Ormskirk u13s 12pts - New Brighton u13s 17pts
Ormskirk started this game brightly, but the on-going problem of the size of the squad - both in numbers and physical size - once again conspired against them to lose a game that they should have and could have won.
The backs have a great talent and once again threatened every time they had the ball, unfortunately the pack lacks both presence and experience, with two of the nine forwards in their first season and three in their second. The first attack brought two good breaks from the backs and from a scrum on the New Brighton 10 metre line, the backs scored an excellent try from a perfectly worked move. Fly half Adam Kirk set off across the field and two perfect dummy scissors with centres Dawson and Peate gave him the opportunity to feed the ball to Dan Bailie flying in from full back. The pass was timed to perfection and Bailie ghosted through the defence to score in fine style.
With their next attack, the ball was moved from one side to the other and centre Liam Peate again showed great pace and evasive skills to leave the defence in tatters as he touched down, Jonny Dunn added the extras and all looked good for a thumping win. However, New Brighton had other ideas and following a few forward drives, their No.8 powered his way over for a deserved converted try. The visitors had improved appreciably from last season and boasted 22 players that were interchanged regularly. Ormskirk’s 16 players never got the chance of a breather and it wasn’t long before New Brighton drew level with another powerful forward drive. Half time score of 12-12 was disappointing but the message was clear - get the ball to the backs.
However, the second half was spent with play in the Ormskirk half for over 75% of the time and slack defending saw the visitors extend their lead with what proved to be the winning try - another forward drive. Ormskirk’s attacks were left to breakouts from their own half and on three occasions through Eddie Webster, Liam Peate and Jack O’Brien they nearly worked the openings, but lack of support and the odd poor pass failed to exploit the supremacy that their backs had. The forwards just couldn’t get enough possession. The last play of the game was a penalty near the New Brighton posts and although after a number of forward drives, Eddie Webster did get over the line, the try could not be awarded due to the mass of bodies. Who’d be a referee?
Not a bad first term of 15 a-side rugby with some positives from the new additions to the squad and the talent of the backs, but the squad needs more numbers and the forwards need to work on the basics. The team does lie second in the Lancs Cup pool and are all looking forward to 2007.
