First XV Match Report – 22.09.07
ORMSKIRK 20 – 13 ASHTON ON MERSEY
With help from new kit and sponsors, Cater-Bake, Ormskirk collected their first points of the season with a convincing win over Manchester’s Ashton on Mersey at Green Lane on Saturday. Although the score line was close, four tries to one highlights Kirk’s potential ability in this league.
Straight from the kick-off Kirk showed their capabilities in attack. Kieran Mahood caught the ball and broke several tackles, taking the ball down the pitch he linked up with flanker Glyn Roberts and with the rest of the Kirk pack supporting shortly afterwards Kirk were able to force Ashton to clear the ball they had managed to turn over into touch. Hooker Andy Wilson pinged the ball to Lenny Bennett who took the catch and Scrum-half Andy Healy shipped the ball to Phil Armstrong at fly- half. With the backs trademark move of the moment, Andy Wroe switched from the blind-side wing and executed a clinical move with a darting run to score after only 5 minutes.
The Kirk onslaught didn’t stop there. When Healy got dragged into a ruck, Roberts moved to scrum-half and made a break of his own, Mahood continued the run after the off-load but Ashton’s defence was strong and another potential try was thwarted. Kirk’s scrums were strong, Paul Rowley and Richard Pope, the props, made sure the burly base was set as Bennett and Cliff Kirby provided the muscle power from behind. A push and drive from the 5 metre line followed by a trademark pick and go from Mahood resulted in Kirk’s second score of the afternoon. With the conversion missed and then a period of possession for Ashton the score line began to get closer when Ashton were awarded two penalties in Kirk’s 22 for hands in the ruck. At half-time Kirk were 10-6 ahead.
The second half started with a textbook kick off from Phil Armstrong. Kirk’s lineout was going well, Bennett took another high ball and Ashton were made to soak up more pressure. Half-breaks were made and although Kirk knew there were more points to be scored one mistake to many would stop their advance. Ashton’s fly-half could distribute the ball well but Mark Hutchings and Jamie Gregg made sure the centre of the park was a no-go area. It would be after a couple of changes and twenty minutes of back and forth rugby until Kirk would look like scoring again.
Last week’s fly-half was this week’s full-back and John Curley safe hands coupled with lightening pace ensured that any ball kicked over by Ashton was returned with interest. Catching one such kick and breaking the tackle Curley off-loaded to Mahood who found Gregg. Running down the right Gregg was caught but passed off the floor to Wroe who went onto make valuable yards. Again Ashton kicked over, again Curley caught and ran, this time going left and finding Wroe on the switch, Wroe put Montrose away on the left wing, Montrose stepped inside, beating a number of players, the ball was spilled yards from the line. Ashton won their scrum but a drop from the scrum-half was pounced on by Healy. The visitors managed to stop him and somehow Kirk were turned and put back into their own half.
At a lineout on Kirk’s 10 metre line Cliff Kirby stole the ball and broke through the forward defence. Healey was in support and was given the ball on the half-way line. Being chased by wingers and flankers he put the burners on and side-stepped the full-back with ease to score to the left of the posts. A bit of breathing space was attained at 15-6 but with Kirk not hitting any conversions and 10 minutes left Ashton were still, points wise, very much in the game. After the kick-off Kirk set the ball in their own half and Healey linked with Armstrong. A show and go saw Kirk’s fly-half with a half pitch sprint to the line. Armstrong showed pace he himself thought had disappeared and no-one could get near him apart from the full-back but Armstrong’s footwork saw him skip around the last tackler.
At 20-6 Kirk were assured of the victory, Ashton did manage to score themselves minutes before the final whistle and Kirk were disappointed that they conceded the try but the most important work was done by wining on Saturday afternoon. Coach Harland and Cliff Kirby brought their players in to congratulate them on the win and pointed out the highlights and areas for improvement on a fine afternoon for the club.
Team:
Rowley (Gatley 65), Wilson, Pope, Kirby, Bennett (Dean 60), Molyneux, Roberts, Mahood, Healy, Armstrong, Hutchings, Gregg (Staniforth 65), Montrose, Wroe, Curley
