Celtic Warriors 33 - Sale Sharks 22


Schoey
By grummpy
August 23 2003

Sale Sharks came off second best in their first pre-season fixture against a more cohesive Warriors side who seemed to have a point to prove after their defeat to Bath last weekend.A patchy performance but some positive signs and a useful exercise which should have blown a few cobwebs away.

With a total of thirteen absentees through RWC commitments and injuries, a figure incidentally matched in the Warriors squad, the coaches chose a blend of youth and experience. Frank appeared at full back with Jamie Hoyle and Chris Mayor on the wings, "Chopper" Harris (an official nickname as used by the other players when the team ran out) captained the side and was paired with Jos in the centre with Nick Walshe and BVS at half back. Upfront the starting forward pack was a newly slimlined Lecter, Cairns and Stewart in the front rank, Audenshaw`s finest - Dean Schofield - and Christian Day at lock, Magnus Lund and Big Teddy Sheridan (who wore 7 because the six didn't fit him) at flanker with Phil Davies at eighth man.
 
We made quite a promising start, Day athletically fielding Jenkins's kick off and setting up a driving maul a la Oirish last season, which was duly collapsed without penalty though Schoey sought his own retribution. When this was repeated minutes later, the referee, a Mister C. Caroli from Billy Smart's circus, actually reversed the only penalty he awarded us in the first half. Jenkins stepped up and you know the rest. We were 10-0 down within the minute as Warriors found numbers out wide from the restart claim and despite a classic Jos covering tackle, the ball was offloaded to Havili who ran through a fairly uncommitted defence for the first of his three tries.
 
At this stage we hadn't really got our phase game going despite the earnest efforts of the forward pack with the tackle area proving to be farcically refereed to the extent that I expected Brian Rix to appear and drop his trousers. The concept of staying on your feet was obviously something new to Mr. Caroli and when Dan sought clarification, Mr. Caroli produced a custard tart from behind his back and plastered it over Chopper's face - well, he sent us back another ten for the first time in the evening. Harris and Bryan in the Warrior's backrow had a field day.
 
However, matters improved when Schoey went on one of his charges. We twice offloaded beautifully in the tackle and Frank scuttled over in the corner, BVS missing the kick. The front five continued to exert real pressure on their opponents in the tight. Lecter was giving their youthful three a miserable evening whilst Chris Day was positively "Fullyesque/Bambiesque" at the lineout, repeatedly snaffling their ball. One such steal set up our second try. A BVS garryowen set up panic in the Warriors ranks and Jamie Hoyle was at hand to scoot over for his first try of the night.10-10 and game on...or not as the case was to prove for the remainder of the half. Three successive over throws at the lineout surrendered field position and territory to the Warriors who put us under sustained pressure and we were possibly lucky only to concede another Jenkins penalty and not in fact lose a player to the bin. Half time arrived, 13-10 down and our esteemed Rugby Manager was seen to sprint onto the pitch towards Mr. Caroli who managed to quickly pedal past Dimes despite his bicycle having different sized wheels....
 
Jenkins quickly stretched Warrior's lead with a penalty kick early in the second half as the penalty count continued to rise against us but we then actually took the lead from a well worked lineout drill close to their line which saw Schoey (or it might have been Big Ted) bulldoze over another clean lineout take by Day, BVS landing the goal from far out left. The lead, however, evaporated within a minute, From a scrum following a knock on at the restart, an excellently crafted midfield loop move and deft handling from Bishop released winger  Havili in centre field  for a fifty metre dash to the line, best score of the night this one. Jenkins notched again leaving us 23-17 down..
 
The coaches from both sides made numerous substitutions at different intervals during the second spell. In the forward pack Stu Turner replaced Bazzer, Jonny Roddham came on at 2, Big Ted moved up to loose head with Adam Newton moving into the backrow and Paul Arnold subbed for Schoey. Behind the scrum the final backline was Wiggy at 9, Jos at 10, with Chris Rhys Jones and Chris Briers at centre, the back three remaining unchanged. I wondered if the combined ages of six backs had ever equalled that of Jos before...
 
Warriors were temporarily reduced to 14 men after an unnecessary late charge by Horsman on Hoyle following a great catch, but it hardly merited the card. Mentally however, seeds of doubt had been sown. A repeat high ball was misfielded, Sale were caught offside and Jenkins added the three, 26-17.The changes in the forward pack did nothing to diminish our advantage in the scrummage, though we started to lose ball in the lineout. However, after some great handling and continuity, BVS chipped through for Hoyle to win the race for his second touch down to narrow the score to 26-22 only for Warriors to bounce back in similar fashion with a third converted try for Havili to conclude the scoring 33-22 (penalty count 15-5!). Too many turnovers at the break down and a failure to control this area undid us throughout the second half but we were undoubtedly second best on the night and my carps at the ref, who made Goodliffe and Mayhem, dare I say even Lander, look world class (well maybe not Lander) cannot be used to justify the defeat. They were more cohesive and more potent on the night.
 
I attempted to shake the ref's hand after the match - he offered it to me then withdrew it at the last moment and stuck it on his nose. To add insult to injury he then squirted water at me from a false flower on his lapel... 
 
 
I was genuinely impressed with our front five. Cairns was tremendous around the paddock, Schoey, just gets better and better - he could be truly immense and the newly streamlined Lecter worked as hard as I've ever seen him. Chris Day also looks to be maturing as a player and taking on responsibility - very different from the Chris Day who debuted up at Squeaky's last October. We were bettered at the breakdown throughout which perhaps reflects the inexperience in the side.
 
For those interested, I think the Warriors side was as follows:
Nuthall (Cull), Mustoe (Wyatt), Bishop (Carter), James (Bryant), Havili: Jenkins, Martens (John); Cox, Joy, Jones M (Horsman), Budgett, Powell, Jones R, Harris and Bryan (Lewis). I think I missed one substition out
 
Attendance:1200 max.