Sat 28 Mar 2026
78 minutes in, trailing by 3 points, Birstall were deep in the Sileby 22. The home team had the throw in at the line out; the crowd and weight of history behind them. A try would extend their winning run against their closest rivals to 13 years, and cement the chat that their chairman had been spewing the night before. Greendogs woof woof. Their Prop/Hooker cocked the throw, their Number 8 launched into the air. The ball was released.
Arise (sir) Adam Mayes. Sileby’s Number 8 pilfered possession, picking the pockets with impunity. Cheers went up from the travelling fans, a chorus finding further decibels when Birstall gave away a penalty at the breakdown. Captain Ross Spencer counted down the clock then hoofed the ball into touch to give the Vikings a famous and long overdue win. 5 points away from home, 12 years of hurt vanquished. The sweetest feeling.
Felt very different after three minutes when the home team first scored, and then again after ten when it was two tries to the good. It was a bit rinse and repeat from the game against 99s. To go 7-0 up Birstall gave a simple short ball off the bank of a line out to their rampaging 12 to boulder through soft shoulders. Then a second, more accomplished score a couple of phases after an offload in the midfield. The Vikings had been the architects of their own downfall through some sloppy defending and poor management of the backfield which gave Birstall the territory they needed to strike.
Once again Sileby had to earn their way back into the game. And it wasn’t made easy by a few shakey first line outs and poor support play allowing Birstall the opportunity to win numerous penalties at the breakdown. However when it did click the away team found themselves consistently going forward, galvanised by some fierce defensive efforts epitomised by a thunderous double shot from Prop Steve Weston and Back Row Dave Maguire. The deadlock was finally broken off a scrum on the Greenwoofs 22. Centre Jack Chantrell fed Winger Jon Griffiths who skinned the oppositions Full Back on the outside to score. This would be one of twelve defenders Griffiths would beat in the game. Only some questionable defensive efforts from Birstall would stop the Vikings scoring again.
Then more frustration. Sileby were holding off Birstall well in the midfield till the ball was spun wide. One missed tackle and it was try time. 21-7 after all that hard work was a bitter pill to swallow. The deficit could have been less but two uncharacteristic misses from returning Full Back Zak Loveridge meant at least two scores were needed to tie the game up.
In good news, Sileby scored the next three. A searing break from Wing Griffiths in the first couple of minutes of the half, ended only by what looked suspiciously like a trip, nevertheless resulted in the Vikings in possession 5m out. The opposition had been glancing nervously to the sideline throughout the whole of the first half. Their worst fears came to fruition as Prop Dave Tate, introduced at half time, formed part of a scrum which left Birstall howling as they were pushed over their try line. Scrum half Josh Freer did the rest. The momentum stayed with the Vikings, with Hooker Rideout and Back Row Harry Nichols causing havoc on the floor. This provided the platform of territory and possession.
The next try was again from a scrum, this time in the midfield. Freer broke to the blind side, offloaded off the floor to Mayes who fed Griffiths. A step in, a step out and it was try time again. 21-17, soon to be 24-17 after the Greenmutts took 3 in front of the posts after some poor discipline. The momentum was still with the away side however. Only millimetres between the ball and the turf prevented Second Row Aaron Thurlow from the next score. Two kicks and four passes later Griffiths was in the corner. The goal line drop out was taken my Maguire who gave the ball to Centre Jack Chantrell. Chantrell chipped over the on rushing defence, collected and passed to Nichols. Nichols to Mayes to Griffiths for one of the tries of the season. 24-24.
Kicking is hard. Kicking having missed a few is even harder. Step up Loveridge who slotted a penalty from more than 45 metres out for the Vikings to take the lead for the first time. This was despite a Birstall supporter being caught on the veo recording say that he would never make it. The home side’s last chance came from a break with 3 minutes to go, with good cover defence from Griffiths and replacement Wing Dan Collison stopping the breakaway before Mayes moment of triumph.
What a day. What a club.
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