‘2000 AND 8 TRIES!’
Ormskirk 59-0 Oldershaw (Half-time 17-0)
The new year got off to a bang on Saturday when Ormskirk’s first team put in the performance they have been threatening with for some time. Unfortunately for Oldershaw, they were to be on the wrong end of the whipping - but after a glorious afternoon at HQ Green Lane, the faithful crowd and squad were not bothered by that.
Oldershaw travelled from the Wirral knowing that a good result was vital to keep their dreams of not being relegated for two consecutive years alive, and they certainly produced good fighting spirit in the opening 15 minutes. So much so that open-side Mark Webster and Adrain Molyneux were kept very busy defensively. Whilst Kieran Mahood linked up well with scrum-half Jamie Gregg at the base of the scrum to make yards it wasn’t until Barry Whalley nailed a penalty from distance that Kirk would take the lead.
From then onwards Oldershaw looked to gain territory by using the wind and kicking for the right corner, fortunately winger Ashworth had an eye for good position and then he tidied up the high ball it was ran back with interest. In fact Ashworth would open the afternoon’s try fest when a well-timed pass from Mahood gave him space to run outside his man. Number 10, Whalley slotted the extras.
With still much work to do Kirk looked to press forward but Oldershaw managed to pin them in their own 22 for a short period. This was possibly their downfall because a quick turn over and sublime break from outside centre JC Curly saw the rangy back sprint the length of the pitch for a quality try. Again Kirk’s fly-half converted and at 17-0 the home team looked to be in control.
Whatever Coach Phil Harland and Captain Cliff Kirby uttered at half-time seemed to do the trick because far from taking the foot off the gas, Kirk came out battling harder than ever. After more superb forwards’ work, picking and going - lead by Gregg - the ball was spun down the line and well timed passes in the centre found full-back Andy Healy steaming through. On his own he cruised through to score, Whalley converted, then at 24-0,the try fest took a new turn.
Oldershaw kicked off, Molyneux catching, pack supplied the ball, Whalley booted down field, Spengler chased, lineout was won. With the ball spun out wide Ashworth slipped it back inside to Healy. Hooker Wilson there to recyle, aided by Webster and Molyneux. Ashworth stepped to scrum half, spun the ball to Whalley who had Mahood outside him. Sniffing the sticks he needed no second change and burst through a gap to score under the posts. Again the conversion was added and by now surley the match was out of sight for the visitors.
What was to follow could possible be the quickest score from a kick off seen a Green Lane for some time. As the ball was falling from the skys Mark Webster showed his versatility as a forward and a back by athletically diving for it, taking it and going on a mini break. Drawing a man and popping to Ben Davies the blind-side began to shrug off Oldershaw’s pack as if they weren’t there. Once broken through he had only the wing and full-back to beat and in a impressive burst of speed managed to take the ball right the way down the field. Another try converted, 38-0.
Ormskirk were conscious of the score line but still wanted to play their game plan. As more and more players began circling the ball like vultures around a carcass it was up to Jamie Gregg to control the game. At this time Oldershaw began to put up a fight back and in particular the forwards had much to do in-terms of defence. When Oldershaw’s big second row ran into Kirk’s prop, Paul Rowley, with a massive hand-off to the face it looked like the big Kirk unit wouldn’t stay on his feet. But the beast was woken and far from shrugging off the tackle Rowley stopped the runner in his tracks, stripped the ball from him and darted off on his own, passing to Captain Kirby who put a fine kick into touch.
As Ormskirk pressed down the right hand side of the park it would be Peter Spengler next to add his name to the score sheet. Getting the ball on the right wing his lightning pace and change of direction was too much for his opposite man and he scored a solo beauty from inside his own half. The forwards dominated the next ten minutes, scrums, lineouts, rucks and mauls all clicked. It was well deserved that they should score next and whilst it was Davies who bagged the points the pack all worked tirelessly taking the ball further and further on eventually scoring the push over.
With minutes to spare, the crowd, like a spoilt child, wanted more and from just inside the opposition half centre Matt Johnson provide the spark. With a neat kick through Oldershaw’s back line it was a race to the finish. The ball stopped dead in the danger zone and Curly, who had demonstrated his explosive pace in the first half, was hot favourite to score. Of course he did and in a cruel twist of fate this would be the only kick of the game that Whalley wouldn’t get. No disgrace though, 8 out of 9 (89%) is an exceptional strike rate at any level of rugby.
Kirk were jubilant at the final whistle. The squad is looking strong with much strength and depth. It was superb to have Mark Hutchings back in the frame and for his efforts at the end of the game he gained 4 stitches on his lip, that’s rugby for you. Perhaps most importantly the high score line will help cement their points difference for the league table, where, as they say, it’s tight towards the top. Ormskirk’s next league fixture is a difficult away game to Crewe a week Saturday.
