Rugby League Coaching Manuals

The Unison BARLA Great Britain Under 18s Tour to Australia got off to a losing start on Thursday evening when they suffered a 32-10 defeat to a very strong Penrith Panthers Development side at St. Mary’s.

The BARLA side gave their all against a very fast and enthusiastic Panthers side and the game was more closely contested than the final scoreline suggests.

Penrith opened the scoring in the tenth minute when a kick through on the last tackle by scrum half Harry Seijka saw second row Lachlan Mussing collect to score, and then four minutes later H. Seijka chipped through again and this time his brother, centre Stirling Seijka reacted quickest to score. H. Seijka added the conversion to the second try.

On the half hour BARLA were pressing on the Panthers line, but a short ball was intercepted superbly by Penrith wing John Feloaktau who raced seventy metres before finding full back Ali Beale in support to score in the right corner and give his side a 14-0 half time lead.

Penrith increased their advantage eleven minutes into the second half when stand off Sam Jones, nephew of Australia Test legend John Cartwright, sidestepped his way over from close range on the last tackle and four minutes later hooker Shane Smith made a break down the middle that split the BARLA defence and he found loose forward Gavin Taylor on his inside to race over under the posts. Beale converted on both occasions.

BARLA were rewarded for their efforts just before the hour when fine work by stand off John-Paul Brocklebank paved the way for substitute Ashley MacDonald to link in the line and force his way over. Brocklebank added the conversion.

The Panthers put paid to any hopes of a BARLA comeback when a bullet pass from Taylor put Mussing over for his second try that was goaled by Beale, but BARLA did finish the game on a high when the ball was swept along the line in the final minute and centre Dane Manning squeezed over in the right hand corner to make the final score 32-10 to the Penrith Panthers.

The David Murray Memorial Trophy, awarded in memory of David who was Army player of the tour when they came to Penrith two years ago and was tragically killed in Afghanistan earlier this year, for the man of the match went to Penrith scrum half Harry Seijka.

Best for BARLA were Dane Manning, John-Paul Brocklebank, Johnny Young, Ashley MacDonald, Craig Render and Liam Walmsley.

Penrith Panthers - Ali Beale, Abraham Murdoch, Jon Pepa, Stirling Seijka, John Feloaktau, Sam Jones, Harry Seijka, Evrett Varusi, Shane Smith, Solo Alone, Andrew Pritchard, Lachlan Mussing, Gavin Taylor. Subs: Kilifi Kilfi, Lota Fibalii, Corey Carl, Josh Meehan, Matt Pentani, Samson Senani, Ben Taikawi.

BARLA Under 18s - Pat Foulstone (Dewsbury Celtic), Matt King (Stanley Rangers), Dane Manning (Dewsbury Celtic), Steve Fisher (Rylands Sharks), Pat Vaughan (Maryport), John-Paul Brocklebank (Egremont Rangers), Danny Rowse (Hunslet Warriors), Johnny Young (Skirlaugh), Joe Diskin (Dewsbury Celtic), Benn Fawcett (Milford Marlins), Liam Walmsley (Dewsbury Celtic), Mark Smith (Latchford Albion), Reece Fox (Hensingham).

Subs: Dean Gamble (Featherstone Lions), Jacob Kinney (Leigh Miners Rangers), Danny Ljazouli (Scarborough Pirates), Dave Watmough (Milford Marlins), Adam Fairhead (Milford Marlins), Ashley MacDonald (Kells), Craig Render (Skirlaugh).