Match Report – 17th February 2007
Ormskirk 2nd XV 23 Winnington Park 2nd XV 12
After a disappointing league performance against Vale of Lune a few weeks ago, ‘The Raiders’ got back to winning ways in a solid display against Winnington Park. Despite a luke-warm effort for much of the first-half, the home crowd were treated to some clinical and exciting rugby in the second half. Ged Dawson’s team at times looked a class above their opponents, and perhaps a minor criticism is that the winning margin wasn’t greater.
A good blend of youth and experience graced Green Lane on a wonderful day for running rugby. Despite having the better of the early exchanges, ‘kirk capitulated twice in the space of ten minutes to allow Park to score two tries. The first was a mistake in the line-out which gave one of Winnington’s forwards an easy flop over the line from 5 metres out; the other a mix up in ‘kirk’s midfield defence which gave Park an overlap.
At 12-0 down, the stunned home team rallied and took the game to their opponents. Some astute kicking from a rejuvenated (but not yet a veteran!) Phil Armstrong ensured that much of the remainder of the first half was played in Winnington territory. Excellent scrummaging from the solid ‘kirk pack gave scrum-half Jamie Wroe some great quick ball, which he used to good effect. With half-backs Wroe and Armstrong working well together, it was left to young Andy McCallum and (not-so-young) Paul Keech in the centres to punch their way through Park’s defence. The back three of Justin Lyon, Lord Roger Spence and Andrew (not quite a super-vet) Montrose started to get good ball too. Two unconverted tries before the half-time whistle made sure that The Raiders had something to show for their hard work. The first score came after Spence came into the line to feed winger Montrose, who skipped round his man to score in the corner. Spence then finished off a wonderful sweeping move in the opposite corner, after the ball had passed through at least 7 or 8 pairs of Ormskirk’s hands.
A gentle half-time rollicking spurred the home team into action right from the kick-off in the second half. The last 40 minutes saw a massive territorial advantage to ‘kirk, the game played almost exclusively in Winnington’s half. A few early hiccoughs in the line-out were soon eradicated, Neil Ainsworth finding jumpers Guy Crosse and Mark Jackson to good effect. Jackson also started to reek havoc in open play with the ball in his hands, barging through would-be tacklers like a downhill skier knocks down slalom poles. The home team’s pack were still dominant in the scrums also – props Jamie Church and James Morgan particularly awesome - and around the park Ged Dawson, Neil Buxton, and Pete Walker and all made good yardage. Centre Keech came into the game more, and slowly but surely the visitors’ defence began to disintegrate under immense pressure. Not taking any chances though (‘kirk still being two points adrift despite their dominance) Armstrong struck a sweet drop-goal a-la Jonny Wilkinson to take The Raiders into the lead for the first time in the game.
Here-on-in it was all Ormskirk. Every time the backs got the ball they looked like scoring. A few squandered opportunities preceded two more scores for the home team. Montrose got his second after another fine move down the back line again gave him a one-on-one with his opposite number – and again the winger dodged and dived to score in the corner. Spence scored his second just before the final whistle, a splendid solo effort which saw the Irishman side-step his way to the line displaying footwork that Fred Astaire would have been proud of. A good day at the office for The Raiders – news of the other three Ormskirk teams’ victories lifted spirits even higher and made for a very happy and convivial club-house after the game.
