Ormskirk u13s 37*pts - Blackburn u13s 7pts
After a few tough encounters against powerful opponents, it was a welcome change that Ormskirk were the team dishing out a lesson on Sunday against a plucky and spirited but totally outclassed Blackburn outfit.
To begin with, things weren’t looking too good as the opposition turned up with only 11 players - Ormskirk agreed to loan two players in a rolling fashion so a meanginful 13-a-side game could take place. The weather was horrid and the vain attempts to secure a referee came to nought, meaning that coach Mark Bailie has to don his waterproofs and take charge.
Straight from the kick off the pattern was set with Eddie Webster catching the ball and ploughing through some weak tackles to score under the posts, Jonny Dunn adding the extras. To Blackburn’s credit, they never gave up, but to Ormskirk’s credit they handled to ball as though it was a summer’s afternoon and scored four more excellent tries through Webster, Jack O’Brien who finished off a sweeping back move, Jordan Dawson who sprinted clear of the defence and Liam Peate, who again showed his enjoyment of the game of rugby with a typically athletic burst, evasive swerves and a turn of speed that the defence had no answer to. Liam has now scored 5 tries in 8 games - not bad for a rooky! Adam Kirk added an excellent conversion against a stiff wind and all was set for a second half avalanche of points.
But it was not to be as Blackburn played to their strength by keeping the ball up their jumpers and mawling successfully to thwart the home side who proved too eagre to score on a few occasions, spilling the ball with the line at their mercy. They worked an excellent converted try from a trundling mawl but this was the only time they threatened the home side’s line. Back came Ormskirk to add three great tries - two powerful surges from Jamie Gosling and a Dan Bailie swivel-hips special, with Dunn adding one conversion.
Special mention to Aaron Cheung and Aidan Charlton who had great games, but more importantly to Ben Watherston, Aaron, Chris Boylan, Steve Maloney, Jack O’Brien and Jamie Gosling. Without them volunteering to play for the opposition there would have been no game. This has been recognised by Lancashire - well done lads!
