Match Summary – 2nd February 2008
Ruskin Park 2nds 0 Ormskirk 2nds 31
First half was a dull affair, The Raiders not dominating up front like they’ve become accustomed to this season
Very few clear-cut chances for either team
After some sterling work by the forwards, stand-off Alex Lambie saw a big over-lap on the left, fed Montrose who’d come off his wing, and twinkle-toed round the defence to dive over under the sticks. Lambie added the extras
Half-time: 7-0 to Ormskirk
Better, tighter performance in the second half by the front 8 enabled ‘kirk to take more control. Great team try – eventually scored by Nick Gordon – started with the pack out-muscling the opposition. Paul Jamieson showed his strength and speed by bursting down his wing. He bounced off a few would-be tacklers to feed Paul Keech, who gave the supporting Gordon the try-scoring pass. Lambie again kicked the extras: 14-0
Mark Jackson – having already had one try disallowed – got on the score sheet next, a great driving surge from his pack put the pack on the front foot. Jackson did the honours with a typically surging drive over the line. Lambie again kicked the two points – another great kick from way out near the touch-line: 21-0
A well-worked move in the back line saw the scampering centre Paul Keech burst over from 20 yards, taking his try tally to double-figures for the season. Lambie – Mr Consistent this afternoon – kicked the conversion and added a penalty to his personal haul for the afternoon to make it 31-0 to a more confident and more focused Raiders
Ged Dawson can be happy that his team turned things round and made a greater fist of it in the second half. The squad is fast becoming a solid unit, and when the players work as a cohesive outfit, there aren’t many teams who can take points off them. When Essex bosses his pack and links with the back-line, most teams capitulate and struggle to compete, as was the case in the second half on a blustery afternoon in St Helens
Big match next week against Southport at Geen Lane. Port’s lowly league position means nothing in this fixture – they always raise their game against ‘kirk
