On Remembrance Sunday, the Under 14s travelled down to Stockport for a late re-arranged match against their A team known locally as Stockport Storm. Owing to their B team playing first and a respectful minute’s silence the kick-off was delayed to 11.30. Due to various parades and injury/sickness Ormskirk travelled with a much reduced squad giving the coaches little room for manouevre during the game.
The game started with Ormskirk under immediate pressure and it was not long before Stockport chalked up their first try. Not content with this from the kick-off they immediately took up the initiative to score a second try duly converted to leave Ormskirk reeling. Stockport spurred on by their early success scored another two tries in double quick time leaving Ormskirk facing a severe mauling. However the Under 14’s are nothing if not fighters and started to play the rugby that everyone knows they are capable of. Soon the lads were competing with strong tackles,good support play and quality rucking which constantly pushed the Stockport team back into their own half. Quick thinking from Arron Waggoner, good positional kicking from Robbie Jones, along with the necessary chase down the back line kept the pressure on.
Half-Time: Stockport 22   Ormskirk 0
The second half started as the first had ended with Ormskirk in control.’Kirk kept the opposition firmly pinned in their ‘22′ but against the run of play Stockport broke free to score the first try of the second half. This,however,did not compromise the integrity of the team and from the kick-off the boys from Green Lane continued to take the game to the opposition with fine performances from Mike Quirk,Danny Holloran and Luke Millington all tackling well and putting their bodies on the line. Craig Ennis demonstrated his continued ability to perform at the highest level,scything through the Stockport defence before spinning the ball out to the backs and following good support from the forwards ,Luke Millington drove powerfully over the line and scored to reduce the deficit.It was following a similar move deeper into our own half starting with a peel from the back of a maul that Craig again sped off,he wrong footed several Stockport players,then again linked with Olly Hogan who was tap tackled. The resulting ruck only yards from the line saw Craig,who had continued his run,spot a gap and force his way over to score again.Both conversions were slotted over by Mike Quirk who made the task look easier than it was.Unfortunately as the game drew to a close a tired looking Ormskirk team allowed Stockport to run in two further tries.
Full-Time:  Stockport 37  Ormskirk 14
Stockport proved to be everything that was expected of them in that they had quality and pace throughout their team.The lads however rose to the challenge but their inconsistency throughout the match proved to be their downfall.Hopefully lessons can be learned from games such as this particularly as there are some hard Lancashire Cup matches on the horizon.
