1st Team Hold Their Nerve To Take Victory

Holmes Chapel turned up to Manchester looking to continue a hot streak of form that has seen them beat the teams around them comfortably. Having been unbeaten in the league since mid November and aiming for one of those top 2 places, there was everything to play for.

The game started out strongly for Chapel, finding themselves in the oppositions 22 for the majority of the first 5 minutes. A scrum won by Manchester saw Joe Maddock intercept the ball as they tried to play it into their backs before securing the first points of the game. Conversion kicked by Shaggy Davies, 7-0.

The same effort continued among the boys. A penalty to Chapel saw Shaggy Davies kick for touch from the opposition’s 10 which reached from 10 metres out. The lineout was taken and the ball was taken forward by Conor Gavin towards the opposition’s try line. The boys in blue and gold saw themselves 5 metres out for about 15-20 phases, the ball being constantly crashed by the likes of Mark McEnaney, Dom Moss and Will Mitchell. A very strong Manchester defence held Chapel at bay before Ed Chappel took it over the whitewash to get the next score. Conversion kicked by Shaggy Davies, 14-0.

The restart came and Manchester came with it. They were determined to get back into this game and determined they were. A couple of try saving tackles and good defensive organisation kept the score down. All it took was one small mistake from Chapel and Manchester capitalised, putting the ball over the line just before half time. Conversion missed, 14-5.

Holmes Chapel knew this game wasn’t over and that they’d have to give it their all to take away the win. Manchester were determined to take this game back and made a few tactical substitutions to get their match underway. Manchester came back at us and hit the boys hard, but the organisation in defence and the sheer effort made by all kept them out. Chapel found themselves with the ball just on the halfway line before Rob Moore broke through the middle of the Manchester defence. A quick pass to Tom Chambers to get passed the Manchester full-back saw the latter score his 12th try of the season. Conversion kicked by Shaggy Davies, 21-5.

The game resumed with Manchester throwing the kitchen sink at Holmes Chapel. They had a gameplan and they executed it flawlessly. They dragged players in to the middle by using their big forwards before shifting it out wide to their men with pace. Before we knew it, they had scored another 2 trys with just 10 minutes to go. 1 conversion was kicked, 21-17.

Holmes Chapel rallied the troops and gave it their all to keep the score as it was. They made tackle after tackle and fought for every single ball before Manchester found themselves with a 3 on 2. Two well timed passes out to the winger and it would’ve been all over, but as it got to the wide man he fumbled the ball over the touch line. Holmes Chapel had made it by the skin of their teeth as the ref blew for full time. Full time score, 21-17.

Man of the Match went to Dom Moss, here is what he had to say in his post-match interview.

“It was a well fought game which could’ve gone either way at the death, both teams were in it to win it and both teams gave their all to try and get a deserved result. I always had a feeling we’d win it despite it coming to the wire. I guess when you nose, you nose!”

Holmes Chapel would like to thank Manchester for a well fought game in great spirits and wish them luck for the rest of the season.

Match Report courtesy of Ed Chappell