MIDLANDS HURRICANES 38 GOOLE VIKINGS 22
IAN GOLDEN, Avery Fields, Tuesday

MIDLANDS claimed their first league win since April, after pulling out all the stops in the second half.

Following a stern half-time talk from boss Mark Dunning – with Goole’s 16-10 lead making the visitors look better than they actually were – the Hurricanes’ errors were reduced and they did the simple things well to end a five-game losing run.

This match, rearranged due to Midlands’ participation in the 1895 Cup semi-finals just over a week earlier, was a second in four days for both.

The away team particularly felt the strain with just 17 fit players available, including professional debutant Jack Smith after moving up from their Yorkshire Men’s League side.

Goole gave away five penalties in the first nine minutes, but Midlands only finished them after the fifth as a good set resulted in Jon Luke Kirby diving over for the opening try. Sully Medforth couldn’t convert.

Goole levelled following a couple of penalties of their own. For the last tackle of a set, Tyler Craig dived over from short range, and Jack Miller converted to put them 6-4 up.

They soon extended their lead when a good break from the scrum by Mackenzie Harman set up Keenen Tomlinson to charge over. Miller missed the kick.

But a dropped ball from kick-off gave Midlands a chance to level things again. James Woodburn-Hall looked like he’d grounded, but the referee called held up, and the chance was lost.

Goole made use of their good fortune and extended their lead following a length-of-the-field set, resulting in a Connor Barley try that Miller converted.

Midlands finally got a try back when they capitalized on a penalty right in front of the sticks and Ryan Johnson scored in the corner. Medforth kicked well to put the score back to 16-10.

Midlands were first over in the second half, thanks to a dropped ball that Woodburn-Hall picked up and ran in under the sticks. Medforth easily converted to level the scores.

Then, after 50 minutes, Midlands regained the lead as they again made use of a penalty, and Oliver Roberts found a gap to score. Medforth missed the kick.

Goole should have had a try back. Tyler Walton was in plenty of space to score as he chased his own kick under the posts, but he didn’t notice Woodburn-Hall, who sprinted in from the side, scooped the ball from under Walton’s grasp to stop the try and concede a goal-line drop-out.

Midlands continued to defend well as Goole pounded them after a few errors by the home side, but in Midlands’ credit, the last line of defence was holding well, Johnson twice out-jumping the opposition to prevent a certain try.

And after winning a couple of penalties, Midlands scored from their next attack. A good passing move culminated in Cian Tyrer scoring in the corner and Medforth converted well to give his side a ten-point lead.

From kick-off came the icing on the cake. It was another solid set from Midlands, and Todd Horner made it look easy as he ran through a gap to score. Medforth converted to put the score on to 32-16.

Goole saw some hope as another handling error gifted them a try back through Brad Bullock with three minutes to go and Miller converted.

But in the final move of the game, Tyler Dickinson twisted his way over the line for Midlands’ seventh try. Medforth converted to complete the scoring.

GAMESTAR: James Woodburn-Hall scored a good try, should have had another, and performed an outstanding try-saver at the other end.

GAMEBREAKER: Todd Horner’s try on 73 minutes finally sealed the win for Midlands.

MATCHFACTS

HURRICANES
1 Todd Horner
22 Cian Tyrer
3 Ryan Johnson
2 Matty Chrimes
23 Aidan McGowan
30 James Woodburn-Hall
19 Sully Medforth
8 Jon Luke Kirby
9 Aiden Roden
10 Tyler Dickinson
11 Tom Wilkinson
12 Oliver Roberts
20 Toby Warren
Subs (all used)
15 Elliot Morris
16 Zeus Silk
26 Ethan Newboult
28 Isaac Shaw

Tries: Kirby (10), Johnson (34), Woodburn-Hall (43), Roberts (50), Tyrer (69), Horner (73), Dickinson (80)
Goals: Medforth 5/7

VIKINGS
5 Callum Shaw
2 Tom Halliday
4 Keenen Tomlinson
1 Josh Gudzek
18 Connor Barley
6 Mackenzie Harman
7 Jack Miller
40 Tyler Walton
22 Callum Rutland
10 Tyler Craig
11 Brett Ferres
3 Cooper Howlett
9 Jeylan Hodgson
Subs (all used)
16 Harry Medlicott
19 Ben Hodder
25 Brad Bullock
44 Jack Smith

Tries: Craig (18), Tomlinson (22), Barley (27), Bullock (77)
Goals: Miller 3/4

SCORING SEQUENCE: 4-0, 4-6, 4-10, 4-16, 10-16; 16-16, 20-16, 26-16, 32-16, 32-22, 38-22

Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Hurricanes: James Woodburn-Hall; Vikings: Keenen Tomlinson

Penalty count: 11-5
Half-time: 10-16
Referee: Carl Hughes
Attendance: 208