6th January 2007
Colne and Nelson 2nd XV 0 Ormskirk 4th XV 15
Ormskirk 4ths travelled the length of the M65 to face a Colne and Nelson side who are on a run of 6 straight defeats. This streak continued as Ormskirk claimed their 7th victory of the season.
‘Kirk began brightly as they utilised their forward power to muscle their way around the park, giving their backs plenty of time and space to run at the home sides defence. With the forwards and backs working well together and playing some flowing rugby it wasn’t too long before ‘kirk got themselves on the scoreboard. Kirk’s first try fell to Andrew Montrose who with his first touch of the game collected a kick and ran untouched from outside Colne’s 22 yard line to score in the corner. Kirk had a few opportunities to stretch their lead but some good defence by Colne left them frustrated. Scrums where working well, even with the new rules of engagement coming into play. The front row of Mc Dermot, Slater and O’Donovan were solid and stood their ground with Slater taking a number of balls against the head.
With kirk’s backs creating gaps in the Colne defence it wasn’t long before a second try was scored. After a blistering run from Gubbins. Kirk were awarded a scrum 5 metres from the line and as the kirk pack began to walk the scrum over the line, scrum half Petterson collected the ball and drove over the line for his first try of the day. Within minutes Petterson had his second try when Paul Doyle stole the opposition’s lineout, as he had been doing all day, before setting up the driving maul and creating the opportunity for Petterson to cross the whitewash. The half time score of 15-0 to kirk - exactly the same score line as the two teams previous meeting earlier this season.
The second half started as the first half had ended with kirk applying immense pressure on the Colne defence but the home side defended as if their life depended on it, and stopped kirks attack on a number of occasions. The centre partnership of Waterhouse and Gubbins proved too much for the Colne backs at times and with great support play from the kirk back row.
Kirk’s defence was solid throughout the game and on the very few occasions that Colne manufactured an opening, it was soon closed on them again.
Kirk appeared to have a firm grasp on the game. But despite the majority of the game being played in Colne’s half of the pitch Kirk could find no way through the home sides defence.
An injury to Petterson saw change in personal and a shift around in the scrum with young prop Anthony Cardwell entering into the game. However this did not alter kirks dominance in the scrums, as they continued to cause problems for the home side. Despite no further increase in the score line. Kirk’s committed approach to the game gave them a valuable away victory and some more positives on an ever improving season.
Trys: Montrose, Petterson (2)
Team: McDermott, Slater, O’Donovan, Walker, Green, Doyle, Jonsson, Pell, Petterson, Angel, Lyon, Waterhouse, Gubbins, Day, Montrose, Cardwell
