Telford Raiders 18 – 26 Birmingham Bulldogs
Birmingham Bulldogs Rugby League FC had another extremely close encounter as they recorded a fourth successive win on their visit to Telford. It was a bit of an uneven performance, some good attacking and defensive play being offset by Brum’s old failing: giving away too many penalties.
Brum made a bright start with two tries in the opening seven minutes. First Parker and Tull fed left wing Danny Bancroft who just got the ball down in the corner, then added a fine conversion from wide out. Bulldogs extended their lead when stand-off Richard Rainger found a gap in the home line, broke through and cut in to the posts for a try which gave Bancroft a simple conversion.
So far so good, but then two successive penalty concessions took Raiders to the Birmingham line, where second-rower Rob Little crossed and touched down under the posts; scrum-half Ryan Evans converted.
After ten minutes of inconclusive play Brum regained the initiative as centre Clinton Tull broke through; he was hauled down just short of the line but was fouled as he attempted to play the ball. As the home defence went briefly off guard Tull tapped to himself and went over, adding the conversion.
Telford ground their way back into contention and Bulldogs had to hold out against three attacking sets before Telford knocked on. Then Birmingham countered with a good high kick and chase but spoiled the chance with yet another penalty concession.
A Telford scrum some 10 metres out saw the ball move to the right wing where full-back Paul Szohfner came into the line for a score in the corner.
HT: Telford Riders 10 – 18 Birmingham Bulldogs
Most of the third quarter was scoreless, both sides surviving attacks; one raid by Telford down the right flank ended with a forward pass that was a very close call. A up and under and chase by Brum almost yielded points.
Bulldogs then grabbed a gift as a loose pass was intercepted by Rainger who scooted to the right of the posts for a try which Tull converted.
Raiders responded, as Brum lost possession and Szohfner went over for his second try.
Birmingham then put the restart into touch, but Telford’s touch finder did not find its target. Bulldogs had another escape as Telford knocked on following a penalty award.
But Telford were giving it everything and cut the gap when centre Chris Tinsley crossed, once again in the favoured right corner, cutting the visitors lead to six points. Once again the conversion was missed.
Anybody’s game: great goal line defence by Brum caused Telford to spill the ball then the hosts squandered a penalty award when they in turn were penalised .
The game breaker came falling a strong break by Homer, in fine form. This was followed by a burst from Woodward, which took him to the line. As Woodward appeared to be on the point of scoring he received a high tackle. No penalty try, though a case might have been made, but Bulldogs took the opportunity to extend their lead as Tull slotted over the straight-on penalty to ease the lead out to eight points.
Telford refused to buckle: they regained the ball from the re-start and launched yet another attack down the right; a flying tackle by Parker stopped what looked like a certain score. There was still time for another home attack but an up and under was “over cooked”, went dead, and Birmingham were home.
Bulldogs didn’t always help their cause, especially when it came to giving away penalties. Ironic, then, that goal kicks, including the clinching penalty accounted for the difference in the scores. The win lifted Brum to second place in the seven-team division but, given the battle that the bottom of the table hosts put up, positions don’t count for too much at this stage
