For the second match of the season the under 14s were on their travels to Bolton, last season’s Lancashire Vase winners. Having beaten them in the league section of the cup last year they were keen to settle some scores on their own ground.
The game started tentatively with Bolton securing and maintaining some good early possesssion. Under this early pressure it was a good five minutes before Ormskirk could get themselves into the game.However once the lads had moved up a couple of gears it was not long before the back row forwards gained the upper hand with Danny Holloran spinning the ball out to the backs which gave Adam Selfe the overlap from a deep run to break through the defence and following a quick shimmy he placed the ball over the line for the game’s first score. Mike Quirk struck the conversion sweetly but the ball went just wide. It was not long before a similar move allowed Danny Holloran to sprint through and touchdown. Again Mike Quirk was unlucky with the conversion. This seemed to spur Bolton into action and for the next quarter the game was very much in a stalemate. Finally Bolton pressure told and from a drive near the line they went over for their first score. At the end of a tight half ‘Kirk went in with a slender five point lead.
Half Time: Bolton  5   Ormskirk  10
The second half started with the Ormskirk coaches ringing the changes and bringing on some fresh legs. This obviously did the trick as within a minute of the restart a well worked and practised move allowed Olly Hogan plenty of space to run in under the posts with Tom Povey adding the conversion. Bolton however were again stung into action and quickly replied with two unconverted tries leaving the lads with a very slender two point advantage.Ormskirk realised they had to up their game and like a scolded animal came fighting back into the match. The forwards again provided a strong platform and eventually the ball was popped out to the backs who moved the ball quickly down the line to leave an overlap for Sam Elesedy to go in at the corner to finish off an excellent move. Yet again Mike Quirk was unlucky with the conversion. To finish the game Craig Ennis stole the ball well in his own ‘22′ and then sprinted his way down the field to score beneath the posts with Tom Povey kicking the extras.
Final score: Bolton 15  Ormskirk 29
A workmanlike performance brought about a well deserved victory and again the coaches were pleased that when they made changes, the lads coming off the bench were more than a match for their opponents. This was the type of game that was needed just a week before the under 14’s kick off their Lancashire Cup campaign with a match away at Bury next weekend.
