Aireborough 29

Bradford Salem IIs 5

Braving the wind and rain Aireborough still managed to put in their best performance of the year as they beat Bradford Salem's second string last Tuesday evening in the Aire-Wharfe Cup.

With the home advantage going Salem's way Aireborough did well to stop the large forwards from disrupting their game plan leaving the backs to control the ball in hand, resulting in some fantastic tries.

Number 8 Mark Howarth and second rows Brewer and Fall worked cohesively together to seal the ball within the first periods of play throughout a lot of difficult maul situations. When the backs did get the ball fly half Nick Holdsworth put his first storming kick downfield giving time for top try scorer winger Anthony Clitheroe to chase up before getting past all of the opposition to score a try, just in kicking distance for Holdsworth to convert.

Three minutes later and Holdsworth was again in possession after a good pass from brother Tom, this was once again chipped through with the ball falling right into the arms of Clitheroe leaving him to dance through some unwilling Salem backs to score another try.

Only 20 minutes in and the score was at a steady 12-0 with Aireborough still on the attack. Prop Dave Greenwood controlled the away sides' rucks with hooker Nigel Craven throwing some picture perfect line-out balls off the back of some hurried Salem kicks. By now the home side must have been feeling a bit of de ja vou coming on as Holdsworth was once again in the attack, deciding to go himself this time he squeezed through some more opposition backs to run the remaining half of the pitch ready to convert his own try.

Before the end of the first-half Clitheroe finished off his try scoring with a well placed chip, this was again after receiving the ball from Holdsworth to give a first-half score of 24-0.

Salem turned over a new leaf when entering the second-half putting heaps of pressure on Aireborough and forcing the away team to give away far too many penalties.

Finally after 15 minutes of perseverance Salem scored not to the liking of Aireborough's Brewer who had been defending excellently. Winger Chris Blackshaw finished off a number of grubber kicks along the floor with a try giving a final score of 29-5.

Aireborough 22

Wharfedale Rams 10

In the last league game of the year before the play-offs Aireborough once again braved some horrendous weather, finishing off their best season for a number of years with a win over Wharfedale.

Coach Simon Carbutt made a rare appearance from the subs bench making some great dump tackles along with flanker Stuart Davidson. Centres Smith and Kinghorn used their chances well when getting the ball.

Aireborough began well but Aireborough were taken by surprise when a Wharfedale winger shot down the right wing to score their first unconverted try.

On a pitch stripped bare Aireborough made a substantial effort to respond against the home attack, winning over Wharfedale's ball in the scrum when initially in defence made it easier for winger Chris Blackshaw to lunge over the line for Aireborough's second try.

Only minutes after Aireborough's lead grew as Clitheroe managed to score another try after receiving the almost inevitable kick downfield from Holdsworth.

Wharfedale closed down the points gap three minutes before the end of the first-half making sure that Aireborough's complacency was short lived evening up the scores at 10-10.

The second-half began more solidly for Aireborough with the forwards doing a lot of hard work throughout the mauling situations. Scrum-half Tom Holdsworth passed to winger Nathan Smith who dived over to give the away side the edge that was needed.

Nick Holdsworth intercepted a Wharfedale pass to run the remaining distance just in time for him to convert his own kick, leaving the final result at 22-10.

Stanley Rodillians A 12

Aireborough Dragons 47

Aireborough continued winning ways with a shaky yet convincing victory over higher placed Rodillians.

The first-half was a very scrappy affair. Aireborough struggled to half-time but then seemed to take a new, aggressive yet more structured lease of life from Ian Claughton's epic half-time speech.

However rambling, it seemed to do the trick and Aireborough played the second-half near their potential, scoring six tries in this period. Paul Exley won Man-of-the-Match with some direct running into the defence resulting in two tries and a very solid all round performance.

Rob Harvey played well at stand-off and, along with James Greenwood, Graham Turner and Claughton, also scored a try.

Chris Chapman played well on the wing and scoring a try along with some soaring line-out work, ably assisted by Exley and Andrew Wood. Stuart Williams converted six of the seven tries.

Aireborough B 15

Ripon 10

Playing in good conditions with a referee willing to let the game flow Ripon started the stronger and soon put Aireborough under pressure but stout defence from Barber, Thomas and Nightingale saw them have no clear chances.

A high kick to the Aireborough Man-of-the- Match Michael Gaunt was soundly taken and a strong run back at Ripon saw the first Aireborough attack. Tully crashed over to open the scoring. Coric again dominated the line-outs and with ample possession Aireborough started to move the ball,

Rhodes outpaced the defence to take Aireborough into a 10-0 lead. Tully again forced his way over from a maul and awesome tackling from M Gaunt, Tully, Barber and Thomas stifled Ripon's attacks to preserve the lead.