First XV Match Report - 3rd Feb 2007
Crewe & Nantwich 16 Ormskirk 8
When Ormskirk made it to half time against the team placed third in the league table it looked like the tide mentioned in last week’s report would finally turn. Despite going five points down early on this encounter the Ormskirk players made every effort to take the game to Crewe. The pack worked tirelessly against the home team’s big scrum, proving that good technique and a Paul Blackwood / Dave Jones combination can drive any team backwards and whereas last week the line-out proved to be a weakness it was almost faultless with Jonny Bennett and Kieran Mahood snatching balls banshee-like from hooker Bowling. It was unfortunate that after a 20 yard break from one such line-out Mahood would get injured, forcing him off the park but sub Andy Dean filled the role with aggression and big hits.
With Chris Ashworth back in the frame after a head injury, Dickie Underwood was picked at full-back and had a busy afternoon scooping up long balls from Crewe’s fly-half. With the help of Jim McKeown and Andy Wroe the Kirk back three counter-attacked effectively, and on several occasions the wingers beat their opposite numbers for pace. Ormskirk’s first points came when the pack carried the ball forward from the line-out. Andy Rooney fed Ste Stone and when inside centre Hutchings got the ball a wide miss pass was taken on at pace by Underwood. With the well drilled Crewe defence closing in Underwood put a delicate kick along the ground and ran around the full back. His extra yard of pace finished a well worked team try with a touch of individual brilliance.
Spurred on by the score Kirk continued to ask questions of Crewe. When Kirk were awarded a scrum on the opposition 22 Captain Cliff Kirby and Fly-half Ste Stone discussed their attacking options. The Kirk pack held strong setting up the platform for Stone to tee up a drop goal. With flankers and backs charging in on him Stone confidently pinged the ball between the sticks giving Ormskirk the lead. Crewe were clearly shocked by Ormskirk’s ability, this was a different team to the one that they had put nearly 40 points on earlier in the season. They started strongly in the second half but the pressure wasn’t anything that Ormskirk couldn’t deal with. Adi Molyneux and Glyn Roberts continually put pressure on the number 10 with trademark big hits. Most of the half was either played in the middle of the pitch or Crewe’s half but territory does not mean much if it isn’t converted into points and despite Kirk’s best efforts this was to be their undoing.
When Crewe made good use of some quick ball Kirk found themselves stretched and the home team racked up their second score of the afternoon. The conversion was missed but a penalty shortly after gave them a 13-8 advantage. It looked like Ormskirk could get back in it with 5 minutes to go. A series of scrums in the opposition 22 forced the home team to make mistakes for which they were penalised but with the clock ticking Kirk aimed to get more points for the try than kicking for goal. Would it have been different if other tactics were employed? With little time left who could tell? But it was Kirk’s eagerness to score that would see ball being turned over. Crewe cleared their lines and just before the final whistle a penalty awarded for off-side was kicked by the home team’s number 10.
The first team squad were left deflated after this game but in hindsight the positives outweighed the negative result. The game demonstrated sure progression in both individual players and as a team. Captain Cliff Kirby and Coach Phil Harland both pointed this out. With six league games left in the season Kirk should keep building on these positives and convert the great team spirit into points.
