ALL GOLDS STILL WINLESS OVER HAMMERSMITH
Christopher Wilson at Lockleaze Sports Centre
BRISTOL ALL GOLDS 6 – 50 HAMMERSMITH HILLS HOISTS
The Bristol All Golds search for a win over the Hammersmith Hills Hoists goes on after this 50-6 defeat at Lockleaze on a sunny but blustery day.
The All Golds competed well in the first period showing some good attacking intent but were found out defensively by the speed and skill of the Hoists’ attack as the visitors scored five tries in the first half and four in the second.
There was a brief flash of joy as Liam McGrath shot through the Hoists’ defence on a 70-metre run to the line midway through the second half but that was an isolated moment of cheer for the All Golds who now turn their attention to a crucial game against North Herts Crusaders in Hitchin next week.
The match started promisingly for the All Golds who put together a couple of useful sets, but it didn’t take long for Hammersmith to take the lead. Fast passing across the field gave Will Jones the opening, which he took without fuss to score the first of his hat-trick of tries.
Jack Ryan made no mistake from the tee, and the Hoists were up and running.
It took almost a quarter of an hour for the next score to arrive during which time, the All Golds played some good stuff, getting through their sets, making few errors, and testing the Hoists defence.
However, it remained comfortably intact, and the visitors countered in good style. Jones made the initial break storming through the defence on halfway before delivering the scoring pass to the supporting Charles Beatty.
Five minutes later, Beatty was fouled by Jacob Purcell, who was yellow carded and Beatty took full revenge almost immediately, crabbing across the defensive line until a gap appeared, through which he dived to score.
Ryan added the goal for an 18-0 lead and then scored himself following up his own grubber kick to touch down. The score marked the start of a dominant period of play from the visitors who had four consecutive sets thanks to the All Golds’ indiscipline.
However, the home side survived without further score until Joe Capener began a set that took the All Golds deep into Hoists territory, but Capener’s hurried kick on the last tackle was picked up by the Hoists who produced some lovely interplay down their right that ended with Jones crossing.
Ryan added the goal and the sides sought shade for the half-time break with the Hoists leading 30-0.
The second period began with the sides exchanging possession without creating much until Jones stole possession from Callum Merrett in a one-on-one tackle and put Sean Gorban over in the corner. Ryan’s conversion bounced in off the crossbar.
Merrett was then led from the field with a damaged arm shortly afterwards and the without their full-back, the All Golds seemed to lose their way.
They immediately lost possession and Ryan O’Connor sent Ethan Pohlner over with a neatly timed pass close to the line. Jack Ryan’s mis-hit conversion fell short and the game developed into a series of changes of possession due to errors.
The All Golds’ defence was hitting hard and forcing errors from the visitors. However, it was from an All Golds error that the home side finally got the scoreboard moving again on the hour mark.
The Hoists’ James Duchatel booted a loose ball forward, setting up a kick and chase that was superbly covered by Tega Rume-Tabiowo. From the play-the-ball deep in the All Golds’ half, McGrath burst through the Hoists defence and had the pace to get to the line. Alex Onyeahasi added the goal.
After making an error on the first tackle following the fortunate award of a penalty, the All Golds gave away a gift score as Leon Atherton threw a pass to nobody in his own in-goal and Jones gratefully touched down to complete his hat-trick.
There was still time for Jones to produce a lovely offload for Pohlner to score in the corner untouched to bring up the half century for the Hoists.
There was still time for Purcell to be sin-binned for a second time with five minutes left following some over-aggressive All Golds defence.
To their credit, the All Golds were pressing for a score as the referee blew for full time, and the Hoists could celebrate their win before venturing off to Spain to join in the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona.
MatchStats
TEAMS
ALL GOLDS: Callum Merrett (Capt); Leon Atherton, Joe Capener, Brandon Lamb, Liam McGrath; Sam Gilder, Fiach Millward; Eric Davidson, Jack Uren, Jacob Purcell; Jamie Jenkins, Tega Rume-Tabiowo; David Weetman. INTERCHANGE: Rob Davies, Adam Turner, Alex Onyeahasi, Luke Davies.
Scorers:
Tries: McGrath (62).
Goals: Onyeahasi 1 from 1.
HOISTS: Ethan Pohlner; Will Jones, Charles Beatty, James Duchatel, Max McCoy; Tyler Rush, James Russell; Matt Jessop, Will Simmonds, Leon Bird; Josh Fisher, Ryan O’Connor; Jack Ryan (Capt.). INTERCHANGE: Tom Shea, Conor McDonald, Alfie Beazley, Sean Gorban.
Scorers:
Tries: Jones (3, 36, 67), Beatty (17, 23), Ryan (29), Gorban (46), Pohlner (52, 69).
Goals: Ryan 7 from 9.
Scoring Sequence: 0-6, 0-12, 0-18, 0-24, 0-30, (HT), 0-36, 0-40, 6-40, 6-46, 6-50, (FT)
Referee: Kristoff Young (RFL)
Penalties: All Golds 5-10 Hoists
Sin Bin: Purcell (All Golds) 22 – high tackle, 75 – dangerous tackle
Thatchers Cider Bristol All Golds’ Player of the Match – All Golds’ second row Tega Rume-Tabiowo was a forceful presence in the All Golds’ pack with some strong carries, solid defence and a hand in his side’s only try.