Vale of Lune 22 Ormskirk 2nd XV 10
Liverpool St Helens 4ths 46 Ormskirk 3rd XV 22
The Second XV had a disappointing time of it in the wilds of Lancaster. Despite battering Vale at Green Lane, the home team put up a much better fight of it this time round. Very strong winds and - it has to be said - an atrocious display of refereeing - spoiled what could’ve been a decent game of competitive rugby. In the end, a try for back-row Mark Jackon and winger Tom Barrow were all ‘kirk had to show for their endeavours. ight until the end, Ormskirk simply failed to keep their discipline and played with their hearts rather than their heads. Onwars and upwards next week, as The Raiders look to kick-start their promotion campaign.
Missing several regulars including a recognised kicker and scrum half - both roles “filled” by captain Critchley - and only able to field 13 players, the 3rd team missed the chance to leapfrog 2nd placed LSH into an automatic promotion place in Division 5 West.
Kirk started with optimism knowing that this was a far weaker LSH side than they had faced earlier in the season at Green Lane but quickly fell behind and by half time were some 30 odd points to 5 down.
The late arrival of Jim McKeown for the by now injured Heskey, enabled Kirk’s 13 man second half revival and three quick trys from the vistors at the start of the second half suddenly put Kirk back in contention in a match that had seemed lost. Most notable among the try scorers being surprise 2nd row Paul Waywell and Captain Critchley - who even refused the referees offer to cut the match short after Kirk tired and LSH ran in 2 late trys in the hope of a scoring a “rare” second try.
Kirk lost bravely and fall to 6th in a league where any of the top 8 clubs could still join likely champions Moore 2nds as runners up. A win at home to St Marys 2nds next Saturday is now more important than ever, and Kirk start nowing that regulars Heskey, Sinclair and some of the student contingent will be missing.
