ALL GOLDS SEAL FIFTH AFTER BAXTER’S TREBLE INSPIRES RHINOS ROUT
EASTERN RHINOS 26 – 52 BRISTOL ALL GOLDS
Christopher Wilson at Colchester Sports Park
SUMMARY
Prop Tom Baxter scored three tries as the Bristol All Golds thumped the Eastern Rhinos 52-26 to secure fifth place in the table and a home semi final in the plate competition.
Baxter’s first try was an immediate reply to Greg Short opening the scoring for the hosts. Connor Corbett then put the Rhinos back in front with his first try but Rob Davies quickly levelled matters again, In the ten minutes before the break the All Golds added two tries through Tega Rume-Tabiowo and Adam Turner both goaled by Oli Winterbottom to lead 24-12 at the break. The Rhinos hit back at the start of the second period through Dylan Burdorf and Corbett but Dan Harding converted only one of the scores to leave the All Golds hanging on to a slender two-point lead.
Three tries in ten minutes around the hour mark sealed the game with Winterbottom crossing for two fine individual scores and Baxter adding his second. Though the Rhinos were awarded a penalty try, it was too late, and a try from Angus Parkin followed by Baxter’s third touchdown sealed the All Golds’ first ever win in Colchester.
FULL REPORT
Prop Tom Baxter scored three tries as the Bristol All Golds thumped the Eastern Rhinos 52-26 to secure fifth place in the table and a home semi final in the plate competition.
It was the first time that the All Golds had won in Colchester, and it was done despite the absence of over a dozen players and the withdrawal of two more on the eve of the game forcing a late reshuffle.
Those players that turned out stepped up to the mark, and despite a lopsided penalty count played some excellent rugby league to score nine tries. The half-back pairing of Oli Winterbottom and Morgan Lewis dovetailed very well and with Lewis providing at least two sublime assists adding to Winterbottom’s two individual tries and eight goals from nine attempts, the All Golds at last found punch in their attack that has been lacking at times this season.
As for the Rhinos, their season has been a disappointing one and they can also point to a raft of injuries robbing them of many of their best players this season. However, that has meant that they have blooded a number of juniors, who will be better for the experience and will strengthen their squad in the future.
And on a sunny but windy day it was the home side that looked most threatening from the first whistle. In the first six minutes they had two great chances to score. They wasted the first before Greg Short went over from close range and Dan Harding added the goal for a 6-0 advantage.
This was immediately cancelled out as a dropped ball from the restart presented Tom Baxter with possession and an almost free run to the posts, Winterbottom converting from in front.
Another home opportunity went begging before Connor Corbett went over after the All Golds’ defence had been outflanked.
Again the response from the All Golds was immediate as the kick-off bounced dead and Lewis supplied Rob Davies with a lovely pass and the Welshman cut through for an excellent finish and his first four pointer in an All Golds jersey.
The sides then took on water with the score tied at 12-12 and the prospect of an enthralling second quarter to come.
The Rhinos had the first chance with back-to-back sets allowing them to build pressure and finally Dylan Burdorf went over but Ben Ratcliffe’s pass was ruled forward and the scores remained level.
The All Golds ended the half strongly as it became their turn to receive repeat sets thanks to some indiscipline from the home side.
With six minutes to the break, quick thinking from Tega Rume-Tabiowo saw him take a quick tap penalty and charge through an unprepared defence for a try.
Three minutes later, a charge down on the last tackle gave the All Golds six more tackles and they didn’t waste them with Adam Turner twisting over for the All Golds’ fourth try. Winterbottom goaled both giving the visitors a two-score lead at 24-12 at half time.
It could have been more but with the last play of the half, a fumble by the Rhinos in the All Golds half was pounced on by James Boyles but with an open field in front of him, he couldn’t gather the ball cleanly.
However, the All Golds handed the initiative to the Rhinos early in the second half as an incorrect play-the-ball gave possession to the home side who immediately scored through Burdorf’s good finish.
