Ormskirk 2nds V. Leigh 3rds – 16th December 2006
22 –34
Full of hope and confidence, the Ormskirk skipper Dawson fielded his players to face Leigh, currently third in the league. The first twenty minutes of rugby, however, saw Leigh run in four ties and it started to look like Ormskirk were in for a torrid afternoon. In these first twenty minutes there was not a single part of the home side’s game that worked well or when to plan. The forwards were slow out of the blocks playing lazy rugby, the backs look like they didn’t want to run or catch and none of the fifteen players made their ‘must make’ tackles; and to make things worse key playmaker Spence took a knock to the elbow and had to be replaced. Fresh out of retirement, veteran playmaker and stand off Phil Armstrong was the clear choice to replace the injured Spence. All in all it was not Ormskirk Rugby Club’s finest hour. Nevertheless – slowly and inch-by-inch, play-by-play - the ‘Raiders’ started to gel as a team and started a much-needed fight back.
The rugby revolution came when all fifteen players started to ‘up’ their game, tackles were made, the defensive line held and in attack the backs showed how devastating they could be with the ball in hand. With Phil Davis and Alex Bramwell spoiling the opposition lineout ball and taking clean ball for the home team, things started to go Ormskirk’s way. The first points for the home team came from skipper Dawson, powering his way over the line to kick-start Ormskirk’s game. Tries also came from man of the match Keech, stand-in stand off Armstrong and ever alert Dolan with only one of the four being converted for an extra two points from a possible eight.
Even this fight back would not see the Ormskirk second team take the points from this encounter, a few silly penalties gave Leigh the opportunity to take the win through some very boring but ‘safety first’ penalty goals. Ormskirk tried, without success to fight back against the run of play to regain some honour and a few much needed points. It has been said before that there is a problem with Ormskirk and their commitment in the opening minutes of a game, perhaps this will be the last time Ormskirk give away a game in the opening twenty minutes of play through a lack of readiness!
