Carlisle throw away 12-point lead against Sandal
Last updated 12:28, Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Carlisle did not quite reach the heights of their performances over the previous couple of weeks with victories over Penrith and Pontefract.
Meeting Sandal in the league for the first time, they were more than a match for the opposition in the opening period and were worth their 12-0 lead at the break.
But in the second-half it was Sandal who got on the score-sheet without reply and they ran out winners 21-12.
Carlisle had to make changes to the selected side with prop Martin McGimpsey suffering from a knock sustained at Pontefract, and centre Liam Nicholls out with a hamstring twinge.
Martin Burnett came into the front row; Barry Earl moved into the centre with George Graham coming in on the wing.
The early exchanges were in favour of the home side who took the lead on 90 seconds when Graham was put through on the right wing by fly half Glen Weightman to touch down out wide.
It was too much for Weightman to add the bonus points from the conversion.
Carlisle were bouyed by this early advantage and the forwards settled comfortably to their game, and although they gained ample possession, the attack failed to recognise that points mean prizes!
A way through the Sandal defence eluded them until twenty five minutes when they were awarded a penalty try.
Apparently, the referee adjudged that a defender was in a deliberate off side position that prevented Carlisle a clear try-scoring opportunity. Weightman converted.
A chance to make it 15-0 at the break was denied when a Weightman penalty was denied because the touch judges could not agree.
After the break the city side were reduced to fourteen men after one minute when lock Aidan Day was adjudged to have infringed in a maul, and was yellow carded.
Within 60 seconds he was joined by a Sandal flanker.
Much of their first half fluency went missing and Carlisle had to contend with opponents who were increasing in confidence which was rewarded with a penalty on fifty minutes.
Scrum half Ben Blain was lost to the cause when he had to leave the field with injury and the team was shuffled.
Winger Graham moved to replace Blain with Franny Dixon coming off the bench.
Martin Grealish went on at lock for Day after his spell in the bin expired.
The Warwick Road men were under some pressure in the second period and although they never looked likely to be overwhelmed, any early benefit deserted them as the visitors probed efficiently for reward.
That came in the form of two tries, a conversion and three penalties to record the win - probably a fair one overall.
