Ormskirk First XV Match Report – 23.09.06
Warrington 34 Ormskirk 19
Despite the loss this was a performance many times better than the previous week. Ormskirk travelled to play a strong Warrington team, the fine weather and excellent pitch added the backdrop for a good game of rugby. From the start both teams were keen to display their prowess but it proved to be the breeze that made the biggest impact as Warrington were able to make use of the long kick down field.
For much of the first half Ormskirk found themselves defending their own line. With pin point accuracy Chris Tracey made sure lineouts were easily won as lofty Lenny Bennett leaped to take catch after catch. Andy Rooney at scrum half was able to distribute ball to Ste Stone whose boot did the talking and made yards up field. With big kicker Jamie Wroe at full back Ormskirk had options when kicking for territory.
When in the opponents half Ormskirk looked dangerous, Simon Staniforth took some excellent crash balls in at centre making valuable yards. After 25 minutes of back and forth rugby Kirk found themselves stretched in defence. Warrington capitalised on this and scored the first try. Although they missed the conversion Ormskirk would concede another 3 points for a dubious penalty decision shortly afterwards for hands in the ruck.
The Ormskirk reply was immediate. The pack chased the kick off, Captain Cliff Kirby was on hand with nippy flanker Mark Hutchings put the pressure on. Warrington cleared their lines giving the ball back to the competent Kirk lineout. As the backs received the ball Staniforth punched it up. The back row were on hand to tidy up, a ruck formed and Kieran Mahood took the initiative, scooping up the ball he made a break, beating 3 men and sliding under the sticks. Stone slotted the kick between the posts. 8-7 at halftime.
Kirk began the 2nd half with real expectation that this game was there for the taking. The scrums were going well, powerhouse props Blackwood and Jones had complete control over their opposite men. Kirks defence was working like a well oiled machine, Ashworth in the centre had the mark of his man knocking him to the ground time after time. If the ball did get out any wider then wingers Andy Wroe and Chris Cowburn comfortably dealt with their opposite numbers. As always like a camel in the desert, open side Glyn Roberts was first there to clean up. Unfortunately, as all too often with the Kirk team, a period of lack of concentration crept in. A miserable and forgettable 15 minutes lead to Warrington scoring 3 tries, missed tackles the main culprit.
Last week Ormskirk would have dropped their head and looked for blame. This week was different. Stone used the wind to his advantage a deep kick off put pressure on the Warrington pack and when the ball went out of play Ormskirk realised that they had to be clinical at the lineout. It was taken well, all the Kirk forwards piled in, Warrington couldn’t stand up to this force and when the winger got sucked in Stone spotted it. He screamed to go blind with Healey, a simple 3 on 2 was executed precisely with Andy Wroe finishing it off.
This wasn’t quite going to be Kirk’s day as Warrington again scored. At 34-11 Ormskirk were playing for pride. Again a deep kick off put the pressure on Warrington who against the might of the Ormskirk pack were penalised. A quick tap penalty was fed out blind and as Warrington were caught napping second row Church drew a man for Wroe to come onto for his second score. Spirits were lifted as Stone struck a peach from the touchline to make the score 34-19. The final whistle went straight after. Although the team were deflated about the defeat all were in agreement with Captain Kirby that this was a performance 100% better than the previous week. If this form continues then it is surely a matter of time before Ormskirk start racking up points in the league table.
Team: (Blackwood, Tracy, Jones (Rowley 65), Bennett, Kirby, Hutchings (Church 60), Roberts, Mahood, Healy, Stone, Staniforth, Ashworth, Cowburn (Gordon 70), A Wroe, J Wroe.
