A First Win

Summary

Barnes initiated a very good attack soon after their kick-off getting to the opposition line where an error allowed the visitors to clear and later start attacking. Two more penalties conceded by the home team took Henley to an attacking line-out from which the pack drove before a forward got over to score.

After some to-and-fro a free-kick and a kick out on the full created the platform for Barnes 2nd attack. Centre Butler got them into the 22 then flanker Steele seemed Houdini-like to escape without difficulty from a throng with the ball and run to the posts at the start of the second quarter. Both of these were converted. Just before the half-hour Barnes held out a very good Henley attack that got close to the line.

Fullback O'Toole kicked an easy penalty early in the 2nd half. From the restart Barnes' backs attacked immediately with fullback Foster scoring wide-out. O'Toole added. Six minutes later wing Martey was put into space then had to force his way over for the 3rd try.

After a Barnes' scrum error, a chip and chase got the visitors their 2nd try scored by scrumhalf Jackson who added after 15 minutes. Three minutes later Barnes got the bonus point try with a swift attack and centre Hersey finishing. The wind helped O'Toole to convert. Another 3 minutes saw Steele get his 2nd after 9-man rugby made lots of ground. The conversion was again helped by the wind. The rest of the game was about even.

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Full Report

Two kicks followed the home team's kick-off before the visitors were forced into touch 14 metres inside their half. From the line-out Barnes put together a fluid, confident set of 9 varied phases taking them to the try line where they were penalised. The kick took Henley back to near where the first line-out had been and after this one they recycled mostly close 6 times to get another penalty at their 10 metre line. This took them to 13 metres into the other half where they threw the line-out not straight. From the first scrum Barnes released to centre then had a kick charged down. Henley then kicked well to touch 9 metres from the home team's line. After securing the line-out ball Barnes sent an up-and-under into touch just outside their 22. Henley went wide from the line-out to get their 3rd penalty 2 metres ahead for not rolling away. The kick took them to 7 metres out and they set up a driving maul from the line-out. Some backs joined in then lock Hyde broke off to go over closer to the posts at 9 minutes. Scrumhalf Jackson added.

An error receiving the high restart gave Barnes the second scrum, 16 metres into the half, at which they were penalised. A very good kick took the visitors to outside their opponents' 22. The line-out resulted in a scrum for Henley. After 3 phases without advancing they were penalised for the first time. This kick got Barnes back to halfway and from their line-out they kept the ball tight and gained 9 metres before getting their 2nd penalty. The kick took them to 17 metres out and after the line-out again kept the ball in only for it to be very soon taken off them. Henley kicked laterally and regained then recycled close 4 times before kicking ahead. Barnes kicked back to halfway. For a second time the visitors threw a line-out not straight and Barnes chose to have a line-out. They put together 7 mainly close phases before chipping over. The visitors dealt with this and soon got a penalty 30 metres from their line. The kick took them to 11 metres into the other half. From their line-out they broke through at centre before losing possession outside the opposition 22. Barnes got a free-kick at their put-in and ran the ball. After 7 phases, making 30+ metres they kicked ahead then the visitors kicked out on the full giving Barnes a line-out 20 metres into the opposition half. From that they released to Butler at centre who made ground. The ball was recycled from the breakdown then flanker Steele seemed Houdini-like to escape without difficulty from a throng with the ball and run to the posts at the start of the second quarter. Fly-half O'Toole added.

Three kicks followed the restart then Henley ran the ball well with 7 phases and 2 breaks until the defence forced an error to get a scrum 8 metres from their line. From this they soon tried an up-and-under; the visitors recycled twice close before being turned over. Another up-and-under was tried then Henley put together 4 phases before being forced into touch. The two kicks had gained Barnes good ground and the line-out was 3 metres inside their half. From it the ball was let out but kept close to get a penalty 2 metres ahead. The kick took them to near the 22 from where the pack drove before being penalised 8 metres ahead. The visitors' kick took them to 9 metres from halfway and from their line-out they put together and excellent set of 13 phases that included 3 strong thrusts. This ended with their penalty just outside the opposition 22 and they ran the ball. After one recycle wide they broke through to close to the line. They recycled there 5 times close before the defence forced an error and got a put-in 7 metres out. This was just before the half-hour (and matched Henley's very good defence in the first minutes of the game).

