Waterloo 3rdXV 35 v Ormskirk 2ndXV 5
14th October 2006
Ormskirk’s 1st team have suffered nine injuries this season which has meant that the second team captain Dawson’s selection has be limited to the players he has available and those not called into the ‘first’ squad. This week he face a challenge when addressing his back row selection, with Prescott injured and Webster starting flanker for the first, Dawson turned to the ever versatile Gatley. Formerly a loose head prop, ‘Val-cano’ welcomed the challenge of blind-side flanker with the skipper Dawson moving to open-side making way for Jackson at the ever demanding Number 8 position. The squad was added to with some last minute additions in the form of Foggerty at scrum half and Waterhouse in the centres.
From the off ‘kirk’ took the game to the home team upfront and played some good rugby which proved to be fruitless. Ormskirk’s pack and the now power house which is the front row combination of Morgan, Bowling and Litherland played well, the scrums proving a particularly solid platform and won most of the ball. Crosse and Buxton both scrummaged well and with the rest of the pack, played the ‘pick and go’ move with great success. The Waterloo team included some players who demonstrated how pace as well as physical strength are key in modern rugby, the Ormskirk team at times struggled to deal with their pacey opponents. The majority of the home team’s points came from their pace and attacking the space that was on either side of the pitch. The backs played well taking some hard tackles at times and making some great clearing kicks under massive pressure. Spence and Armstrong both kicked well and ran the backline competently both in attack and defence.
Although well beaten, the Ormskirk team spirit never diminished and to a man, the whole team stepped up to the mark tackling everybody who ran at them. The well organised defence and communication levels of the team were testament to this season’s hard work of Head Coach, Phil Harland. Gatley in his new position at back row played competently and aided in Ormskirk’s only points; a try scored with assistance from all fifteen players, a true ‘team try’. The forwards rumbled the ball with three phases of ‘pick and go’ runs, allowing the backs to make the most of an advantageous position. Stopped whilst making a break for the line, the backs called upon the forwards to get them the ball back, which they did and Jackson only yards from the line decided to use his power and forced his way over for Ormskirk’s only points of the game. In summary the game was not one of the second teams best results but only their third loss of the season so for, however they did show many of the positive sides to their current game. Great defence, a real fight and desire to win with the all important team spirit. With a little more time and hard work on the training field, and the return of those players called up to the firsts; all the aspects of this team’s game will be as good as their presence in the scrums.
