On the last week of the league season Della knew exactly what they had to do to avoid relegation beat local rivals Tyldesley away and hope Leigh could beat Oldham, the second part of the equation came in Leigh having hammered Oldham now all we had to do was beat Tyldesley, things didn’t get off to the ideal start with Della being caught napping and the home team taking advantage and taking a quick tap and opening the days try count 7-0 after 4 Minutes. Della though hit back with some excellent approach work with Ben Wheeler and Lee McCormick combining to send Paul Berry over 7-7. Salle opted to play with the gale force wind in the first half and kept the home side busy defending the high kicks from impressive Watson and Morris who in turn defended Tyldesley attempted clearing kicks. Salle briefly got on top after 20 Mins and forced a penalty from a strong scrum which Wheeler converted 7-10. Tyldesley though showed why they are 4th in the league by applying pressure of their own running from deep and again from a Della mistake the home backs created space and kick through from deep to scored again wide out 12-10 , Salles forwards of Liam Watson, Ryan Worthington, Bryn Hughes and Paul Berry were again exceptional in effort and endeavor, Scrums were solid enough but the line out as expected were a bit of a lottery, Griffkin turned in a solid performance despite heavy bruising on his skinny arm, Salisbury, Bottomly and Plant grafted in the loose and turned timely ball over, Then came the decision that you could argue cost us the game After Della returned punches thrown first by the home teams No 8 which then resulted in a mass brawl mostly of shirt pulling and gesturing the Referee decided retaliation was the bigger offence over instigation, and dispatched Ben Wheeler off the field with a red card. The only option most people who have played the game thought should have been the same punishment for both teams, a general warning for both teams and a yellow apiece. But you get what you get and play the hand you are dealt. After this incident Della dropped the intensity which allowed Tyldesley to score again giving them a Half time lead 19-10,
Salle made a superb start to the second half with Luke McCormick and Griffkin swapping a couple off passes to send Sean Watson over coming off a sublime McCormick Pass 19-15 Graham just falling short with the conversion attempt, Now Salle showed a few teeth and attacked a beleaguered home side at every opportunity, They upped the tempo and it was only a matter of when we would score not if , that answer came following another turn over from a now rampant back row, After good approach play Ben Riley found Winston who showed pace and power to bulldoze his way over from 40 Meters out 19-20 Salle now in the lead went for the bonus try point and as expected it came from another solid scrum, which in turn preceded at least 10 phases finally finishing off with Luke McCormick powering over 25-19. This time the kick was crucial but alas Grahams kick again just failing against the non stop gale. Salle just had to hold out and see the game to it conclusion but back came Tyldesley showing why they are high up in the league putting pressure on Salles line, Bur salle held firm and somehow managed to steal the ball gain, But instead of driving the ball out through the forwards something we had been doing all second half to great effect we decided to kick the ball out, only for it to be charged down and picked up by a grateful home center duly converted 26-25. Dellas heads didn’t drop though they fired into Tyldesley from the restart and won a penalty 45 Meters out, this was now the call of the season whether to go for goal into a strong gale force wind or the corner for a catch and drive . arguments could be made for both options and in retrospect we took the wrong one and attempted the kick alas falling just short, Salle tried manfully to chase the win in the last couple of minutes but the season came to an end with us being beat by a single point 26-25 , A superb effort and gutsy performance, Salles forwards were heroic and never gave in, superbly led by Berry. Backs Watson , Moris and Bottomly never gave up and tackled everything that moved in the loose. We could look at several points in the season as to why we fell short, we have been beat by a point twice and threw away a substantial lead against Leigh away for them to claw back to draw 24-24 despite us being 20 points up,
But what did it for us in the end was the two game we had to concede by not being able to raise a team that cost us 10 points. Paradoxically we finished with the second best defence in the league and we also beat the champions and runners up.
So what now ? We have one game left, a Final in early May and I have no doubt we could beat anyone on our day so lets make sure it is our day to send us into the off season on a high to regroup for next season,
Myself and Doc have a weekly bet on the result and I must admit He’s absolutely battered me this year something like 13-5 mainly because I backed us but crafty old Doc knows his betting handicaps I’ll give him that. I’ve got one more chance to beat him in the final its Docs turn to give the handicap but whatever start he gives the opposition I’m backing us.
Meanwhile I’ll have to listen to Barry Hughes Mate who can literally talk a librarian into a deep coma.