MATCH REPORT: GOOLE VIKINGS 14-16 MIDLANDS HURRICANES - BETFRED LEAGUE ONE ROUND ONE

Elliot Morris and Jon-Luke Kirby bring down a Goole player (Credit: Rob Hare Photography)

Hurricanes win blustery battle of attrition in wet and windy Goole

After a lengthy pre-season for the Canes and no fewer than five friendly and/or cup fixtures, Midlands made the journey to the Victoria Pleasure Ground - home of Betfred League One’s newest club in Goole Vikings.

The match preview provided by the Vikings mentioned unpredictable weather, and any doubts about this were quickly dispelled as high winds and rain battered both teams for the best part of 80 minutes at the VPG. This game was crucial for both sides, with the opening weekend presenting a potential snapshot of how a very competitive League One might shape up this season. Both sides could point to strong moments in the build-up to this fixture, with the end result showing this was a closely fought contest between two defensively strong sides.

After resting a number of players against Keighley in the 1895 Cup Second Preliminary Round fixture last week, Head Coach Mark Dunning welcomed back several regulars including Todd Horner, Danny Barcoe, Aiden Roden, Jon-Luke Kirby and Mikey Wood. In addition to a number of returning faces, the Canes also welcomed new signing Luis Roberts to make his debut on the wing following joining the club earlier in the week. Goole had a similarly strong team to select from, with the hosts benefitting from a raft of experienced talent including but not limited to Jamie Shaul, Brett Ferres and Misi Taulapapa.

The opening five to six minutes saw the Canes largely in control with some strong attacking sets, but it was Goole who would open the scoring as the Canes conceded a penalty just ten metres out from their own line on Goole’s first attacking set. Presented with an easy opportunity to put themselves ahead, Reece Dean opted for the kicking tee and slotted an easy penalty between the sticks (2-0). An uncharacteristic error from Jake Sweeting followed as his kick restart was blown out on the full, and despite eventually regaining the ball in the following set the Canes quickly coughed up possession following a forward pass early in the set.

Jake Sweeting scores his first conversion of the afternoon (Credit: Rob Hare Photography)

The next ten minutes were largely uneventful, however once again it was the Canes primarily in attack but unable to capitalise against a stubborn and resolute Goole defence. That phase was broken, however, by a silky piece of play that saw Tom Wilkinson bust through the Goole line and stretch out to plonk the ball down underneath the sticks (2-4). Jake Sweeting was on hand to add the extras with a simple kick from in front of the posts (2-6). The Canes almost went back to back following that score following a strong attacking set on the restart, however some poor timing in the build-up saw the referee pull back play for an obstruction.

For the final ten minutes the Canes remained largely in control, but were once again unable to break down a Goole side that were eager to impress in Round One. First an attempt from Danny Barcoe to scoot over from dummy-half was thwarted as the hooker was held up over the line on the last, but we quickly regained possession as some heroic defending saw a Vikings player dragged into touch on the half-way line before tempers boiled over for the first of a few occasions during the game. A couple of minutes later the Canes earned a penalty 10 metres out as a swinging arm from Brett Ferres caught Matty Hanley in the head, and whilst a kick on the last appeared to be grounded by Mikey Wood the referee deemed the ball to have rolled dead and earn the Vikings a seven-tackle restart.

Tempers boil over after the Canes dragged the Vikings into touch (Credit: Rob Hare Photography)

Things calmed down in the final minutes as neither side were able to break the other down, and a fumble from the Canes in the dying seconds could not be capitalised on by the hosts as the half-time hooter sounded before the scrum was set.

Half-time: Goole Vikings 2-6 Midlands Hurricanes

The elements made themselves known immediately from kick-off as a Jake Sweeting restart hung in the air, giving the Canes the opportunity to collect their own kick and start on the front foot. That momentum continued for the first ten minutes, with the Canes regularly threatening the Goole line but a penalty for tackling in the air following a high bomb gave the hosts some much needed reprieve. A few minutes later another high bomb saw Luis Roberts bat the ball back to a team-mate, but the effort was knocked-on before we proceeded to dive over the line.

The next ten minutes saw Goole enjoy their best spell of the afternoon, with two converted tries giving them a seemingly unassailable two-score lead. In the 54th minute a grubber on the last of Goole’s only real attacking threat of the second half at that point was fumbled by McLelland, with Ryan Knight in perfect position to pounce on the loose ball practically underneath the sticks (6-6). Reece Dean went on to convert Knight’s effort and nudge the Vikings ahead (8-6). Whilst the Canes came close to nudging themselves ahead after recovering their own kick, McLelland’s grubber on the last rolled dead and Goole saw themselves on the front foot once again with a 20 metre restart.

As we entered the final quarter of the game, the Vikings extended their lead as a barn-storming break down the left edge by Manoa Wacokecoke gave Jamie Shaul - who had largely been kept quiet by the Canes defence - an opoportunity to collect an inside pass and race away to score down the left wing (12-6). Despite needing to convert from the side and in torrid conditions, an impressive kick from Reece Dean saw the hosts take an eight-point lead (14-6). Things almost went from bad to worse for the Canes as an early attempt to wrestle back control was lost due to a forward pass, after which Tom Halliday slid over in the right corner to the applause of the home crowd, only for the referee to pull his effort back for a forward pass in the build-up.

The lads head back after Luis Roberts’ score on his debut (Credit: Rob Hare Photography)

Whilst some fans hopes of a win to kick off the Betfred League One season fading, the Canes refused to give up and the makings of a strong comeback emerged in the final ten minutes. Following some poor handling by the hosts just 10 metres out from their line, the Canes took full advantage and some quick hands from left to right saw Luis Roberts slide over in the right corner for our second of the afternoon (14-10). Much like his counterpart Reece Dean, Jake Sweeting nailed an impressive kick from the right edge to bring us within a penalty of levelling the scores (14-12). Just five minutes later, the Canes completed their comeback as some silky hands from right to left saw Matty Hanley dive over in the left corner to nudge us in front (14-16). Sweeting - faced with another difficult conversion from out wide - was unable to add the extras.

With just over 60 seconds remaining the Vikings kicked smartly and were able to recover their own restart, however some resolute defending saw the visitors hold out before regaining possession and earning a penalty for off-side just before the full-time hooter sounded, much to the relief of everybody in the Midlands camp at the VPG.

Full-time: Goole Vikings 14-16 Midlands Hurricanes

Man of the Match:
Tom Wilkinson (Sponsored by JW Visual)

Tries:
Tom Wilkinson, Luis Roberts and Matty Hanley

Conversions:
Jake Sweeting (2/3)

Scoring sequence:
2-0, 2-4, 2-6, 6-6, 8-6, 12-6, 14-6, 14-10, 14-12 and 14-16