February
24/02/24 Tigers 32 - 26 Preston G'hoppers
No match report.
Scorers:
Tries: Penalty (1), Townsend (1), Hawksworth (1), Wallace (1), Talbot (G) (1)
Conversions: Ireland (1)
Penalties: Baker (1)
Cards:
Yellow - Santamaria (79)
Team: Bennett (Bingham 69), Townsend (License 69), Garside, Hawksworth (Santamaria 63) , Fitzsimons, Wallace, Cartwright, Redfern (Scott 63), Talbot ((G), Ireland, Norman (Wager 51), Goatley, Broadley, Butterfield, Baker
Replacements: License, Bingham, Scott, Santamaria, Wager
17/02/24 Tigers 34 - 32 Huddersfield
On a typical Dore Moor day, with a strong wind blowing down the pitch, Tigers took on a Huddersfield side currently adrift at the foot of the table. As the old saying goes it’s not the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog and many of us thought that this was a match that Huddersfield would fight for.
Within a minute of the kick-off, playing against the wind, Tigers found themselves 5 points and one player down. A rolling maul, which was to become a familiar tactic throughout the match, saw the Huddersfield hooker(Myers) cross the line. Fortunately for the home side the visitors’ kicker was having real trouble with the wind and failed with the kick managing only one out of 6 conversions in the game. Our own Will Baker replied quickly with a penalty but, in all honesty, we were looking a little disorganised and steamrollered by the ferocity of the Huddersfield players. It got worse after just 9 minutes when the Huddersfield 11 (Horsefall) found a gap and went over for another try that left us trailing 3 – 10. Not a good start. Just as the home supporters were thinking it couldn’t get any worse it did! Under pressure on our own line Curtis Wilson picked up the ball to run forward. Unfortunately, he was deemed to have been leading with his forearm in a dangerous manner and was invited to leave the field for the rest of the game. So down to 14 for the rest of the game Tigers knew that it was going to be a long afternoon. ‘Field capitalised and after another rolling maul Myers touched down under the posts for Barber to get the easy conversion. Making it 3 - 17. Tigers did begin to put some good moves forward but, as one spectator was heard to ask, “have they got twice as many players on the pitch as us?” They were all over us and our scrum was creaking but some astute kicking and running put us in their 25 and from a lineout and from a (yes, you’ve guessed) rolling maul Louis Townsend went over and Baker converted making it 10 – 17. Unfortunately, we decided to give them another helping hand when, from a lineout, second row Dominic Santamaria was yellow carded. The forwards were now under real pressure but we still put in some good runs by James “Stormin’” Norman and the evergreen Jamie Broadley. Nick Bingham (winning his 100 cap), Dan Hawksworth and Liam Wallace were all working hard to move the Tigers pack forward. However, the pressure on the Tigers line grew and from another rolling maul the visitors increased their lead when their No8, Luke Pearson went over making it 10 -22 at half-time.
Clearly some discussion took place at half time and Tigers came out in a much more determine and organised way and after several promising runs by the backs, Norman crossed the line and Baker converted to give us hope of a revival. 17 -22 soon became 24 -22 when some strong play by the revitalised Tigers pack, with Will Bennett and Karl Garside in the front row, created a gap for Wallace to make a beautiful diagonal run to touch down and for Baker to convert. For the next 15 minutes it was nip and tuck with whichever side had the ball moving up field and applying pressure. Eventually Huddersfield found a gap and winger Alex Nash crossed over for their 5th try making it 24 - 27 with just 7 minutes left. It got worse. From the restart Huddersfield moved the ball quickly and replacement scrum-half Paul Harrison crossed the line to make it 24 - 32 with just 5 minutes left. Tigers replied within 3 minutes when from a fumbled ball from the kick off by Huddersfield forwards allowed Tigers to get the pack moving forward. Tigers were now looking in control and eventually Garside went over for a converted try. One minute left. Huddersfield were trying desperately to slow the game down but from the restart, a clever little grubber kick, they went to ground for 100 cap boy, Nick Bingham, to go over and try to steal the ball. Huddersfield held on, Tigers got a penalty and from 10m into the visitors’ half and close to the touchline Baker stepped up. The crowd went silent, some couldn’t look. The wind had got to the point that the ball needed a spotter to hold it still. He ran up, swung that long leg of his and watched the ball sail towards the post and begin to drop… over the crossbar and Tigers were ahead 34 - 32. The whistle went and we all thought what a narrow escape. A wins a win and 5 points.
Scorers:
Tries: Townsend (1), Norman (1), Wallace (1), Garside (1)
Conversions: Baker (4)
Penalties: Baker (2)
Cards:
Yellow - Hawksworth (1), Santamaria (29)
Red - Wilson (12)
Team: Clark (Bennett 40), Townsend (Bingham 70), Bingham (Garside 40), Hawksworth (Scott 56), Santamaria, Fitzsimons, Cartwright, Wallace, Talbot (S) (Talbot (G) 62), Ireland, Norman, Wilson, Broadley, Butterfield, Baker
Replacements: Garside, Bennett, Scott, Manderfield, Talbot (G)
Match Report by: Graham Cockshutt
10/02/24 Tigers 6 - 49 Leeds Tykes
No match report.
Scorers:
Tries:
Conversions:
Penalties: Baker (2)
Cards: Yellow - Wilson (43)
Team: Bennett, License (Clark 16), Garside (Bingham 59), Hawksworth, Cartwright, Scott, Goatley (Manderfield 59), Wallace, Talbot (S), Ireland, Norman, Manderfield (McLaughlin 16), Broadley, Wilson (Chapman 74), Baker
Replacements: Bingham, Clark, McLaughlin, Chapman, Talbot (G)
Match Report by:
03/02/24 Tigers 26 - 25 Hull Ionians
No match report.
Scorers:
Tries: Cartwright (1), Butterworth (1)
Conversions: Baker (2)
Penalties: Baker (4)
Cards: Yellow - Fitzsimons (5)
Team: Bennett, License (Garside 29), Bingham (Licence 60), Hawksworth (Scott 60), Fitzsimons, Wallace, Cartwright, Redfern, Talbot (G), Ireland, Norman, Wilson, Broadley (Manderfield 39), Butterworth (Talbot (S) 64), Baker
Replacements: Garside, Scott, McLaughlin, Manderfield, Talbot (S)
Match Report by: