6th team lose a thriller

Date: 12 December 2011

Hoppers 6ths 27 –  31 Carnforth 2nds

The 6th team was able to welcome their old friends from Carnforth to Lightfoot lane for their last home game of the year.  On a surprisingly firm pitch the team was confident of a good performance.  Having played Carnforth at the start of the season, this was a winnable game. 

Hoppers started really well, dominating in the forwards and making useful ground in the backs.  Some slick hands eventually lead to an early score from an Andy Fielding break.  Hoppers were on top and falling confident.  Play continued in the same vein for the remainder of the first quarter and a second try soon followed from some very powerful forward play.  What happened next – who knows!!

A Carnforth fight back and weak Hoppers tackling let them in for two fairly soft tries.  With conversions kicked Hoppers went into the break behind.  The second half stated like the first, strong play from the hoppers scrum, a thirty metre driving maul and good handling in the backs, Hoppers were back in the game.  Two tries followed and a ten point margin created.  To lose the game now would be nothing short of careless!!!

Somebody should have told Carnforth the script.  Back they came again, Hoppers tackles fall away again.  Suddenly despite a massive effort up from Hoppers are on the wrong side of the scoreboard again.

The final minute, a long kick down field from Andy Fielding, a steal at the line out, Stuart Crane races into the corner – touch down.  The ball slips from under his figures, the opposition claim it’s a knock on, Stuart protests, where is the TMO when you need him???  The referee’s decision is final, he didn’t see the grounding.  Final whistle, Hoppers lose 27 – 31.

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