Encouraging start to the Yorkshire One campaign

Old Brodleians 29

DINNINGTON began their fourth season in Yorkshire One with some trepidation, having been reprieved from relegation last season.

However, they put in an impressive display against the side relegated from North One East and, although it ended in defeat there were enough encouraging moments to suggest that this will be a less stressful season.

Dinnington began the game strongly, putting pressure on Brods but they were caught out within five minutes as the visitors broke from a scrum on halfway to take the lead with a converted try.

The hosts almost replied straight from the kick-off but Liam Hopkins was stopped just short of the line, after good work by Sam Palmer and Ryan Donnelly.

The home side kept the pressure on and cut the lead with a penalty from Chris Williams.

Three minutes later, Dinnington were in the lead as a counter-attack by Donnelly from inside his own 22 saw him getting to within touching distance of the visitor’s line before he off-loaded to Bryn Evans for a try under the posts, converted by Williams.

Brods were under pressure, in a game they probably thought would be an easy ride, and tempers flared momentarily in a melee between the forwards.

Just past the midpoint of the half Brods regained the lead when missed tackles allowed them to run in under the posts and then 10 minutes before half-time the visitors scored again as they stretched the home defence across the pitch.

Dinnington were continually pushing Brods back with some swift attacking moves and five minutes before half-time David Longstaffe was put in under the posts giving Williams an easy kick to put them only two points behind.

The last five minutes, however, were played on the back foot deep in their own half as Brods tried to make more of the advantage of the slope but Dinnington held out and went into the break in confident mood.

At the start of the second half, Dinnington gave away some silly penalties and Brods extended their lead with a penalty inside five minutes of the restart.

Dinnington applied a lot of pressure but they could not make it pay against a solid visitor’s defence.

Both sides seemed anxious in their play which resulted in numerous mistakes and very few clear chances.

Fifteen minutes from the end, Brods virtually made the game safe when a dink over the home defence was collected off a fortunate bounce for a converted try under the posts, although there was a suggestion of a knock-on.

Dinnington put in a strong finish to the game but too often took the wrong option as they desperately looked for a score to get back into the game which allowed Brods to clear their lines.

The last five minutes of the game were played in the visitors’ 22 but Dinnington could find no way through.

An encouraging start to the season but this needs to be repeated when Dinnington travel to Pontefract tomorrow.