This weekend saw Ormskirk hosting the next group stage of The Under 12s Lancashire Cup with a triangular tournament against Southport and Waterloo. The day again started badly for the Ormskirk team with news of the withdrawal of two players due to illness. This meant that Ormskirk only had two substitutes which is a real handicap when playing two potentially difficult games on the same day.
Ormskirk however were undaunted by the news and started well in the first game against Southport.The forwards soon got on top of a useful Southport team and were creating good ball for the backs with some extremely efficient rucking and mauling. The pressure eventually paid off with second rower Marcus Rylance crashing over from close range with Michael Lea scoring the conversion. Ormskirk continued to maintain the pressure on the Southport team and were again rewarded just before the break by a fine individual try from centre Tom Povey, converted by Matt White.
Ormskirk set off in the second half looking to build on what they had achieved in the first but some excellent tackling from the Southport team kept Ormskirk at bay. In addition the lads had to keep concentrating as Southport threw caution to the wind and mounted a couple of promising attacks themselves. However when the final whistle went Ormskirk came off to some well deserved applause after a competent rather than spectacular victory. The final score being Ormskirk 14 Southport 0
As Ormskirk settled down to a well deserved break the second match took place between Southport and Waterloo. Waterloo dominated the game with their large pack of forwards controlling affairs. At the final whistle the final score was Waterloo 33 Southport 0.
 After such a comprehensive victory over Southport it would have taken a brave man to bet against Waterloo making it two wins out of two against a depleted Ormskirk team but the lads had obviously not read the script. Right from the first whistle it was obvious Ormskirk were the hungrier of the two teams and the forwards more than matched their larger opponents. Halfway through the first half great work by the forwards released no.8 Craig Ennis who bulldozed his way over in the corner with the conversion being kicked by Michael Lea. Rather than sitting back Ormskirk continued to take the game to Waterloo. Again the forwards drove deep into the opponents 22 where they were given a penalty as Waterloo tried to kill the ball. Fly half Robbie Jones took a quick penalty whilst Waterloo were trying to re-organise their defence and ran straight into the far corner for the game’s second try, again converted by Michael Lea. As the half time whistle went Ormskirk were in sight of a first win over their illustrious Merseyside opponents. The coaches again were quickly in to settle the team and keep them focussed on the half ahead.
Again the second half progressed as had the first had ended, with Ormskirk continuing to dominate proceedings. Robbie Jones at fly half was a constant thorn in Waterloo’s side making little half breaks and constantly pinning them back with astute tactical kicking. Eventually Ormskirk more or less killed off the game with Robbie again scoring an excellent individual try by racing through their entire back line without so much as an opponent getting a hand on him. Matt White kicked the conversion. By now it was apparent that Waterloo were tiring badly. To compound matters for them after a useful break and getting near the Ormskirk line they gave away another silly penalty and full back Matt White drilled the ball into touch about a foot from their line! Late in the game Ormskirk put the icing on the cake with a fourth try with Robert Hall touching down after a brave chargedown near the Waterloo line. A succesful conversion by Michael Lea meant the game ending, Ormskirk 28 Waterloo 0.
It is hard to put into words the progress made by the under 12’s this season with so many new and inexperienced players joining the club. Great credit must be given to the 4 coaches Nik James, Dave Jones, Andy Povey and Peter Jones (in no particular order) for their efforts and enthusiasm in moulding the lads into such an efficient unit. Picking a man of the match for both games today is too difficult. Every player, forwards and backs, did their job efficiently and the two victories owe as much to great teamwork as to any one individuals efforts.
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