After last season’s exploits in winning the Lancashire Plate the under-14’s were keen to get off to a good start in this season’s competition. Today’s opponents were last season’s beaten cup semi- finalists,Bury who were sure to test Ormskirk to their limits. Unfortunately Ormskirk were missing players, most notably Harry James out for a few weeks with a dislocated thumb and centre Olly Hogan the victim of illness. However the coaches were in a buoyant mood and felt that the squad chosen would make life very difficult for Bury and stood a good chance of victory.
From the kick off Bury mounted some early pressure and forced Ormskirk into a knock-on.From the resulting scrum Bury looked very lively and only a penalty for holding on helped Ormskirk clear their lines.This seemed to give the lads a bit of confidence with the forwards mauling the ball forward before releasing winger Tom Anderson who was well tackled in midfield.However Bury then came firing back into the game and after winning the ball at a line out on the ‘22′ they went over for the first try which was then converted.From the kick off Bury knocked on but unfortunately Ormskirk squandered possession from the resulting scrum. After a quiet few minutes a good kick and chase led to Bury just about kicking the ball  into touch. From the line out Bury were penalised for holding on and the quick thinking Arron Waggoner took a quick tap penalty catching the Bury defence napping and going over for ‘Kirks first try.
Bury were keen to get back on the offensive and again it was good Ormskirk tackling which kept them at bay. Unfortunately Ormskirk lost possession on half way and Bury broke away to score their second try of the game again well converted.Ormskirk kicked off and again exerted pressure on their opponent’s line and a great forward drive nearly ended in a try but the tough Bury defence prevented the ball being grounded over the line. With the last move of the half again ‘Kirk had another chance but Adam Selfe was halted just a yard from the line.
Half-Time:  Bury 14   Ormskirk 5
Ormskirk started the second half well with Craig Ennis making a telling break and the Ormskirk forwards dominating the early exchanges. Bury though weathered the storm and started to put Ormskirk under pressure. Unfortunately after winning the ball well a loose pass was picked up gratefully by a Bury player who had an easy run in for their third try, again converted. Many lesser teams would now have been thinking of throwing in the towel but this bunch of players have always been fighters and came storming back into the game. From the kick off the lads pressurised the Bury line and were rewarded when Kyle Hoy picked the ball up and drove over to score.
Ormskirk now appeared to have the wind in their sails and Arron Waggoner made another telling break before off -loading to Matty Jones who was bundled into touch.’Kirk kept up the pressure and it was not long before a line out near the Bury line saw the ball run free and the hugely impressive Arron Waggoner was again alert to dive on the ball and claim the try. With just seconds left on the clock Ormskirk launched one final attack as Bury were visibly tiring. From a penalty the forwards drove the ball up field and flanker Kyle Hoy took the ball on and somehow found a gap between the Bury lad’s legs to go in for his second try of the game.With time up it was left to Tom Povey to take the conversion and take Ormskirk to an exciting and deserved victory, unfortunately the ball drifted wide leaving Bury victorious.
Full-Time: Bury 21  Ormskirk 20
Sport can be very cruel and this defeat was no exception.The lads now have to re-group and put this behind them as in a couple of weeks they take on last year’s Cup winners Preston Grasshoppers. Even in defeat the coaches could take a lot of positives from the game not least in out scoring their opponents four tries to three and some outstanding performances most notably Arron Waggoner and Kyle Hoy and a rejuvenated Nick Winrow.
