Knutsford 19 Congleton 42

KNUTSFORD welcomed neighbours Congleton but were unable to secure a win on Saturday.

tBuoyed on by a rousing team talk, Knutsford were more than up for the stiff challenge that lay waiting for them, however whilst it was a marked improvement on previous weeks, it was not enough to get the illusive victory against a well organised Congleton side.

In the end, while the pack went toe-to-toe with Congleton, Knutsford’s makeshift backline, Sam Bensky filling in at scrum half and Alex Malcolm at outside centre, lacked the organisation to deal with Congleton, who tossed the ball wide at every opportunity.

Knutsford started the stronger of the two teams with the wind blowing hard in their faces, some excellent forward play from Giles Robertson and Matt Cornesoth helped the team build up a good head of steam; leading the way from the front with some excellent runs, probing deep into the Congleton defence only for their efforts resulting in possession being coughed up just short of the opposition line on numerous occasions.

Congleton looked dangerous with ball in hand only to be thwarted by some excellent covering defence from the boys in Blue.

Knutsford’s bad luck was compounded with the loss of Dave Gol at outside centre midway through the first half, which Congleton capitalised upon to score the first of their three first half tries, largely against the run of play before Knutsford mounted another surge towards the opposition line, some excellent pressure combined with sloppy discipline from the visitors saw the referee award a well deserved penalty try to Knutsford on the stroke of half time.

The second half did not start well for Knutsford, resulting in Congleton crossing the whitewash in two times in quick succession to increase the gap between the two teams.

Knutsford came together underneath the sticks and from the resulting kick off, rallied together and began to mount an attack on the opposition line.

An injury to Alex Hornby saw him get pulled off and replaced by Dave Owen who came into the team late in the second half, immediately making his presence felt with some aggressive surges, forcing his way through a tight Congleton defence.

This culminated in two tries coming in quick succession for Knutsford. the best try of which went to pack leader Howard Dunkerley; penetrating a gaping hole in the opposition defence to bring Knutsford within two scores of a tiring Congleton team, however it was not to be; Congleton mounted two further successful attacks into Knutsford territory with some excellent offloading out of the tackle and further excellent back play taking the game beyond Knutsford ‘s grasp.

Whilst there was no lack of effort from the Knutsford boys, and their set piece looked impressive, lack of organisation was key to their undoing.