Prior to their big cup match last weekend, the under 13’s took on old rivals Lymm in what looked to be, on paper, a very difficult match.In the last two encounters it is true to say we were given a lesson in rugby with heavy defeats of 35-0 and 49-7. To compound matters a few starting regulars were also absent although with some new found strength in depth a close encounter was on the cards.
Rugby is a game that can be won or lost before a ball is kicked or a tackle is made. A lack of focus during warm up leaving the boys ill prepared could have cost ‘Kirk dearly as in the first ten minutes tackles were missed,passes dropped and organisation seemed to be non-existant. Ormskirk were awoken from their slumber following a well worked Lymm try. They then started to tick.Forwards were running well with the ball setting up good ruck ball for the backs to exploit. One such forward drive set up the first try. With good body position in the maul Ormskirk drove the Lymm pack backwards allowing Tom Travis to pop over the line as a good prop should. This levelled the score and seemed to spur the lads on. The second try was the best of the day because it involved a whole team effort. The forwards did the dirty work in winning good possession then it was down to the backs to pass the ball down the line for the ever improving winger Tom Anderson to bully his way down the touch, swatting away everything in his path and then going over in the corner. Ormskirk followed this up with their third score of the game. Again the forwards and backs combined well to set up an opening for Tom Povey to do the simple task of dabbing the ball over the line. Lymm however were not prepared to give up the fight. Just before the break a good kick and chase was well followed up and with a quick feed out, the ball found the winger to score. The try was then converted leaving just a three point gap between the teams.
Half-time: Ormskirk 15  Lymm  12
With the game evenly poised both sides came out feeling they had a chance of victory so a hard fought second half was on the cards. Ormskirk continued to play the better style of rugby and should have moved well clear of Lymm but some poor decision making in both forwards and backs left good opportunities squandered. The only score of the second half was from a typical barnstorming aggressive run from Marcus Rylance.
Full-time: Ormskirk 20   Lymm
In conclusion the lads put in a great performance on a very big Edge-Hill pitch. However the coaches could still afford to feel slightly disappointed with some of the play even in spite of winning against a team of the quality of Lymm;this is surely testament to how far this team has come(and can go).
