EFE Junior Cup Final
Ormskirk gathered on the Fylde Coast having the luxury for the first time in the season of having a full squad at their disposal. Liverpool Collegiate had proved from the scalps that they had taken throughout the season that they were worthy finalists.
Ormskirk kicked off and chased the kick well, but Collegiate gathered and committed to the contact point well voicing to Ormskirk that they were “kings of the forwards”…..Ormskirk’s response would silence those from South Liverpool.
Ormskirk force a penalty on the Collegiate 10 metre line, rather than kick the points Ormskirk kicked the ball to touch just outside the 22. A rolling maul was set up which covered some 15 metres before being collapsed, Ally Sutherland broke from the maul to score unopposed with John Pape adding the extras. Ormskirk carried on the relentless pressure with both forwards and backs combining to put John Pape over to score, with John Pape adding the extras.
The best move of the match was to follow, Ormskirk had a scrum 5 metres from the Collegiate line, Darryl Bold picked up and fed Ryan Glynn, who put John Pape into space who in turn fed Jonny Miles to score only for the touch judge to call back for a forward pass. Justice would be done from the next scrum, Ally Sutherland cased down the scrum half and quite unbelievably intercepted the pass in the in goal area to score with John Pape again adding the extras.
Only 15 minutes gone and Ormskirk had stamped total authority on the match. Before half time Ross O’Neill had crossed the white wash with John Pape slotting a penalty with the last play of the half.
Half Time Ormskirk 29 Collegiate 0
Several changes made at half time, found Ormskirk under pressure, but from adversity comes quality. From a well rehearsed training ground move John Pape grounded and added the extras. Ormskirk were now well on top, when skipper David Markham was harshly sin binned, the team rallied and held Collegiate out, the only score in the 10 minutes coming from the boot of John Pape in the shape of penalty.
Collegiate were not down heartened and pressured the Ormskirk line, a speculative kick paid off with a fortunate bounce with Collegiate gathering scoring and adding the extras.
Ormskirk took the game to Collegiate for the last minutes of the match and quite fittingly skipper David Markham finished off an excellent pattern of play with the final try of the match.
Final score Ormskirk 44 Collegiate 7
Ormskirk become only the third side to have won 3 Lancashire Cups in succession and have set the scene to become the first side to win 4 Lancashire Cups in succession. Having proved top be the best in Lancashire & England, the focus now moves to South Africa where the Green Lane Men will take on the best sides from Australia, New Zealand & South Africa.
