Ormskirk RUFC

Match Report – 22.08.06
Eagle 27 Ormskirk 21 (Lancashire Plate Round 1)

After a very promising pre-season build up to their first competitive fixture of the 2006/2007 season, Ormskirk went into this game very confident. Players were as fit as they have been for a few years, the squad was an excellent blend of youth and experience, and the general mood in the ‘kirk camp was positive and focussed. The home team – under-dogs by virtue of their inferior league status – failed to follow the script, however, and threw the gauntlet down very early on in the game. Unfortunately, the gauntlet was only picked up by Ormskirk intermittently in what turned out to be a very lack-lustre and disappointing performance…

Eagle started brightly, forcing ‘kirk into a few early mistakes. After only 5 minutes the home team’s lively scrum-half found gaps in ‘kirk’s defence and danced through a few missed tackles to score under the posts. The conversion and a successful penalty kick soon after took Eagle to a 10-0 lead, and shook ‘kirk into some kind of action. Some promising moves broke down through a mixture of over-enthusiasm, poor handling and poor decision-making at crucial moments. After 20 minutes Ormskirk were off the mark, centre Dickie Underwood finishing off a good team try with some strong running after the forwards had driven Eagle’s pack and then released their half-backs. Steve Stone added the extras to make it a three point deficit. Despite the more promising link-up play, Ormskirk couldn’t capitalise on some good possession, and capitulated again when Eagle again took advantage of some sloppy tackling to score their second try of the half (unconverted). Another period of good ‘kirk possession and some solid scrummaging just before the interval enabled Number 8 Kieran Mahood to pick up and go blind to score a trademark try – Stone slotted the kick again to make it 14-15 at half-time.

Player-Coach Adi Molyneux calmly gave out his instructions during the interval – every player knew they were under-performing – and ‘kirk took to the pitch for the second half with renewed enthusiasm. A scrappy twenty minutes saw Ormskirk frustrated – both with their own short-comings and their opponents dogged defence. Replacements were made, ‘kirk had their scrum-half sin-binned for an altercation with the referee, and Eagle capitalised yet again on their opponents lack of continuity by being awarded a penalty try for one of their players allegedly being held back from the line whilst trying to ground a loose ball. The converted score made it 22-14, and again fired ‘kirk into some kind of response. As things were looking slightly better for Ormskirk, they gifted Eagle yet another score through very poor tackling – the back row took full advantage of this sloppiness and made it 27-14 to a surprised and elated Eagle.

The last 15 minutes were frantic as ‘kirk tried to reduce the deficit and resurrect their chances of progressing in this Cup Competition. After a good period of pressure in Eagle’s ‘22’, Ormskirk looked odds on to score, but the home team’s scrum-half had different ideas. Having initiated a punching frenzy which threatened to escalate to the point of abandonment, he was shown the red card by the referee. The actions of one Eagle player particularly was at best disgraceful – and at worst bordering on ABH: The ‘kirk touch-judge was attempting to separate two players fighting when young Number 7 decided to run across and head-butt him….Such despicable actions are way beyond the accepted code of conduct and etiquette of our game – the boy in question should be severely reprimanded by the Disciplinary Committee as and when he is cited by the official.

Three minutes before the end of the game, the best try of the evening saw the explosive and dynamic back row Luke Cunningham sprint 40 yards before being hauled down 10 yards short of the line. Cliff Kirby was on hand for the off-load, and Steve Stone was the first man in support to gather the ball and score under the posts. Stone made it three out of three conversions to make it 27-21. In the last few minutes, ‘kirk really upped their game and had two or three chances to score. Alas, it was not to be. If Ormskirk had played with half as much tempo and passion and endeavour throughout the whole game as they displayed in the final 5 minutes, the result of the game would have been very different.

Captain Cliff Kirby was – like every ‘kirk player and supporter who’d witnessed the game – very dejected. He said:

“As individuals and as a team, we are so much better than this. We came into the game perhaps too ‘psyched up’ – our preparations have been excellent all pre-season, and we really felt confident before the game. Our enthusiasm and confidence got the better of us. We made far too many basic errors and played with little fluency and control. A few players had decent games, but the majority – myself included – did not. We let the Club down tonight – for which I apologise on behalf of the squad. This said, we are determined to put this defeat behind us and learn from our mistakes. The first league match against Wallasey on September 2nd (Home) is our next target, and I know every one of us will pick ourselves up for the league campaign.”

Team:

Montrose, Wroe, Ashworth, Underwood, Gregg, Stone, Healey, Blackwood, Tracey, Jones, Bennett, Kirby, Roberts, Hutchings, Mahood

Replacements (All of whom played):

Cunningham, Molyneux, Prescott, Boardman, Prytherch, Staniforth