Ormskirk 4th XV 14 Blackpool 2nd XV 40
3rd February 2007
Ormskirk 4ths travelled to the Lancashire coast to face a rejuvenated Blackpool side and succumbed to their first defeat of 2007. Having to travel with only 12 and a half players – the ‘half’ due to one Ormskirk player attending the match still under the influence of a vast intake of alcoholic beverages - Ormskirk knew the game was going to be a very tough encounter. Kirk started with only one regular face in the backs and having to adjust to new players playing out of position, kirk were stretched on a number of occasions. Despite defending to the best of their abilities, Kirk were unable to cope with the gaps that Blackpool had created with the use of the ‘extra man’.
It wasn’t all one way traffic though and kirk did have some flashes of inspiration. This was notably in the forwards when the ball was kept tight and the rolling maul was set up. It was from these mauls that kirk gained their points. Veteran Alan Walker scored a brace. Carl Day provided the extras on both occasions.
It was a performance that kirk would choose rather to forget. There were a few good individual performances but as they say, ‘there is no I in team’.
Kirk will have to pick themselves up and prepare for their next league game as they travel to East Lancashire to face Clitheroe for the second time in three weeks hoping for a repeat performance of the one they produced at home.
