This Sunday saw the start of the match season for the Goole RUFC Under 9s and their first full contact match. With new sponsors, GB Railfreight, and 6 new players, the squad started their first match against Malton in new kit and with a real breadth of skill and ability.

Malton won the toss and quickly opened the scoring with a strong run to the corner. Goole swiftly answered with a determined run through the pack and a try from Connor Hatton. Malton’s re-start was met with great line speed and strong defence centre field by Lewis Matthews, Adam Westerman and Benjamin Harper, the latter barging and bouncing players off and highlighting what a strong pack threat he is for the future. Malton, however, capitalised on space on the wing and ran through their second try down the line. Goole were undeterred and a great pass from Matthews to Harper enabled them to equalise.

A great passage of play ensued with Goole forcing mistakes from Malton and converting these opportunities in to tries for Westerman and Hatton. These were in no small part created by some great defensive work by Alex Raw, Will Green and Leo Taylor and some inspired offloads notably by Harper and Matthews.

In to the second half 4—2 up and with a complete team change, Goole started messily, spilling the re-start ball. Malton looked to be taking advantage of this early error, but this time, Goole were more diligent in their cover of the wings with Harry Whiteley and Isaac Smith pushing a break through runner in to touch and forcing a crucial turnover. This was followed by a great supply ball from Ryan Jackson to Smith for him to score his first of 4 tries in the half. Soon after, Jackson, a new player to the squad, made his own inspired, zig zag run through the pack and was rewarded with a debut try in his debut match. Leon Tabiner Taylor and Mitchell Bowker made their presence felt in centre field pushing through the Malton line and delivering to Rohan Clarke who was regularly well placed to take the offload ball and supply it to Whiteley, Jackson and Smith to carry over the line.

At the whistle Goole were up 10-6 and jubilant with their first win of the season.

In their second match against Hornsea, Goole continued this great form and showed just what depth they have in their squad. As well as fierce tackling by all team members, there were some strong push through tries from the likes of Green and Taylor and some speedy runs down the line by Smith, Charlie Lawson and Matthews. The offloads by some of the newer players including Raw, Jackson, Taylor and Tabiner Taylor created great opportunities for the runners, as did the the expansive passing game played by all. Final score 9-5 to Goole.

In these first contact games for the squad, every single player showed determination, grit and a full commitment to make every tackle. Their 2 wins (plus a further victory in a friendly against a combined Hornsea and Malton team) showed that this expanded squad with some great new players has a bright future at Westfield Banks.

A brilliant try saving tackle by Broadley was rewarded with the Tackler of the Week award, with Player of the Day going to Leo Taylor and the Advancement Award going to another new player, Alex Raw.