First XV Match Report – 12.05.08
Ormskirk 13 Orrell Anvils 12
A nail-biting end to the last home league match of the season brought celebration as the Green Lane men can nearly touch and taste promotion!
The game started well for Ormskirk, constant pressure on Orrell’s line brought about 2 early penalties which fly half Whalley kicked to take ‘Kirk into a lead of 6-0 after only 10 minutes.
The referee made it very clear that he loves giving penalties, Kirk gave away far too many and with it gave easy yards. Orrell played the tight game, constantly hitting close to the ruck, the Kirk defence stood solid, Props Rowley and Gatley knocking back the men in black time and time again.
The Lineout worked well, man of the match Andy Wilson provided clean straight ball for jumpers Phil Davis and Kieran Mahood. The opposition’s fly-half liked to run it from all over the pitch but the contrast of youth in Mark Webster, and the experience of Ex-1st team captain Paul Kearney worked well. In the scrums, Kirk dominated, Capatin Kirby leading from the front in the engine room.
25 minutes in, the kirk backs spun it wide, Andy Healey, back at scrum half linked well with Whalley, passing off to Johnson who drew his man and let wiry centre Curley run at Orrell. Fullback Ashworth timed his pass to perfection off-loading to Wroe who went round his man. Caught 10 metres out, Wroe recycled with the support from Webster and Mahood. Healey played the short game, dragging in the defence, then Kirk swiftly moved it back to the other side of the pitch were Curley once again ran at his man and gave a great off load to left wing Pete Spengler, who turned on the burners and went round to score Kirk’s only try of the game. Fly-half Whalley kicked a beauty from the touchline to make it 13-0. Again Orrell came back and put real pressure on the Kirk line. The home team’s defence was awesome, not allowing the Wiganers through. A missed penalty from Orrell made it 13-0 at half time for Ormskirk – a well-deserved lead.
In the second half, kirk yet again gave away far too many penalties. Orrell attacked again, and managed to score a converted try on 60 minutes. Kirk just couldn’t kill the game off, if they do get promoted…..This is something that will have to be improved. Orrell played with confidence and scored another try with 11 minutes to go, the missed conversion made it 13-12. The last 10 minutes was nip and tuck, the game swinging one way then another. The traveling Orrell support (dressed in their yellow and black wooly hats) started chanting their team on, the referee then gave Orrell yet another penalty, which must have been the 40th of the game, the merry whistle blower informed us that this was the last play of the game. So for the third time this season, the opposition had to kick the goal to win the game in the last play of the game (thankfully Sefton and Ashton both failed, so we were hoping this run of luck would continue!) So it was all down to the last kick of the game. 30 metres out and straight in front of the posts, the Orrell second row had the destiny of Kirk’s season in the end of his boots. There were a lot of nervous faces, both on and off the field…… He strode up to the ball, and gave it an almighty wack, he had the right aim, but thankfully not the distance. The ball dropped just 80cm under the crossbar much to the jubilation of all.
A hard fought win and now Kirk’s destiny is in their own hands. With 3rd place Sefton getting beaten at Crewe, all Ormskirk have to do to guarantee promotion is win away at Dukinfield next week. If Kirk do lose, then Sefton could cause an upset. They play Kirk’s arch rivals Southport (who stuffed Duckinfield 39-0 on Saturday) at home. At the moment Ormskirk have the best points difference in the league, they also have the best defence. They have a better points difference of 24 points over Sefton, so it’s all to play for.
Ormskirk will board the team bus with their expectant supporters on Saturday, with one goal in mind…. Beat Dukinfield and gain promotion! If they do it will prove to be one the most successful seasons in history with both 1st and 2nd teams gaining promotion in the same season……
South Lancs/Cheshire 2
Team P W D L F A Diff Pts Adjust
Dukinfield 21 15 1 5 373 308 65 31 0
Ormskirk 21 13 2 6 371 252 119 28 0
Sefton 21 13 0 8 350 255 95 26 0
Orrell Anvils 21 12 2 7 359 302 57 24 -2
Wallasey 21 10 2 9 415 298 117 22 0
Southport 21 11 0 10 299 310 -11 22 0
Warrington 21 10 1 10 385 313 72 21 0
Crewe and Nantwich 21 10 1 10 233 269 -36 21 0
Ashton on Mersey 21 10 0 11 335 325 10 20 0
Oswestry 21 9 0 12 314 392 -78 18 0
Liverpool Collegiate 21 3 0 18 232 446 -214 4 -2
Oldershaw 21 5 1 15 246 442 -196 2 -9
