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Saturday 5th January 2008
Match Report by Dave Malone
New Brighton 3rd team played their first game of 2008 away at Carrington.
NB travelled with 13 men but fortunately under league rules Carrington could only start the game with one extra player.
The first half stared brightly for NB with Barry Shillinglaw snatching the ball out of the air from a beautifully weighted Phil Radley kick off. New Brighton continued to pressure Carrington with phases through the forwards and backs, but the Carrington defence held firm as NB found it difficult to break down their the extra man advantage in the opening 10 minutes. Finally, Dean Weir found his way to the try line with a typical jinking run to open the scoring for NB. Radley Converted.
Radley, filling in at fly half continued to impress with a few good solo efforts and was rewarded five minutes after the restart with a try from open play. Unfortunately he missed the conversion.
Carrington increased the pressure on NB as the first half progressed and worked their way back into the game with a try just before half time. Carrington kicked for touch from a sloppy penalty mid way inside the NB half and the resulting line out led to a try as Carrington made the extra man tell in the backs. The resulting conversion was missed.
Half time: New Brighton 12 - Carrington 5.
Carrington took their momentum from the first half into the second, and soon after the restart they were awarded a penalty which was converted.
Soon afterwards, a skewed NB 22 drop out floated into the arms of the Carrington fly half who gratefully added 3 points with a neatly executed drop goal.
Carrington kept up the pressure and with the wind behind them, they firmly camped inside the NB half. NB managed to escape from their own half on a couple of occasions through a few solo efforts from Radley and the Weir brothers. Carrington missed a penalty opportunity and had a try disallowed mid way through the second half when their winger had a foot in touch.
NB held on throughout the second half, and with a great rearguard defensive action managed to record a hard fought victory by 1 point.
Full time: New Brighton 12 - Carrington 11.
DM
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