for the games and seasons ahead.
Holmes Chapel would like to thank Glossop for playing the match in the true spirit – we look forward to welcoming you to our place.