First XV Match Report – 8th September 2007
Ormskirk 12-22 Warrington
Ormskirk’s First XV went into the league’s opening game looking to capitalise on their recent run of good form. Having won their last two cup matches the players were confident that they could beat visitors Warrington at Green Lane. It was a closely fought battle but three errors from the home team proved to be turning points in the game.
Ormskirk found it difficult get the start they were looking for. Simon Staniforth stepped up to the scrum-half role and performed exceptionally well out of position, making several sniping runs but much of the ball out of the scrum left John Curley, at stand-off, under pressure to get rid of. Centre, Mark Hutchings and back row Roberts and Molyneux had to work hard to give Curley options to run slow ball back to the bulky Warrington defence.
Warrington gained the first points of the afternoon on 15 minutes from a penalty kick. Shortly afterwards they were able to exploit a gap at the side of a scrum on Kirk’s 22. Their scrum half looked to have the try scored only to be brought down by Montrose yards from line, unfortunately the off-load found a Warrington player and with an easy conversion Warrington were 10-nil up. This was made all the more demoralising as minutes earlier Andy Wroe had made a break on the right wing only to be taken out with a horrendous high tackle that in any other game would have resulted in a penalty try being awarded.
Ormskirk’s fortune did not improve. When Kieran Mahood made a break in the middle of the park it looked like Ormskirk were going to turn the corner, he linked up with Ashworth who found Molyneux and as he was tackled so close to the try line he popped the ball up to Wroe. The pass was intercepted by a Warrington player and within 15 seconds what had seemed sure to be the equaliser for Kirk resulted in another try for the visitors.
The second half had to begin well for the home team. Curley put the ball into the bottom right hand corner. Playing attacking rugby in the opposition 22 the forwards took the initiative and produced a flurry of rolling mauls. Glyn Roberts had control of the ball at the back and with Powerhouses Pope and Gately driving from the front, Roberts scored his second try in as many weeks. Curley converted and Kirk were back in the match.
Ormskirk were defending well and Warrington were having to kick in order to gain territory. A dangerous high ball was spilled by Kirk and the bounce landed in Warrington’s hand for a straight-forward run in under the posts.
With ten minutes left Kirk knew it would take a lot. Kirk managed to score again, this time through Andy Wilson who is having a superb start to the season at hooker, but with the conversion missed and only a few minutes to spare it was too little too late.
Ormskirk will be hoping the bounce of the ball goes their way against Sefton next weekend.
Team: Gateley, Wilson, Blackwood (Pope 40), Dean, Bennett, Molyneux, Roberts, Mahood, Staniforth, Curley, Wroe A, Hutchings, Ashworth, Spengler (Sparkes 70), Montrose.
