First XV Match Report - 31st March 2007
Sefton 15 Ormskirk 5
Having already beaten Sefton earlier in the season and on a winning streak, Ormskirk left the pitch disappointed having been ambushed by a well drilled opposition. Despite a half time lead of 3-5 Ormskirk couldn’t muster a positive result in their final away game of the 2006-2007 campaign.
Playing against the wind in the first half made it difficult for ‘kirk to gain yardage but this probably spurred them on. The forwards had an immense afternoon in the scrum, constantly driving Sefton back on their ball. Blackwood, Bowling and Jones providing the bulk here. With Kieran Mahood back after injury, good linking play by himself and his fellow back rows allowed Kirk to progress up the pitch as Molyneux and Roberts made impressive breaks.
Scores were even well into the first half but at the base of a ruck on 30 minutes Healy gave a spin pass out to Stone, who flicked it to Ashworth and drawing his man he put Nick Gordon away and with a determined run through his opposite number the Ormskirk wing scored in the corner. Sefton would claw points back by the end of the half-time whistle from a penalty kick but going into the second half with a lead and with the wind advantage ‘kirk were confident they could capitalise to notch up what would be their 5th consecutive win.
Unfortunately a mixture of determined play from Sefton and a lack-lustre second half performance from ‘kirk would see victory slip away. The Gingerbread Men continued to push forwards using the long-ball kicks downfield but Sefton’s back 3 counter-attacked well and Ormskirk found themselves playing a lot of defensive rugby. From the side of a ruck the Sefton fly-half exploited a gap in Kirk’s defence and ran the ball in from the half way line. With the conversion added a 10-5 lead meant Kirk would have to start digging deep.
Several players put hard work in - Church and Bennett worked hard in the mauls and the back-row kept on tackling all afternoon. Val Gatley was brought on and made a good impact at second row whilst Tom Hopley made a good run down the left wing, only getting put into touch yards from the line. Kirk’s eagerness to score meant that gaps could be exploited and several minutes from the end Sefton added a try making it a dismal afternoon for the visiting first team.
With the last game at home against top of the table Ruskin Park, ‘kirk will be hoping that the more promising form of late will return again.
