First XV Match report – 24.11.07
ORRELL ANVILS 11-5 ORMSKIRK (Half time 5-5)
Despite the atrocious conditions on Saturday both Orrell Anvils and Ormskirk contributed to a good game of rugby which saw a bit of everything. The wind and rain didn’t invite a running game but Orrell made clear their ambition to take the ball to Kirk. The home team’s full-back made some piecing runs, but kirk’s defence was up to the task and a couple of good tackles from centre John Curly kept initial danger at bay.
The green grass wasn’t going to last long and scenes reminiscent from the Somme began to unfold as both sets of forwards battled for possession. Scrums were made difficult due to the sloppy terrain and Jamie Gregg did well to marshal the pack, providing ball to fly-half Barry Whalley.
Orrell played a similar game to Ormskirk in the pack, picking and going to gain yards. Man of the Match Molyneux worked hard to take down the strike runners aided by Captain Cliff Kirby who was showing his versatility by leaving his second row slot for pastures new at blindside flanker. Despite the majority of possession the home team’s only points of the half would come from spilled ball that should have been put into touch by Kirk’s Billy Wizz Winger Wroe but a miss-kick left it to Orrell to scoop up and score.
Five minutes from the break Kirk’s pack began utilise their attacking prowess. Second row Phil Davis made sure maul ball was well and truly protected while Lenny Bennett took the ball from the side of a maul and passed to centre Ashworth. The flankers recycled and the backs spun it down the line. Wroe made amends for his previous mistake by running around his man and touching down for the five points.
With the winds picking up and the rain coming Armstrong was kept busy at full-back and kicks over were punted back. Ben Davies worked hard to pick and go from the base of the scrum but to Orrell’s credit they dealt with this well. Whalley was able to gain good ground by kicking but with the gusts lineouts were 50:50 balls, even that could be pushing on bias towards Ormskirk. Everything became a battle and while Kirk were up to the physical test they would be penalised by the ref for misdemeanours and soon the team was chasing the game at 8-5.
Despite bringing fresh players off the bench Kirk couldn’t find away through. When Ben Davies was unfairly sent to the sin-bin another 3 penalty points went Orrell’s way and the clocked ticked through to eighty minutes. Playing host to league leaders Dunkinfield next weekend is going to a massive test for Ormskirk and they will hope they can cause the upset of the season at 2:30pm at Green Lane to keep their promotion dreams alive.
Team: Rowley, Wilson, Pope (Gately), P Davies, Bennett, Kirby (Capt.), B Davies, Molyneux, Gregg, Whalley, Ashworth (Healey 60), Curly, Wroe, Little, Armstrong (Spengler 60)
Saturday, 24 November 2007
Dukinfield
16 - 6
Southport
Liverpool Collegiate
0 - 13
Wallasey
Oldershaw
0 - 57
Warrington
Orrell Anvils
11 - 5
Ormskirk
Oswestry
11 - 10
Ashton on Mersey
Sefton
24 - 11
Crewe and Nantwich
