Ormskirk v Blackburn
30* 0
Tries 17
Conversions 9
The first competitive game of the new season for the Under 15 First XV found them facing Blackburn RUFC in the 1st round of the EFE Lancashire Cup.
Blackburn arrived with players missing due to traffic conditions and after a short delay Ormskirk agreed to field only 12 players so the game could commence with rain threatening. As the game started the rain came down, and with thunder and lightning ripping the skies the defence of the EFE title began. One major aim of the coaches was for the team to avoid handling errors, the rain and wind put paid to this with Ormskirk committing some errors in handling and passing. Blackburn as a team, to their credit, were much improved from last year and defended well for the first part of the half. The torrential rain made it difficult for Ormskirk to put together the kind of rugby they are used to playing, and it was through sheer determination that Ormskirk broke the Blackburn line to score. Ryan Glynn (2), David Markham, John Pape, Ross O’Neil and Sam Pape all crossed the whitewash to put Ormskirk in front by a comfortable margin. Ryan Glynn scored 2 excellent tries, one a surging run down the wing and a cheeky skip across the try line to put down near the sticks, and a 50 metre sprint and side step for his second of the half. By the end of the first half thanks to some excellent team and individual play in very poor conditions Ormskirk had done enough to secure the game.
Following a good team talk from the coaches the second half began in more positive manner, the rain having abated which allowed Ormskirk to play with the depth and width they are used to playing, with the forwards winning the ball and the backs using overlaps and speed to run in a hatful of tries. Alex Martland, Alex Hayes, and John Pape for example all crossed the whitewash in the second half. One movement in particular sums up the speed and agility of the team, from a line out the ball was moved with speed to the No9, the No10, the No11 and over the whitewash before the line-out itself had broke apart. To be fair to Blackburn they put together some very good moves and pressed the Ormskirk line in places with some individuals giving 110% in effort and commitment, showing they are a much improved team from last year; however the sheer power and strength in depth of Ormskirk nullified the threats of Blackburn and resulted in some excellent counterattacking by Ormskirk. As the whistle blew Ormskirk had secured the first win in defence of the title they have won two seasons in a row by scoring 17 tries and 9 conversions to nil. The game was really a game of two halfs, the first half marred by poor conditions resulting in the 1st team not playing to their full potential, with the second half conditions improving allowing Ormskirk to show the visiting team and supporters exactly why they are the defending EFE Lancashire Cup champions two seasons in a row.
