Rugby League: Ovenden heed Parker's call
Published Date:
06 October 2008
Ovenden 30
Eccles & Salford 18
COACH Chris Parker called on Ovenden's players to produce a third successive National Conference Division Two win and they responded accordingly.
However, it wasn't all plain sailing against a visiting side who reduced the home lead to just six points in the second half despite being reduced to 12 men after 30 minutes.
As in previous matches, Ovenden lost concentration for a period allowing Eccles with their powerful runners back into the game, and it took a late try from Gareth English, his third of the match, to seal the points for the Four Fields men.
The game started well for the home side when after being awarded a free kick, they crisply moved the ball across the pitch for Lee Chiles to score in the corner.
Eccles hit back almost staight away, a kick on the last by Mike Davis held up in the strong wind leaving Andrew Muscat an easy touch down, Joe Marchant's conversion giving his side the lead.
The Ovenden lads were finding the going tough against physical opposition and it took a neat piece of rugby for them to regain the lead, English sending Wes McGibbon striding through the defence before he sent Steve Gracey over near the posts, Chris Hartley adding the extras.
Eccles were then penalised for use of the elbow and immediately afterwards Davis was dismissed for kicking, and Ovenden then increased their lead when the ball was moved wide before Chiles passed inside to Gracey who registered his second try.
The visitors had the advantage of the slope and despite being a man short they put the home side under a lot of pressure with only good defence from McGibbon, Turner and Lister keeping them out.
But but it was Ovenden who went further in front when a short kick from Hartley was pounced on by English and when the visitors were penalised, English drove over to give his side an 18 point lead.
However, a strong Eccles side were not finished and spurred on by the influential Dave Critchley, they hit back when his long pass sent Muscat over for his second try, and Ovenden were asleep in defence when after a penalty Adam Tahler drove straight through to the line.
Two conversions from Martin Judge had the home side struggling but they sealed the points when Hartley's inside ball gave English a well deserved hat trick.
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Last Updated:
06 October 2008 9:15 AM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Halifax