Barnes back to winning

As everyone at Barnes knows the 1st team has had lots of tackling practice in this season's league games and so it was today. In the reverse fixture down at the south coast in September there was little between the sides. Worthing won by one score after stealing a line-out close to Barnes try line. Their particular advantage in that game was their capability of long kicking from hand for territory.

The visitors kicked off and Barnes kept the ball for 4 phases before kicking ahead; two more kicks followed. The last bounced off a Worthing player and another ahead of him picked it up giving Barnes the first penalty. The kick took them to a line-out on halfway and from that they released to centre then after a couple of phases Worthing forced an error to regain possession. They made good ground, first going wide then with a strong thrust from one of their forwards. Kicks were exchanged then the visitors' forwards kept the ball close to get their first penalty. This took them out of their half to 17 metres into the other one. From the line-our then soon released to centre then recycled 7 times, mostly close and twice to the blind side before the defence forced an error to get the first scrum put-in 27 metres from their goal line. From there they cleared to touch 15 metres from halfway. Worthing went wide and were awarded a penalty 27 metres out in centre field after recycling once. This after 8 minutes and wing McLean kicked the points.

Worthing cleared the restart long to touch; Barnes took a quick line-out. Two more kicks followed then Barnes kept the ball and got the next penalty near halfway after recovering from an error. Their kick did not find touch and the visitors kicked the ball back well. Barnes had to clear to touch at their 10 metre line. Next Worthing put together an exceptional sequence of possession starting from their line-out. This consisted of 23 mainly close phases and took them to the opposition line where they were held judged not to have grounded it and awarded a 5 metre scrum. Barnes held the scrum drive just before the line and the ball was released to centre. Worthing recycled 3 times before losing possession; Barnes got the ball but had a kick charged down. The visitors, in possession again, put together 6 tight phases before flanker Smith got over not far from the posts at 18 minutes. The conversion kick hit a post and stayed out.

Worthing cleared the restart to touch near their 10 metre line. From the line-out Barnes went wide and recycled 7 times while eventually being forced backwards. Kicks were exchanged, the second to touch 28 metres from Barnes' line.

After the line-out they were forced further back to their 22 where they got a penalty. The kick took them up to their 10 metre line then from the line-out they launched an up-and-under. The visitors got the ball but straight after an error gave Barnes a put-in 15 metres into the opposition half.

From their scrum they went wide and created the first serious attack. Having advanced with 7 phases, they then ran a penalty to 5 metres out and then got the ball wide where hooker Alteirac touched down wide out at 26 minutes for his 3rd of the season. The conversion missed

Two kicks followed the restart; Barnes dropped the second giving the visitors a scrum 25 metres from Barnes' line. Worthing put together another excellent set of phases, this time 15. This attack ended right in the corner with a tackle the forced a knock-on. Barnes got a 5 metre scrum at which they were pushed back a couple of metres then penalised. Worthing chose another scrum; Barnes' pack were solid. When the ball came out near the side Barnes' no. 9 Franklin got the ball and it was cleared to touch 30 metres out. The visitors set up a drive from the line-out and made good ground. Their scrumhalf tried a break then they put together 9 mostly tight phases to get a penalty 5 metres out. Again they chose a scrum; after a no. 8 pick-up and 4 tight recycles they were penalised. Barnes kicked for a line-out 26 metres out that soon resulted in another scrum for Worthing. From it they went wide and put together 6 phases making ground then the defence forced an error before the whistle.

14:56

Two kicks followed Barnes' second half restart. Worthing kept the ball and advanced recycling 5 times until their opponents forced an error to get a scrum 10 metres inside their half. Barnes kicked out on the full; Worthing, from their line-out, soon released to centre where they were turned over. Barnes tried to attack then kicked; the ball went into touch off an opposition player 28 metres from Barnes' line. After the line-out and 6 recycles wing Carlisle set off to run 3/4 of the pitch, evade defenders and score half way out between the posts and touchline after 4 minutes to take the lead. Fullback O'Toole converted.

Barnes returned the restart with an up-and-under. Worthing put together 9 phases before the defence forced an error to get a scrum 28 metres from their line. Four kicks followed with little retention in between then the visitors kept the ball for 3 phases before being turned over. Three phases from Barnes preceded a penalty 15 metres into the opposition half for a high tackle. The kick took them to a line-out 12 metres out. Their pack set for a drive that was stopped; they recycled close 3 times, 2 of these to the blind side. O'Toole almost got to the line at the corner but similarly to Worthing's attack just after the first half-hour the Ref. gave a 5 metre put-in for the defence. From the scrum Worthing soon cleared to touch 27 metres out. After the line-out Barnes kept the ball in then advanced varying their recycling through 5 phases to get a penalty 5 metres out. This was put into touch for a line-out that was stolen; Worthing cleared to touch 12 metres out. Following the next line-out and two recycles by Barnes going backwards Worthing were penalised at the 22. O'Toole kicked the points after 18 minutes.

Barnes returned the restart with an up-and-under; Worthing's forwards kept the ball for 9 phases before the opposition forced an error to get a put-in just outside their 22. Two kicks followed the scrum; the second was an up-and-under from the visitors. The ball was soon in the hands of centre Cornish who broke through the defence before feeding Carlisle. The latter was clearly determined to get a second and forcibly did so, going over a distance from the posts after 22 minutes. The conversion missed.

Following the restart and a kick by Barnes, Worthing put together another excellent sequence of phases, this time 15, getting into their opponents' 22. There Barnes won a turnover, recycled twice, and then launched an up-and-under that resulted in a scrum for the visitors 4 metres inside their half. After a back row pick-up and 2 close recycles Barnes were penalised at halfway. They kick took Worthing to the opposition 22 where their line-out resulted in a scrum for Barnes. Four kicks followed with little retention in between before a Barnes' line-out at halfway.

Soon after that Worthing won a turnover before Barnes' replacement centre Butler ripped a ball off the opposition to set his team attacking again. Carlisle kicked to the line and Worthing cleared to touch 17 metres out. They stole the line-out and soon got a penalty a bit further ahead. After kicking to touch and their line-out Worthing advanced strongly with 12 phases before knocking on giving Barnes a scrum put-in 13 metres from their line. The visitors were penalised at the scrum and the kick took Barnes to 16 metres from halfway. They were forced backwards after the line-out to the last scrum and again their put-in 26 metres out. From that and 2 recycles they cleared to touch for the whistle.

100% overcast, misty, murky & damp but no rain or drizzle, no wind & not too cold; the pitch firm.