Bulldogs Can’t Quite Close the Gap (Birmingham Bulldogs 26 - 32 Gloucestershire Warriors)
Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC were unable to repeat last season’s success against Gloucestershire Both sides had players new to the league code, and both also looked a great deal like sides playing a first league match of the season; mistakes were plentiful. The Warriors, though, shows just a bit more pace and penetration at vital moments and this carried them through.
An early bit of mishandling by Brum set Glos on the attack, but they in turn mishandled. A similar error by the hosts soon after gave Gloucester a scrum and from that lively stand off Tom James found a gap to cross; hooker Tom Bozzard converted.
Bulldogs’ response was prompt; Glos were accidentally offside from the restart and Brum went to within 10 metres of the visitors’ line where Warriors infringed and scrum half Gareth “Babs” Harcombe kicked a penalty goal. Perked up by this, Bulldogs went back on the attack and scored again in a somewhat bizarre fashion: centre and skipper Mike Jones was given in touch by the touch judge but the referee called play on and Jones, clear of the defence, went to the posts, Harcombe goaling to put the home side ahead. A penalty by Harcombe soon after eased out the lead to 10-6.
A Brum penalty aimed for touch failed to get there, and Warriors countered well; a terrific tackle by Court
on Constantine saved a certain score, but the attack was continued and burly prop Brad Tindall forced the ball down in goal; full back Guy Spearer added the two to regain the lead for the visitors.
Not for long though as in their most fluent move of the match good work from FullthorpeWilletts and a splendid pass from Russ Parker [J. Parker – no rel – also in side] put Jones over for his second try which Harcombe goaled to snatch back the lead for Bulldogs. and
HT: Birmingham Bulldogs 16pts Gloucestershire Warriors 12
Brum kicked off straight into touch at the start of the second half; they survived the attacking set, but the third quarter of the match was decisively the visitors’: first skipper and loose forward Ben Constantine, the pick of the forwards on show, broke the home line to touch down, Bozzard goaling. Then a raid down the right flank saw winger Locke provide the assist for James for the stand-off’s second try. A break by Jones failed on a loose pass for the hosts, and Gloucester stretched their lead to 10 points as left centre Steve Barnes squeezed the ball down in goal.
It looked a bit ominous for Bulldogs, but they clawed their way back in contention as a break by R.Parker close to the line saw the ball go to ground, Jones doing well to scoop it up and cross for his hat-trick try. Then Warriors James claimed his hat trick, going straight from a scrum in similar fashion to his first try and putting his side 32-20 ahead.
Brum refused to throw in the towel and with the last play of the match, Russ Parker capped a fine display by forcing his way over, Jones adding the goal to wrap up the scoring.
The result was just about right, and Bulldogs were reasonably up beat at the finish. The match was the last this season for loose forward Jon Parker who is off on his travels; ‘JP’ will be greatly missed.
Next week Brum host Derby City at Moor Lane. The match has a morning kick off at 11:00 am.
Match Summary
Birmingham Bulldogs 26 (Tries: Jones 3, R.Parker Goals: Harcombe 5 (2 pen)
Gloucestershire Warriors: (Tries James 3, Tindall, Constantine, Barnes) Goals: Bozzard 3, Spearer)
Men of the Match: BB: Jones; GW: Constantine
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