KIRK TAKE CREWE AT GREEN LANE
Ormskirk 17-10 Crewe (Half time 17-0)
A first half of immense attacking rugby and a second of brutal defence saw Ormskirk win against a strong Crewe team at Green Lane on Saturday. On the day that hosted the annual club presentation awards the crowd was treated to a nail biting game that had a bit of everything.
Ormskirk were quick to assert themselves on the game as the forwards picked up where they had left off during the previous match, with strong, up-front rugby. Crewe historically have a huge pack but the Kirk forwards were up to the challenge and shocked the visitors with their raw power by scoring from a push over try that Captain and player of the year, Cliff Kirby was able to claim. Barry Whalley duly converted the points.
Control and dominance from Kirk continued for the rest of the half. The game plan of quick recycling and taking the ball on from the sides of rucks was working. Crewe found it difficult to stop big men like John Bennett and hard runners like Kieran Mahood from making darting runs, and were thrown when Prop Paul Rowley introduced his audacious dummy. As the Visitors’ defence was getting dragged from right to left holes were opening for backs to exploit. Armstrong spun it down the line and eventually it got in the hands of top try scorer Andy Wroe who bagged another five points in the corner.
Before the end of the half Kirk would pounce again, this time on the left wing. A clearance kick from Crewe bounced over Kirk’s back line into the arms of twinkle toes Peter Spengler. His jinks were too much for his opposite man and he scored a beauty. The half-time whistle must have come as a welcome relief for Crewe and some wise words must have been said because the second forty saw the tables turn.
Kirk’s lineout was working superbly well, Wilson was pinging great ball at the front, middle and back. So it was a blow to Kirk when Kirby was penalised for dangerous play at one such throw in, and sent to sin-bin for ten minutes. Kirk’s continuity was disrupted and Crewe took full advantage, scoring 2 tries in quick succession. When the captain was allowed back on the field of play Crewe had their second wind and had the majority of possession.
Cue Ormskirk’s blitz defence. A continuous onslaught of crash balls was met by smashing hits from all areas of the Kirk team. Bodies were literally on the line. Molynuex and Roberts treated the spectators to a series of Blockbusters, Roberts stirring crowd’s emotions by picking up Crewe’s inspirational number 8 and thumping him to the ground. The backs made sure nothing came through in their part of the pitch as Ashworth at centre made his impression on his opposite man.
Hearts were thumping as players and supporters eagerly anticipated the final whistle. It seems at the moment, Kirk are building on every performance which they will certainly need to if they are to beat Oldershaw away on Saturday.
Team: Rowley, Wilson, Jones (Gately 60), Bennett ( Davies), Kirby, Roberts, Molyneux, Mahood, Gregg (Healy 60), Armstrong, Whalley, Ashworth, Wroe, Spengler, Curley
