Councillor gets vote of confidence

By Steve Bannell

With usual skipper James Kington in Khazakstan looking for mankinis, the captain’s arm band for the weekend’s game was passed to Bedians resident politician and flanker, James Hennigan. Whilst Kington was unavailable for the trip to Winnington Park, the vast majority of the squad that had performed so well the previous week at Crewe were available for selection, and despite a couple of players (Alex Porter, Joe Waller) being called into the 1s squad, the travelling group resembled a consistent team for a second successive game. A feat rarely seen at the club by any side, but one that meant Hennigan could travel in confidence in his first game as commander in chief.

Unfortunately, the promise and slickness on show the previous week was immediately impaired by injuries to key players shortly after kick off. Hooker Tom Ash had to be withdrawn after only a few minutes with a pulled calf, replaced by Anthony Hargreaves returning from 3rd team action the previous week, and fly half Steve Cross broke a finger only a few minutes later.

Whilst Cross was able to carry on, the injury clearly had an impact as the backline in the first 40 minutes couldn’t get itself going with numerous misplaced passes and poorly timed runs. Further injuries to Adam Dove, Ryan Keyes, Jack O’Shea and Phil Parker meant that by full time the side line resembled a scene from Saving Private Ryan, whilst the players who were still soldiering on, were rewarded for their bravery by being soaked in a monsoon of torrential ferocity.

Despite the injuries picked up by half the team Bedians still proved to be too strong on the day against an older, and sometimes more physical WInnington Park Side.

The early exchanges, although disrupted by replacements saw Bedes make inroads into the home side’s Defence. Strong running from Callum Courtney at 13 and from the back row of Chris Bailes, Dove and Hennigan all meant that the Cheshire side were on the back foot and camped within their own half in the early stages. Despite the forward momentum however, with passes being dropped and the backline looking out of sorts, Bedes were unable to make their pressure tell.

15 minutes into the game and with the score board still empty, Cross sent a long kick downfield to be chased by Jack Rotherham. The ball ran further than intended and came to a stop within the home sides try area, which allowed the chasing full back to tap down, assuming a 22 drop out would restart the game. Unfortunately for the 15 the referee interpreted the situation differently and awarded the Didsbury boys in yellow (wearing the away kit this week) a 5 metre scrum in front of the sticks. The pack won secure ball and scrum half Jim Bloor took full advantage to run in the first points of the game, with the extras added by Cross.

Bedians began to increase the pressure on their hosts from this point on and Thomas Seel and Courtney were consistently breaking tackles and making ground in midfield. It was the 13 who laid on Bedians 2nd try of the day as he glided through 2 or 3 would be tacklers to score just to the left of the posts. Cross, now nursing a broken hand, was unable to add the extras, but Bedes led 12-0.

The remainder of the half was rather stop start, with numerous scrums and line outs as neither side could put multiple phases together. Bedes looked strongest when the ball was kept tight and both second rows, Phil Parker and Ryan Keyes, worked tirelessly all game to secure ball and carry. Both players provided secure line out ball as well with Parker also showing off his party piece of stealing numerous line outs against the throw.

Winnington Park took advantage of a phase of sloppy defending to register their first score of the game 3/4s through the first half, but realistically, whilst it was scrappy, Bedes looked the superior side.
This superiority was reinforced after a series of forward drives that produced the 3rd (and the best) try of the game. Hennigan, O’Shea and Keyes all carried and off loaded well to release Seel into the corner. Cross made sure with the conversion to increase Bedes lead to 19-7 at half time.

Emmett Reid replaced Cross at half time and slotted into an unfamiliar half back role determined to play the game in the hosts half of the pitch.

Bedes looked a lot more assured in the second 40, and whilst the kick chase was often disjointed with a few first up tackles missed, the defence around the fringes was superb, with Harry Allen making numerous hits and showing great mobility for a front row player.

Despite taking a knock in the first half, Courtney once more exposed the lack of pace in the Winnington back line to run through for Bedes 4th try midway through the second half.

Winnington scored two more consolation tries in the second half, one of which was converted, before the heavens opened and the players were subjected to a downpour for the last 10 minutes. During that time replacements Rick McEwen and Ryan Donald(not son) had both taken to the field.

In fact McEwen was harshly denied both an assist and a potential try when on two occasions the referees whistle, controversially, stopped play. First for a forward pass that was beautifully looped into Ritchie Swailes hands and secondly for a kick and chase that had seen him beat the full back.

Bedians did get the final say of the match after a nice grubber kick through the back line saw Reid display a great turn of pace and dramatic slide to touch down just to the right of the posts.

Overall, whilst the performance was not as slick as the previous week, Bedes showed great maturity to carve out a second win in a row and were not intimidated by the vocal or more aggressive Winnington Park side.

Special mention goes to James Hennigan for getting a victory in his first game as captain, to Callum Courtney for scoring his first tries for the club and to man of the match Harry Allen for his superb scrummaging and work in the loose.

Final score Winnington Park 19 v 33 Old Bedians