Rylands Sharks 20 Crosfields 36

A SLOW start and ill-discipline cost Rylands as they fell to defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Crosfields in front of a bumper crowd at Gorsey Lane.

Early scores from Kieran Thomas and Ian Boden put the visitors 12-0 up without the Sharks touching the ball, and Crosfields used their experience to repel a comeback from their newly-promoted hosts.

Rylands head coach Matt Wilson cited his side’s high penalty-count as the reason for the defeat, but still feels positive about his side’s first season in the National Conference League.

“Credit where it is due; Crosfields started the game extremely well and threw some great shape at us and we just didn’t handle that first eight minutes of the game very well,” he said.

“We were too busy trying to make a big statement, rather than playing the percentages and that cost us.

“We have got to be more disciplined to win big ‘derby’ games at this level. You can’t win a game against anyone on the back of a 28-6 penalty count – we need to fix that up and quickly.

“On the flip side of it, we created enough chances to win three games but were not clinical. Crosfields were. They took their chances and they won the game.”

After the early tries and an Ashley Cornelia penalty had made the score 14-0, Rylands finished the half strongly with scores from Gavin Conroy and Luke Gillooley to keep them in touch at the interval.

The hosts landed the first blow of the second half as Nick Braide took a diving catch to cross out wide and Gillooley’s conversion levelled the scores at 14-14.

Jack Reid stepped his way through to put Crosfields back in front, with Cornelia’s conversion stretching the lead to six points but back came Rylands again through Tyler Whittaker’s converted try.

Cornelia then burrowed his way over and converted as the visitors hit the front again, but this time they would not relinquish the lead.

Despite intense Rylands pressure, Joe Moore crossed for the visitors to extend the lead before Jamie Clarke’s dismissal for dissent effectively ended the hosts’ chances.

Matt Mahoney stepped over from the base of a scrum in the last minute to seal the ‘derby’ day bragging rights for Crosfields, leaving Rylands to ponder opportunities missed.

Rylands: Jack Lewis; Luke Gillooley, Luke Walker, Gavin Conroy, Mike Harrison; Craig Harris, Tyler Whittaker; Matty Taylor, Tony Doyle, Danny Yates, Jamie Clarke, Nick Braide, Chris Dean. Subs: Sean Boyle, Stuart Shaw, Anthony Rourke, Danny Woods.

Crosfields: Ashley Cornelia; Ian Boden, Sam Woodall, Christopher Burgess, Kieron Thomas; Joe Clarke, Jack Reid; Phillip Brazendale, Hayden James, John Pickersgill, Joe Moore, Matt Mahoney, Matthew Barber. Subs: Nathan Taylor, David Boden, Lewis Bani, Jordan Ansell.