3rd XV Match Report – 19.04.08
Ormskirk 3rd XV 22 Birchfield 2nd XV 8
As the curtain fell on another season for the third team there was a sense of eagerness in the changing room on Saturday - not just to get the game over with and get out for their end of season night out, but to get the result the team felt they were cheated out of on their visit to Widnes earlier on in the season.
The troops gathered early as requested and were out warming up by 2.15pm - even Dave Hesketh was out well before the kick off! Captain Critchley even ventured out himself but couldn’t resist going through the warm up without a cigar in his mouth. The idea of warming up and building themselves up ready to start the game didn’t exactly go to plan. Nothing worked. People weren’t communicating. Headless chickens was the order of the day! Nevertheless - things couldn’t get any worse. Fortunately Paul Waywell got the guys together and with another pre-match talk managing to get them focused on the job in hand.
At the coin toss Birchfield won and then in the interests of fair play knowing that they were already promoted informed Critchley that they would not allow the home side to use their 8 subs, meaning that 3 kirk players would not get a game - how churlish. This only increased kirk’s determination to stick one up their opponents.
From the off kirk played with real passion, early pressure resulting in a penalty for kirk, duly converted. Then 5 minutes later with the opposition still getting into their game, a turnover from Birchfield gave kirk the ball in the opposition 22 and with some quick handling the ball was spun out to McKeown who sprinted past a couple of half-hearted tackles to score in the corner.
Referee Kinney known as the great leveller then seemed to favour the opposition who were in his defence whinging like primary school children. With numerous penalties awarded against kirk it was only a matter of time before the opposition got some points on the board, albeit a 3 point kick. The game they became a real tight affair, kirk’s forwards were dominant as ever but were just lacking in speed getting to the rucks. Great defence on numerous occasions thwarted Birchfiled’s attempts to get level right up to the end of the first half. Unfortunately kirk’s defence was breached and the scores were level at the break.
No changes were made but there were 5 subs needing a game, kirk wanted to get ahead but no matter what they threw at the opposition they couldn’t break through. The opposition were just as determined to achieve the same and gave it their all, Hesketh made a crucial try saving tackle to keep the score level.
Changes had to be made and the replacements knew that they had to hit the ground running, and not let the game slip. The game continued in the same vain with both side determined not to draw again. It was going to be a case of whoever wanted it the most would run out the winner. From the touchline there was a lot of worried faces - could kirk up their game and be the victors or would they fall at the final hurdle? It was going to be a great climax to the season.
Just when it was looking like kirk were beginning to flag there was suddenly a surge of energy throughout the team, Jackson must have passed around some of the white stuff amongst the players. Kirk had point to prove and boy did they prove it, again pressuring the opposition into mistakes that man McKeown caught the ball cleanly and broke through to score under the sticks, Coulson adding the extras, 15 – 8 to kirk. From the restart and with 5 minutes to go you would think Birchfield would have chased the game, they didn’t get a chance, kirk went for the jugular and with the team drawing on its last reserves of energy pummelled the opposition pushing them back up the field with forwards and backs combining seamlessly. Ainscow and Jackson ran hard at the opposition and with O’Farrell chasing after every opportunity the ball was popped up perfectly into his arms for him to crash through for a fantastic try between the sticks. Coulson again faultless in his kicking duties.
The final whistle blew and a resounding cheer was heard as far away as the clubhouse at least, Birchfield were well and truly beaten and with their finely pressed shirts were sent packing probably still whinging about something.
