KIRK WIN LOCAL DERBY – 10th November 2007
Ormskirk 10-6 Southport (Half-time 7-3)
Ormskirk clinched the honours in the local rugby derby by beating Southport at Green Lane on Saturday. A closely fought, tough battle on a windy day saw both teams have their fair share of possession but the hard work from Ormskirk’s pack guaranteed another two points for the season’s campaign.
The game started ominously for the home team. Despite enjoying territory and a darting break from open-side flanker, Glyn Roberts, Kirk’s team-sheet was disrupted when a knee injury sent the action man off within five minutes. Fortunately past captain Colonel Kearney was available to add some panache to the proceedings and his impact on the game was immediate as he crashed into a driving maul, stole the ball and with the help of the pack; drove over for 5 points. Centre Barry Whalley slotted the difficult conversion to take it to 7-0 within 15 minutes.
Southport breed them big on the coast and their gigantic forwards would have to be contained with good technique and aggressive play by Kirk’s pack. Adi Molyneux led by example and managed some thunderous tackles on Southport’s strike runners. With the wind advantage play maker Phil Armstrong kicked Kirk into position but the swirling gusts made it difficult to utilise the backs and yards were made with hard work from the likes of Kieran Mahood picking up at the back of scrums and continued re-cycling led by scrum-half Andy Rooney.
Southport made yards themselves and would have scored from a break that found the right wing being hunted down by Kirk’s full-back John Curley. A superb tackle on the line saved the day and some in your face defence from Kirk kept the visitors from going over the whitewash.
The interval included a proverbial kick up the, from Coach Carter and the home team knew they had it all to do against the wind. Southport played the intelligent game, kicking down field and taking penalty kicks when awarded. Fortunately for Kirk a few attempts at goal were squandered and although Southport brought the game to within one point, composure from the men in green prevented Southport from scoring any tries.
Possession was key and in the pack Wilson at hooker, surrounded by pillars Rowley and Gately manage to win no less that two scrums against the head. Mahood and Davies took it in turns to pick and go and slowly but surely Kirk edged their way into the bitter breeze. The forwards deserved a second try after a sustained period of picking and going but, to their credit, Southport defended valiantly and eventually forced the turn over.
From the clearance a Kirk lineout presented good ball to fly-half Armstrong who duly popped inside to winger Gaz Little. Little pelted though a gap between Fly-half and Centre. Drawing his man he found Jamie Gregg who was felled with a blatant high tackle from the opposition full-back. The referee was in no doubt and awarded the penalty kick, Barry Whalley converted and Kirk breathed a sigh of relieve as the lead increased to a slightly more comfortable 4 points.
It was a long five minutes to hold out for and as the final whistle went Kirk were relieved with the victory which has seen them jump to the dizzy heights of joint second place in the league table, a position that they haven’t occupied in some time.
A friendly fixture next week at home and then back to business for the inform squad away to Orrell Anvils.
Team: Rowley, Wilson, Jones (Gately 50), Bennett, B Davies, Molyneux, Roberts (Kearney 5), Mahood, Healy (Little 60), Armstrong, Whalley, Ashworth, Wroe, Gregg, Curly
Team P W D L F A Diff Pts Adjust
Dukinfield 9 8 0 1 183 104 79 16 0
Sefton 9 6 0 3 139 118 21 12 0
Ormskirk 9 6 0 3 138 132 6 12 0
Wallasey 9 5 1 3 184 114 70 11 0
Warrington 9 5 1 3 161 128 33 11 0
Crewe and Nantwich 9 5 0 4 128 116 12 10 0
Orrell Anvils 9 4 1 4 137 188 -51 9 0
Oswestry 9 4 0 5 174 179 -5 8 0
Ashton on Mersey 9 3 0 6 137 173 -36 6 0
Southport 9 2 0 7 91 166 -75 4 0
Liverpool Collegiate 9 2 0 7 118 142 -24 2 -2
Oldershaw 9 2 1 6 133 163 -30 -2 -7
