Ormskirk U12s 28 Southport U12s  0
Southport U12s  0 Waterloo U12s 19
Ormskirk U12s 28 Waterloo U12s  0
A superb performance by the U12s means a day at the county finals tournament for the squad. Visitors Southport and Waterloo met an Ormskirk side in a very determined mood for a triangular tie.
The first game against Southport looked initially to be a physical mismatch. Southport have gained a number of large forwards this season and looked a different side to the team that conceded 6 tries at the last encounter. In the early encounters the size of the opposition held no worries for Ormskirk. The mobility of the pack and the speed of the backs placed great pressure on Southport forcing them to kick most possession away. As the half developed Ormskirk took control and dominated possession. The forwards rucked with speed and cohesion winning phase after phase of good quick ball. The backs took the possession and turned it into points with a try before the interval. The second half was one way traffic Ormskirk increased the pressure and some good kick return runs dissuaded Southport from the kicking option. The forwards controlled the lineout and scrum taking several against the head. The pressure told as Ormskirk ran in three more trys for an emphatic victory.
The second match was between the visitors. After a short break Southport faced a fresh Waterloo side looking to secure a place in the finals. This was always going to be a tall order for Southport and despite battling hard fell behind. Waterloo maintained pressure and kept looking for the opening that would close out the match. Spirited defence and a little misfortune keep Waterloo at bay. In the second half the tiredness and pressure told with Waterloo coming out as victors by three trys.
The final match of the tie between Ormskirk and Waterloo was very competitive. Many of the boys go to the same school so pride as well as a place in the finals were up for grabs. Ormskirk played the best rugby of the year at high speed and showed how the game should be played, a much needed tonic after England’s performance at Murryfield. Whenever a Waterloo player had the ball he faced a wall of defenders who never missed a tackle. Ormskirk dominated the loose scrums and turned the fast ball into dynamic running rugby. Every player deserves credit. This was a full team performance and provides a winning platform to enter the tournament portion of the season. One moment epitomises the whole flow of the game. A deep kick by Ormskirk was chased by six Ormskirk players giving the defender no chance to get a good kick away. His attempt was charged down and dropped into the arms of on onrushing player who just had to fall over the line to score. No opposition were in sight and by then 7 were in support.
