Match report by Gordon Feather
Following another sumptuous lunch enjoyed by the Brods faithful and Morley alickadoos, a large and expectant crowd gathered for the Regional NE 2 first round promotion clash between old rivals Brods and Morley.

Following a minutes’ silence in recognition of the passing of Brods legends, Bob Jackson and Betty Carney, Morley got proceedings underway kicking off up the slope into a moderate breeze on a cold, dry day. Fly half Slattery returned to the ball into Morley territory where shortly afterwards a Brods infringement enabled Morley to kick long to touch to gain good field position some 30m from the Brods line. Impressive forward drives saw Morley advance and force another penalty. This time Morley elected to kick and the penalty was successful taking the score to 0-3 after 5 minutes played.

From the kick off another Brods’ infringement enabled Morley to advance to home territory where their big well-drilled forwards continued to drive forwards and hold possession. The Brods were defending well and holding out effectively, but on 12 minutes after a drive into the Brods’ 22 under the scoreboard, the Morley fly half spotted his winger on the other side of the field was unmarked and launched a long cross-field kick with pinpoint accuracy which was gathered the winger who scored out wide. The conversion was missed but the score was now 0-8 with Morley playing up the slope into the wind and the Brods having had virtually no possession.

The next period was becoming more scrappy but Brods, making more mistakes than they would like were gaining more possession. On 17 minutes the game came alive as Morley conceded a scrum penalty enabling Slattery to find touch some 10 m from the Morley line. From the line out the Brods had their first real attacking position, and after a couple of phases young Brods’ wing, the mercurial Leo Kemp, entered the line and score under the posts, after crashing into the woodwork on the way. Slattery converted taking the score to 7-8. The Brods were now in the game after 20 minutes played.

The remainder of the half was very even with both sides defending well. Morley were managing to make fewer mistakes and Brods were finding the visitors hard to break down. The Brods were finding more competition in the line out and their usual catch and drive routines were largely nullified against determined opponents. Brods were also defending well particularly with forwards Craven, Dawson, Murphy and Browne to the fore. In the backs Dom Georgiou was outstanding and reassuringly safe at full back.

Toward the end of the half the Brods were beginning to apply more pressure and creep nearer the Morley line. Consecutive penalties enabled Slattery to keep the pressure on with accurate kicking. Then on the stroke of half time a Morley knock on gave Brods a scrum some 10m from the visitors’ line. Speedy distribution from scrum half Hodkinson enabled Harry Dunne to force his way over the line and score at close range. It was not pretty but effective, and Slattery’s conversion took the score to 14-8 to the Brods at half time.

The first half had shown how dangerous the visitors could be. They were well organised and had enjoyed significant possession, much more than their hosts. The Brods had tackled well and there was a concern how much this would have taken out of the boys. With the half time score being unrepresentative of possession and flattering to the Brods, the second half would be a test for the home side.

The second half commenced with Brods kicking off uphill and into the wind and the ball being fielded by the Morley forwards. The ball was spread out to the left where it seemed the ball was being forced into touch but with a 3 to 2 overlap in the threequarters, the Morley centre managed to jink through the tightest of gaps without a hand on him and race 40m for a try under the posts. This was a bad try for the Brods not just in its timing, but the manner in which a crucial tackle was missed and the worst possible start to the second half. An easy conversion took the score to 14-15 and Morley had regained the lead after just 41 minutes played.

Brods were now under the cosh and trapped in their own 22 for the next 10 minutes. The Morley on rushing defence was treading a fine line and on the edge of being frequently offside, but this was very effective in ensuring the Brods were unable to advance. When Morley regained possession, they pummelled the Brods’ line but the heroic Brods defence held out, on one occasion holding out for 10 phases. The intensity of play took its toll on the players with players from both sides needing attention. But it seemed that Brods had withstood the Morley onslaught and after 55 minutes were getting a few penalties taking them up field. The elusive Kemp was released on half way and he appeared to have broken free and was running unopposed to the try line when he was called back by the linesman for a foot in touch.

The intensity of tackling was unrelenting and on 57 minutes Murphy was flattened by the Morley forwards to be replaced by Dawson after an outstanding performance constantly being in the thick of the action. Brods were enjoying a period of pressure but from a Morley penalty the visitors were on the front foot and broke to score somewhat out of the blue. Conversion completed taking the score to 14-22 to the visitors. At this point more reinforcements were called upon, and substitutes Cam Wroot and Chris Georgiou entered the fray.

The Brods response to this was immediate. Chris Georgiou breaking midfield and putting in an intelligent kick to give Brods field position in the visitors’ 22. Brods won the line and furiously drove for the line with tireless captain Elliott Craven leading by example. After several phases with Wroot prominent, young Aussie, Luke Browne, forced his way over for a try. The Slattery conversion taking the score to 21-22 and setting up a frantic last 10 minutes.
Unfortunately, Brods did not get the finish they sought. The last 10 minutes were scrappy and an niggly incident of note saw a Morley player withhold the ball following a Brods’ penalty, and unsurprisingly Harry Dunne reacted. This was handbags and both players were carded. It served to waste a few minutes. In the dying minutes the outstanding Morley fly half, who had constantly pegged Brods back with log kicks all game, converted a penalty and dropped a goal. Final score 21-28 Morley.

This was a game of the highest calibre and it was a pity there had to be a loser with 2 evenly matched teams going hell for leather.

On the day, Morley made slightly fewer mistakes and were worth their win though the try count was 3-3. This brings to an end an outstanding season for the Brods who will now rebuild with optimism to achieve even more next season. As for Morley we wish them well and they must now travel to Pocklington in the next round of the play offs.

Gordon Feather
18 April 26