Ormskirk RUFC

Match Report – 15/10/06
 

Ormskirk 15s 2^nd Team v Tarleton
EFE Lancashire Cup
 
Ormskirk 7                              Tarleton 19 
 

Tries    
Jack Calvary

Conversion
Jack Calvary

Penalties
 

This highly combative EFE cup game for the second team saw them pitted against Tarleton, their arch rivals from ‘down the road’.  Both teams arrived with focused determination to win the game and register a victory.  Tarleton had played in round 1 losing to Preston Grasshoppers and clearly did not to register a second loss.  

In the first half it was very much a game of two like for like teams with excellent play from both sides cancelling out any potential breaks.  Both teams were nervous of making mistakes and the game moved to and from between both 22 lines.  Unlike last week Ormskirk were able to win their scrums and threatened the Tarleton line with some good quick ball.  After 20 minutes Ormskirk broke away and by using quick ball were able to penetrate the Tarleton defence and Jack Calvary with some powerful running placed the ball over the try line, first blood to Ormskirk.  The conversion was taken to add the extras.  Tarleton not to be taken lightly immediately came back at the Ormskirk line and with some ferocious defending kept Tarleton at bay.  The pressure was relentless and eventually it was telling with Tarleton scoring the equalising try.  The game was on a knife edge, both teams on 7 points each.  Once again Tarleton relentlessly attacked and Ormskirk just could not clear their lines and using their forwards and backs Tarleton ran in a second try.  At the midway point it was Ormskirk 7, Tarleton 12; a finely balanced game.    

With the second half Ormskirk had advantage of wind and coaches and captain urged the team to maximise the advantage.  Both teams came out ready to commence battle and with the steely determination to win.  As with the first half it became a battle of attrition, Ormskirk forcing Tarleton back and vice versa.  Ormskirk were awarded a penalty and from 30 meters the No 10 attempted to add points using the wind, alas the ball had the accuracy but not the distance and fell short.  Tarleton came back and using their capable No8 and forwards ground the ball forward putting in some 7 phases to move close to Ormskirk line, even with the ferocious defending Ormskirk could not keep the ball out and Tarleton went over to add to the score.  Ormskirk attempted to come back and took the ball to 10 meters from the opposition line, using a well tried and tested ‘traumatiser’ attempted to force the ball over, however it was stolen in the maul and Tarleton cleared their lines using their capable outside centre.  Toward the end of the second half Ormskirk valiantly attempted to level the score and made several forays into the Tarleton half, these ably defended by a confident Tarleton team who had good all round strength and knew how to defend a lead. The game was a great team performance with some excellent individual effort on show.

Overall this game once again highlighted several areas of strength possessed by Ormskirk, but it also showed the areas which need to be worked on for the future; as identified by the coaches and, to be truthful, the players themselves.

An important aspect to the game was the great sense of sportsmanship evident between the two teams, they may be rivals but it was a great game to watch and appreciated by coaches and parents.  These two teams really do love to play each other and Ormskirk have one message to Tarleton- can’t wait for the next game.