Ormskirk First XV Report - 13th Jan 2007
Ormskirk 5 Wigan 22
The First XV kicked off the New Year against a team that had put 60 points on them earlier this season so were adamant that they would put up a better showing on home turf. Starting very strongly ‘kirk took the game to the visitors who themselves play a strong and pacey running game. Kirk’s back row - Mahood, Molyneux and Roberts - and centres Underwood and Hutchings were solid throughout and Wigan would find it exceedingly difficult to penetrate the home team’s defence for much of a wind-blown afternoon at Green Lane.
The spectators were jubilant when on 15 minutes a nifty flick pass from scrum half Andy Healy - during a back row move - went straight to Winger Andy Wroe. Wroe put the burners on and from his own half way line made a break down the wing. Running straight around his opposite man and the fullback, the first points of the afternoon were in Kirk’s favour.
Caught out by this Wigan looked to push forward even more and with a constant barrage of picking and going up close Ormskirk found themselves stretched. Several minutes later and a missed tackle allowed Wigan to even the scores. The remainder of the first half was a dogged affair. Wigan were relentless in their running but Kirk’s defence held out. Fly Half Stone played the tactical game using the wind and kicking for the corners but the second try was proving to be elusive. On the brink of half time it looked like Kirk would go into the break with a lead when Healy stepped up to take a penalty kick in front of goal. Unfortunately the windy conditions prevented the points from being taken and Kirk had to make do with going into the second half with honours even - 5-5, against the wind.
The second half threw up different challenges and when the visitors converted an early penalty Ormskirk found themselves chasing the game. Now Wigan would kick for position and Kirk would have to clear their lines. With the lineouts not going as well as perhaps in previous weeks kicking for touch wasn’t always an option and Ormskirk would make most yards when they ran the ball up. Captain Cliff Kirby and Healy realising this continually looked for any possible quick breaks when Kirk were awarded penalties. Dave Jones, Paul Blackwood and Val Gately were in support consistently but on such breaks Kirk would find that the last pass wouldn’t make it or a turnover situation would arise. It would then be up to Wigan to hoist the ball down field but with full-back Nick Gordon positioning himself well on the pitch the back 3 - including Green and Wroe - could run the ball back.
Half way through the second half Wigan would make a break and score from it and whilst Ormskirk came back again with intent to score it wasn’t to be. Impact players Church and Staniforth were brought on but Ormskirk couldn’t find the killer instinct to break Wigan down. With a further try conceded only minutes from the end this wasn’t the Happy New Year the squad had been looking forward to. On the positive side Kirk did ask questions of Wigan – looking for promotion to South Lancs/Cheshire 1 this season - and were no push over. All the team played well with relatively few mistakes. It was just unfortunate that against a strong team like Wigan any mistakes were punished.