Louis Birch had a chance to level matters but didn’t quite have the pace to reach the line and the All Golds had another chance, though the referee awarded the Rinos possession after a contest for possession almost on the goal-line.
The Rhinos then produced a lovely flowing move which ended with Corbett scoring his second try of the game and Harding adding the extras to cut the All Golds’ lead to 24-22.
Play became scrappy as the hour mark approached, but it was the All Golds who were next to strike. Winterbottom prodded the ball through the line chased the kick and produced some wizardry with the ball in hand (and behind his back) to coast under the posts for a converted try.
After the water break, the All Golds’ perhaps lost concentration as they made a mess of the restart kick handing the Rhinos an opportunity to hit back but the All Golds’ goal-line defence was up to the task, keeping out a full set of tackles and countering from the resulting kick.
The counter brought its reward as a strong set saw the All Golds roll upfield and Winterbottom weaved his way to the posts for another individual effort and a three-score advantage for his team. The try also brought up his century of points for the club.
With time starting to run out for the Rhinos, they were starved of possession as the All Golds played out their sets, made yards downfield, and kept the scoreboard ticking over.
With ten minutes left, a beautifully timed pass from Lewis sent Baxter through a gap for a lovely try, Winterbottom extending the lead to 42-22.
A rare Rhinos attack ended with points as the referee awarded them a slightly soft penalty try for obstruction as players chased a kick into the in-goal. Perhaps justice was done when Rory Butcher hurried his drop kick conversion attempt and missed.
The Rhinos then allowed the visitors to retake the advantage by letting a wickedly spinning restart go dead in-goal and then concede a penalty which led to Angus Parkin spinning over for his first All Golds try.
Winterbottom missed the extras but was back on target moments later as the restart went out on the full, giving the All Golds a penalty and good field position. On the third tackle, Baxter powered through and though he was half tackled before the line, he wasn’t to be denied and grounded the ball near the base of the post.
With this win, the All Golds have cemented fifth place and top seed billing for the play-offs for the Plate competition with a game to go. Next week’s final league fixture sees the North Herts Crusaders visiting Lockleaze and an All Golds win would send them into the play-offs on the back of a three-match winning run.
MatchStats
Teams:
RHINOS: Ethan Johnson; Connor Corbett, Rob Williams, Charles Randall, Dylan Burdoff; Dan Harding (Capt.), Ben Ratcliffe; Greg Short, Rory Butcher, Harry Dines; Mofe Abidekun, Joe Dakin; Charlie Key. INTERCHANGE: Chris Kerkow, Ratu Anare Davetanivalu, Sam Bragoli Jones, Bayley Eden.
SCORERS
Tries: Short (6), Corbett (17, 51), Burdorf (42), Penalty try (73).
Goals: Harding 3 from 4, Butcher 0 from 1.
ALL GOLDS: Ben Neave; Leon Atherton, Louis Birch, Tega Rume-Tabiowo, James Boyles; Morgan Lewis, Oli Winterbottom; Tom Baxter, Adam Turner, Angus Parkin; Dan Short, Luis Rowe; Rob Davies (Capt). INTERCHANGE: Jay Woodley, Carl Thompson, Brandon Ball. 18th Player: n/a
SCORERS:
Tries: Baxter (8, 70, 79), Davies (21), Rume-Tabiowo (34), Turner (37), Winterbottom (61, 66), Parkin (76).
Goals: Winterbottom 8 from 9.
Scoring sequence: 6-0, 6-6, 12-6, 12-12, 12-18, 12-24, (HT), 16-24, 22-24, 22-30, 22-36, 22-42, 26-42, 26-46, 26-52, (FT)
Penalties: Rhinos 10-6 All Golds
Referee: Joe Foxon (RFL)
All Golds Player of the Match: Oli Winterbottom reached a century of points during his 24-point haul at Colchester. From scrum half he scored two excellent individual tries and kicked eight goals from nine attempts. He was at the heart of the All Golds’ attack and his restart kicks and kicks from hand caused the Rhinos problems throughout the game.