NEW Ravens RLFC 38, Sherwood Wolf Hunt A 52

NEW Ravens Rugby League played host to Sherwood Wolf Hunt in the first game of the season.

Ravens only had 13 players which meant there were no replacements and all 13 would have to put in an 80 minute shift whilst Sherwood had the 13 plus seven on the subs bench.

The game was only two minutes old as Sherwood posted the first points of the game with a try under the posts which was converted to give them an early six point lead.

The Ravens were then to respond with a great try minutes later as pressure on Sherwood’s line proved fruitful with new captain Liam Dunne leading by example to burst though out wide.

Sherwood’s response to this was to kick the ball dead from the kick off meaning that Ravens had to drop out from under the posts which was returned by Sherwood with their second try of the game.

Ravens were soon to respond with another try by Liam Dunne after a long looping pass from Richard Whitehouse putting Liam into space to sprint 20 metres to score which was converted by Dave Wimbury.

Sherwood were to score three more tries as the game went from end to end. Lee knight was to score the Ravens third try after a useful kick into the corner by Dave Swaysland on the last tackle which Lee scooped up and went over in the corner. Just minutes before half time, Lee Knight took a knock to the head in a tackle which meant he could take no further part in the game.

Ravens were down to 12 men in the minutes leading up to half time.

Sherwood were in the lead 34-14 at the break.

Ravens were the ones to draw first blood in the second half as Liam Dunne collected his hat trick of tries, it was the Ravens that looked the stronger and converted by Dave Wimbury.

Sherwood were to post two tries and in the past this would have been the signal for heads to drop and the floodgates to open, but this wasn’t to be.

On the hour after a break by Liam Dunne from in his own 10 ran to just over half way before been tackled but the momentum was kept going and Alex Paynter sprinted 40 metres for a great team try converted by Wimbury.

Sherwood scored twice again to give them a 26 point lead. With five minutes on the clock Liam Dunne was to get over the line for his fourth try of the game and the best was saved till the last as from the kick off, Alex Paynter took the ball deep in his own half, saw half a gap and ran through it to run 60 metres down the wing.

With Sherwood chasing back and catching him up he spotted that the young Jason Spafford was on his inside supporting who unselfishly passed back to Paynter to gave him his second try of the game.