ALL GOLDS SCORCHED BY TIGERS’ HEAT
BRISTOL ALL GOLDS 06 – 50 BEDFORD TIGERS
Christopher Wilson at Lockleaze Sports Centre
SUMMARY
The Bristol All Golds crashed to a 50-6 defeat to third-placed Bedford Tigers in scorching heat at Lockleaze. At the end of an intense and sometimes fractious first half, James Boyles’ try goaled by Darrion Ball was all that separated the sides.
However, after the break, the Tigers turned up the heat and scored ten unanswered tries. Winger Reece Staerck crossed four times, and with Kayne Chan Kitchener and Elliott Hutchings notching doubles and Alfie Hawkhead and Teddy Davidson also touching down, the Tigers ran out comfortable winners. Jenson Binks kicked five goals as the Tigers strengthened their place in the top four.
FULL REPORT
On a day of scorching temperatures, it was the Bristol All Golds who felt the heat as Bedford Tigers easily overturned a 6-0 half-time deficit to run out comfortable 50-6 winners at Lockleaze.
The All Golds can have no complaints. They worked hard to secure a narrow lead but were fortunate that the Tigers blew two great opportunities in the first period to establish a lead for themselves.
In the second period, they were simply overrun as the Tigers scored with impunity, exploiting missed tackles and a disorganised defence as they crossed ten times. After some promising performances recently, this was a real disappointment.
They did, however, struggle with injuries, losing among others, captain Callum Merrett in the first half to a hand injury and vice-captain Brandon Lamb in the last play of the game to an ankle injury that may sideline him for a few weeks.
The first half was played at a furious pace as both sides ran through their sets despite the heat until, after six minutes of constant action, a Tigers error gave the All Golds a scrum around halfway.
Straight from the set-piece, Merrett kicked downfield and James Boyles collected to touch down for his sixth try of the season. Darrion Ball added the goal for a 6-0 advantage.
Play became bogged down in the middle of the field with scoring chances few and far between. Merrett tried to repeat the success of his kick to Boyles but this time the bounce of the ball evaded the flying winger.
Tempers began to fray as the sides battered each other and, as the mid-half water break loomed, the Tigers lost full-back Elliott Hutchings to the sin-bin for dissent.
He returned to the field with no addition to the scoreline, though Carl Thompson had the home side’s best chance, but he lost control of the ball over the line.
The Tigers, too, had their chances as twice passes failed to go to hand in the corner with the All Golds’ defence stretched to breaking point.
Half time came and offered the chance for both teams to retire to the dressing rooms to shelter from the roasting temperatures.
Ball’s excellent restart was fumbled by the Tigers’ rearguard but the opportunity to extend the lead went almost as quickly when Will Armour was unable to keep the goal-line drop-out in play.
Almost immediately, the Tigers got back into the game, and in a six-minute period crossed three times to race to a 16-6 lead.
Kayne Chan Kitchener got the first as the All Golds were cut open down the left, then Reece Staerck crossed twice in as many minutes down the right with the home defence disorganised and outnumbered.
The home side were reacquainted with the ball for just three plays before coughing it up and seeing Alfie Hawkhead score. From the restart, the excellent Henry Higginson burst through the defence from inside his own half to give Hutchings a score. The sides then took on more water with the Tigers well in command, leading 24-6.
When play resumed, the Tigers were immediately given a penalty and Staerck grabbed his third try of the game, adding a fourth to finish the Tigers’ next attack a few minutes later.
By this time, it was attack against defence with the All Golds having absolutely no possession at all and their defence leaking like a sieve as the Tigers scored on almost every set they had.
Teddy Davidson was next to cross with Jensen Binks adding his fifth goal of the day for a 42-6 lead in the final quarter. Two further tries in the last ten minutes completed the All Golds’ misery with Kitchener and Hutchings crossing for unconverted scores.
Lamb’s injury in trying to defend the last try just summed up the All Golds’ day.
Coming after good showings against both Hammersmith and the London Chargers, the second half performance was a disappointment. The Tigers easily took control of the game and scored at will, racking up ten tries in the second forty minutes, allowing the home side just eight play-the-balls during that time.
With Wests Warriors to come next week and a host of injuries to contend with, a place in the Championship play-offs looks to be a distant dream, though the Plate competition may yet allow the All Golds some hope of glory in September.
MatchStats
Teams:
ALL GOLDS: Darrion Ball; Leon Atherton, Will Armour, Joe Capener, James Boyles; Josh Fitzgerald, Callum Merrett (Capt); Tom Baxter, Sam Gilder, Brandon Ball; Henry Symons, Brandon Lamb; Tega Rume-Tabiowo. INTERCHANGE: Adam Turner, Carl Thompson, Rob Davies, Dan Short. 18th Player: George Lawless
SCORERS:
Tries: Boyles (6)
Goals: D. Ball 1 from 1.
TIGERS: Elliott Hutchings; Reece Staerck, Kye Jacobson, Kayne Chan Kitchener, Jack Saunders; Jenson Binks, Jack Brown; Jensen Monk, Jake Tilford, Lewis Sharp; Teddy Davidson, George Murray; Harry Higginson. INTERCHANGE: Alfie Hawkhead, Garin Nicholls, Simone Elrick, Santino Decaro.
SCORERS
Tries: Kitchener (43, 73), Staerck (47, 49, 60, 64), Hawkhead (54), Hutchings (56, 79), Davidson (68),
Goals: Binks 5 from 9, Brown 0 from 1.
Scoring sequence: 6-0, (HT), 6-4, 6-10, 6-16, 6-20, 6-24, 6-30, 6-36, 6-42, 6-46, 6-50, (FT)
Penalties: All Golds 3-7 Tigers
Referee: Misa Vakadranu (RFL)
All Golds Player of the Match: Tom Baxter produced some huge carries in the first period with the game in the balance and worked hard in defence when his team were under the cosh in the second period.