After the scrum Barnes soon kicked but didn't find touch; Henley ran back recycling 3 times before another Barnes' scrum, now 17 metres out. This time they did clear to touch still 8 metres inside their half. From their line-out 4 phases from the visitors got them a penalty at the opposition 10 metres line after 35 minutes. A kick for the points slipped by. There was a second 22 drop out after the first when Henley ran then recycled twice before kicking ahead to the line. Barnes gained territory after two kicks followed the second drop-out which led to a Henley line-out 4 metres inside their half. From this the visitors next 4 phases gained them several metres before they were penalised. The kick took Barnes to 9 metres into the other half and from there their pack drove beyond the 22 until held 9 metres out. The Ref. would have given a Henley put-in but instead blew for halftime. At 7-all the score closely reflected a fairly even half.

Rain started with the second half, but only for 5 minutes. Three kicks followed the visitors' restart before they ran the ball. They kicked again after a couple of phases; now Barnes ran the ball and made good ground having recycled 3 times and got a penalty at the opposition 22 near centre field and O'Toole kicked the points at 2 minutes.
From the restart flanker Malaney broke through and set the backs running; scrumhalf Franklin and outside centre Hersey made a lot of ground before fullback Foster touched down wide-out hardly more than a minute after the restart. O'Toole added.

Barnes returned the restart with an up-and-under; Henley kept the ball in hand with 7 phases mostly close before kicking for territory. Barnes ran the ball back and straight away got a penalty 11 metres inside their half. This was kicked to 12 metres into the other half then from the line-out the pack set for a drive and got another penalty 26 metres out. The next kick took them to 5 metres out. Henley defended the drive well then Barnes recycled close 3 times then O'Toole set wing Martey into space. He seemed to be caught but forced his way over wide-out at 9 minutes. The conversion missed leaving the score at 22 - 7.

Barnes cleared the restart to touch near halfway. The visitors attacked from the line-out with 7 phases until the defence forced an error just outside the 22. From the scrum Barnes soon kicked for territory; Henley kept ball in hand recycling 3 times but not advancing before another Barnes' put-in, now 7 metres into the other half. At this scrum the ball came out at the side and the opposition got it and made ground near touch. A chip over that was regained left the defence stretched for Jackson to touch down wide-out at 16 minutes. A very good conversion from him followed.

After the restart and recycling once Henley lost possession for not getting the ball out as the Ref. gave Barnes a scrum. From it ball through the hands led directly to Hersey touching down near the corner 3 minutes after the previous try. From this side the wind helped O'Toole curl the ball in for the extra points to make it 29 - 14.

Barnes replied to the restart with a longer up-and-under. The visitors kicked out on the full from 4 metres inside their half. From the line-out the home team's forwards kept the ball tight with 6 phases, twice going blind for Steele to go over at the corner. This after another 3 minutes and again the wind helped the skilful O'Toole.

This time the restart resulted in a scrum for Henley 28 metres from their opponents' line. They got a free-kick at that and ran the ball. After 8 phases the defence forced an error to get a put-in 17 metres out from which they cleared to touch to 26 metres out. The visitors threw the ball long and the opposition got it. Barnes now put together 8 phases to advance to 27 metres from the other try line where they were awarded a penalty. The kick took them to 13 metres out and after the line-out and an attempted drive Henley forced an error to get a put-in. From the scrum they regained a chip through and recycled the ball 9 times until turned over. Barnes put together a couple of phases before kicking into the 22. Henley ran the ball for 5 phases before kicking for territory. Barnes dealt with this and straight away were awarded a penalty 6 metres inside their half. The kick took them 20 metres further. From their line-out they made some ground but were soon turned over. The visitors passed the ball into touch for an opposition line-out 4 metres into the visitors' half. After a couple of phases Barnes had a kick charged down and their opponents got the ball and ran the ball recycling 6 times to get a penalty at halfway. Again they ran the ball but soon Barnes pounced upon a loose ball and they some ground as they recycled 6 times before Henley forced an error to get a scrum put-in 11 metres inside their half. From that they went wide before losing possession. Barnes recovered from having a kick charged down and soon kicked the ball into touch 13 metres into the opposition half. From the last line-out the visitors again went wide and advanced before chipping ahead into the opposition 22.
Barnes cleared to touch for the whistle.

Bright and dry at the kick-off and before, then light rain that didn't last at the start of the second half. Some wind, frequently dropping momentarily; the pitch good and dry at the start.