2s well beaten at Acklam

Welcome to the first 2nd XV match report of 2016.

This was also the first 2XV fixture since the 5th of December due to xmas hols and inclement weather.

We travelled down to Acklam with the usual mix of youth and experience.

A word of note for those followers of the 2nd XV this season regarding Mr Dean Marshall.

At the grand age of 54 the wear and tear of front row has finally caught up with Deano who I believe has announced his retirement.

I've not heard this direct from Deano but if it's true well done to a good servant to Ashbrooke (and also Belford House / Wearside) who as I've mentioned many times before had been an ever present in the 2s this season on form alone.

Anyway Acklam was frosty and icy but soft underneath.

With the 3XV's game cancelled we added Sika, Brian Green and Andy Hillas to the squad which was needed.

The coach anticipated a difficult match given that Acklam 2s perform well in a competitive Tees Valley Merit League.

Our pack included 5 colts and another raft of changes in our back line which seems par for the course for the 2s this season.

In summary our pack generally matched the Acklam forwards however Acklam's backs ran us ragged particularly their inside centre and back 3 as we struggled against their pace and the centres ability to break the gain line.

The last 20 really saw Acklam turn the screw (as their subs provided them with a clear edge as we tired) in the forwards too and they played some good rugby and scored some equally impressive tries.

Highlights:

We needed this game, it was a bit more intense than we've been used in 2015 to but that's no bad thing.

Good tackling in the 1st half from Jonny Parker and Dale Thompson kept us in game for a while.

Jamie Sword and Chris Little played well throughout as others tired.

Andy Black is starting to enjoy being a captain and he didn't score.

Our coach added fly-half to the positions of prop, back row, centre and full back he has already played this season.

Lowlights:

Our coach showed his great skill set from 10 with a cross field kick to the wing. However this was to the Acklam wing who showed how fast he was by running half the length of the field to score the first try of the match.

As a squad huge improvements in fitness are required.

Backs need to start training. At the minute only forwards seem to routinely train during the week. If you don't train you won't improve, it's that simple.