First XV Match Report – 7.10.06
Ormskirk 17 Manchester Wanderers 20
Occasionally in sport taking an early lead can be a poisoned chalice, it wouldn’t be until the last quarter of the game that Ormskirk would realise this. ‘Kirk began this fixture in fine form. From the kick off Dave Jones caught and the pack set up good, clean ball. The backs where keen to set the tempo and on receiving the ball blind side winger Andy Wroe was able to set up the versatile Dickie Underwood. The full-back took the ball at pace on the half way line and broke through the tackle. As the opposite winger moved towards him a delicate pass to debutante Nick Gordon allowed the ‘kirk winger to run under the sticks and place down in a comfortable position for Steve Stone to convert.
Aware that Manchester had been caught napping Captain Kirby demanded no complacency from his men. From the restart Kirk continued where they had left off. Using the wind to their advantage tactical kicking from Stone would pin the opposition in the final third. It was difficult for Manchester to clear their lines, especially with the on form Kirk back row of Hutchings, Kirby and Roberts intent on disrupting any ball. The Ormskirk pack where making it difficult for Manchester to win any decent ball, even on their own scrums the travelling team found the push from powerhouses Bennett and Church too much to handle. Time and time again Ormskirk were able to turn over ball.
On 15 minutes an almost carbon copy of the first try was scored. However, this time Underwood held onto the ball for a little while longer. Keen to show off the fancy footwork he had been developing over the summer, Underwood would send his opposite fullback one way then the other before being hunted down by Manchester back row. With winger Wroe on hand to support, a good off load in the tackle meant Ormskirk would breathe more easily as the score went 12-0. To be fair to Manchester the first half wasn’t all one way traffic. They did have attacking options but with centres Staniforth and Ashworth putting in the big hits they didn’t look like scoring. Kirk saw out the 1st half with a 12-0 lead.
Well aware that Manchester would now have the wind advantage Kirk made it their mission to continue to take the game to their opponents. Almost immediately Ormskirk were again dominating the rucks and mauls. When prop Dave Jones found himself with ball in hand on the 10 metre line he made an instinctive break forwards. Getting stopped by the opposite centre he off-loaded to Roberts who spotting the 2 on 1 drew his man, feeding the ball to scrum-half Andy Healy who ran in from the 22 – a try he fully deserved after a sterling defensive display all afternoon. Despite the missed conversion, at 17-0, surely the game was there for the winning. All Kirk had to do was to hold out for half an hour. However, in rugby this can seem like a lifetime and the rub of the green was about to go against Ormskirk.
Moments later Ashworth had to go off with a back injury. Underwood moved into the centre and Jamie Wroe came on as fullback. Manchester kept kicking for territory and this paid dividends when they scored their first points along with the conversion. Five minutes later Ormskirk’s key ball winner Roberts was the second to leave the field of play, with a nasty gash in his mouth, requiring 12 stitches. Only 15 minutes remained but Ormskirk would have to rally together to cling on to the lead.
Throughout the game Ormskirk’s defence had been superb but on 70 minutes a gap was exploited and Manchester were right back in it, 17-14. When a penalty kick was slotted between the posts minutes later Ormskirk would find themselves chasing a draw. Unfortunatley not even one point would be offered. The Manchester fly-half was to produce the final nail in the coffin. From 25 yards out behind a scrum he made an attempt at a drop goal which sailed between the sticks. With moments to spare ‘kirk led one final charge and made it into the opposition 22 but when the ball went out of play from a defensive kick the referee blew the final whistle. A deflated Kirk left the pitch knowing that this was the biggest throwaway of 2 points they had had in some time.
