Saturday 23rd February 2002
NATIONAL CONFERENCE LEAGUE DIV 2
HUNSLET WARRIORS 56 KEIGHLEY ALBION 0

Albion travelled to Hunslet to play the table-topping Warriors. Albion had a much-changed team on display still looking for their first league points.

The Keighley side started well taking the game to the home side with Jim Coldwell and Ben Farrar making good yards into the Warriors 22 area, but they could not turn them into points and had to turn the ball over in the set of 6 tackles. Albion themselves were then put under pressure as the Warriors hit back through Dean Creaser and Jim Baker, but Albion were strong in defence with Steve Wrench and Andy Parker to the fore.

The visitors were at this time proving a match for the bigger Warriors pack but were struggling when the ball was spun out wide. Gareth Greenbank was directing Albion’s plays from acting half back as Albion tried to break the Warriors down. The game was going back and forth with neither team able to take the advantage, and it was not until the 19^th minute before any scores were posted.

The Warriors then hit a purple patch that started when Dean Creaser got the ball wide to second rower Paul Sebine who stormed over for the first try of the game, Dean Creaser adding the goal to make it 6 – 0 in the 19^th minute. They hit Albion again when centre Peter Thornton out paced Albion defence to score a try from the half way line, Dean Creaser again adding the goal to give the Warriors a 12 points to nil lead on the 22^nd minute mark.

Albion were really under the cosh as some poor tackling in midfield saw Shaun Kehoe come in from the wing to score under the posts, Dean Creaser converting to make it Warriors 18 points to Albion’s 0 on 25 minutes. To make matters worse for Albion they lost influential prop Martin Fryers with an ankle injury and he took no further part in the game. The Warriors then scored another try this time through Tony Miller who had taken an inside ball from Jim Baker, Dean Creaser added the goal to make it Warriors 24 to Albion’s 0 on the 28^th minute mark. Albion then set up an attack through Andy Bowness and Andy Parker only to be brought back for a forward pass, Albion were creating chances but seemed unable to finish them off, Kris Kirk was prominent in attack and was held up just short of the line and bundled into touch. But the Half time score was Warriors 24 points –Albion 0.

Albion had made changes at the start of the second half in an attempt to slow the Warriors down. But the Warriors were soon back on the attack and Scott Barron scored a good individual try in the corner, no goal to add this time but it was now 28- nil to the Warriors on 46 minutes. Before Albion had time to catch there breath substitute Jason Wright went on a storming 50 metre touch line run to score a try in the corner, Dean Creaser added the goal to make it Warriors 34 points to Albion’s nil on the 50 minute mark.

Albion then got back on to the attack with Andy Parker sending Craig Livock on a diagonal 30 metre run for the line but the speedy Warriors full back dragged him down in a tackle just inches short of the try line on 55 minutes. There was no holding the Warriors as a Frank Lapping break in midfield saw him send the supporting Scott Gilmore in for a try by the posts, Dean Creaser added the goal to make the score line 40 pints to nil on 57 minutes. Albion then kept the Warriors at bay for a while with a super tackling show from Steve Wrench, Ben Farrar and Ian Spencer.

But it was to no avail as the Warriors came back getting the ball wide for Shaun Kehoe to get his second try of the game, no goal from this attempt but it was the Warriors 44 points to nil in the lead on 67 minutes. They scored again when prop Matt Smith plunged over from acting half back for an easy try, Dean Creaser converting to give them a 50 points to nil lead in the 74^th minute. Albion’s Ben Farrar the made a good break from midfield and was stopped metres from the line by some good cover tackling.

The Warriors then scored the final try of the game when from a short pass from Jim Baker put him in for the last try of the game, Dean Creaser added yet another goal to make the score 56- nil in the home sides favour on 77 minutes.

Albion had competed well in short spurts throughout the game no one typified the team spirit more than Man of the Match Steve Wrench, who was well supported by Ben Farrar and Gareth Greenbank. The better organized Warriors had been at their best with Matt Smith taking their Man of the Match award, but Dean Creaser with 8 goals from 10 attempts ran him close. Final score was Warriors 56 points – Albion 0.

Next week Albion are at home to Heworth (York) at Ryshworth Park Crossflatts.
Kick off 2.30 pm.
Terry Caddy.     

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