First XV Match Report – 26.01.08
Ormskirk 48 Oswestry 7
For the second successive league game of 2008 Ormskirk put on a textbook display, to give the large crowd a treat of running barbarians-style rugby. They’ve now racked up 107 points in their last 2 league outings, and most importantly they’ve learnt how to keep possession, wait for their chances and then turn the screw on the opposition. The last time Oswestry made a visit to Fortress Green Lane they came away with a win, so Kirk knew they were no pushovers.
From the kick off, the big Oswestry prop caught the ball, and was immediately snapped in half by young Mark Webster, this set the tone for the game. Kirk elected to play against the wind in the first half, knowing their fitness is their strong point (brought about by brutal training sessions on a Tuesday night from professional P.T.I Stormin Norman Hadley)
The Forwards dominated from the start, a succession of ‘pick and gos’, worked well, and Ben Davis opened the account with a try from short range. Shortly after this prop Rowley had to be taken off due to a nasty ankle injury, replaced by Andrew J Dean, and so a quick shift round found Adi Molyneux move from the middle of the scrum into his most natural position at tight head prop. Though his height limited his presence in the engine room, his physique was best-suited to the mysteries of the front row.
Then straight from the kick off, Webster darted through the gap, off loaded to man of the match Matt Johnson who drew his man and found wiry centre John Curley, who put the burners on, dummied beautifully and ran 60 metres for a superb solo effort. With a strong wind behind them, the Oswestry forwards began to get on top, the Kirk defence held out well, but they spun the ball wide and Kirk were out numbered and the visitors scored in the corner, the conversion making it 10-7. Straight back into the oppositions half, Kirk were bossing the line out with Mahood (fashionably late for the warm up) taking good ball and stealing possession. From a well worked backs move Whalley spun the ball wide, and full back Andy Rooney, who went round 3 men to go in at the corner, the conversion again missed leaving Kirk 15-7 up at half time.
The second half started well, with a strong wind now behind them Kirk increased the pressure and so the tries started to roll in. After some hard yards from the forwards, a great rolling maul presided over by ever improving Jamie Gregg, found Andy Wilson at the bottom of a maul for his first try of the day. 5 minutes later more classy hands in the backs found Curly crossing from short range for his second try of the day.. Val Gatley at prop was making some valuable yards, and after some great rucking and mauling hooker Wilson sniped in for his second of the day. Whalley kicking both. With the game in the bag, Captain Kirby decided to let Lenny Bennet have a run and he stamped his authority on the game straight away with his suspiciously tanned legs. Wing Spengler came off for super sub Ashworth and he was made a good break with his first touch of the ball. Top try scorer Wroe had time to score one from short range and then after a rare pass from Ben Davis 30 metres out, Wroe managed to skip round the defence, using his pace and confusing the valley boys with his ‘Campese goose step’ for his second try in 5 minutes.
Whalley adding the extras, to finish off the rout. This is the strongest squad Kirk has had for a number of years. Everybody is fighting for their shirts, we have strength in depth and this was proven with wild rumours of Phil Davis scoring 2 tries in his solid 70 minutes on the adjacent pitch. Kirk must keep their composure when they visit Crewe on Saturday were 2 more points will keep them in the top four in the league.
