Tykes Win With Muscle, Not Finesse....
range finding?
By RtR
December 5 2004
It was always going to be a case of by how many a well drilled, professional team from England, were going to beat a part time outfit from the rugby outpost that is Spain.
In the end, the scoreline was a fair reflection of the gulf between the two sides, as the Tykes ran in 19 tries in front a sparse crowd of 1600 at Headingley. The visitors were gallant throughout, and never let their heads drop, but were clearly outclassed in every department.
Exactly what value can be derived from such a one sided affair is difficult to say, as I suspect that the game was not a source of particular satisfaction for the players, coaches, clubs or supporters of either side. Sport is about competition, and rugby, more than most, is brutal in exposing differences in skill and fitness levels between teams. In truth, VRAC would probably struggle in National League 3 North.
This is to take nothing away from VRAC - they played heroically all game, were well drilled, and for ten minutes or so in the middle of the first half, they disrupted the Tykes game, and actually spent a few minutes in the Tykes half. But it was to be in vain, soon the floodgates opened again and the score just kept on mounting. VRAC had the option of an easy penalty shot at one point, just to get a score, but they declined, lost the ball in the subsequent play, and never really got close again.
The Tykes took to the pitch with a very strong team, featuring British Lions, World Cup winners and Home Nations internationals scattered liberally throughout the side. Even given the try count, the Tykes often used power to create, rather than finesse, and this should be a source of concern. But it would be churlish to criticize the Tykes performance, as the game was never a meaningful contest, and the Tykes can only play what's in front of them. Such one sided games can often get scrappy, and the concentration levels can be far from sharp if the result is not open to question. It is to the Tykes credit that they never let up, and continued to score tries from all over the pitch until the game ended.
Uys, Palmer and Rigney made hard yards, Christophers and Stimpson were hungry for the ball, Balshaw was ..... quiet. Ross only found his range with the boot after his first 8 or 9 attempts. But as a realistic indicator of form going into the Falcons game at Christmas, this was a non-starter.
At the end, the Valladolid players left the pitch to a standing ovation from their travelling support, and from the Tykes faithful too. They are worthy members of the rugby brotherhood, but they should be playing sides against whom they have a sporting chance. It is wonderful to see that rugby is gaining a foothold in countries like Spain, but exercises like this do no favours to those trying to nurture the game in these areas. The return leg is in Spain next week. The Tykes should send the academy. A reasonable sporting contest may result.