Lancashire's Junior Rugby Challenge - Round Four Reports
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Teams who supply photographs or written match reports by email (max 300 words please!) gain credits towards the end-of-season Fair Play trophies, awarded to each age group. Credits are also accumulated for a team playing 18 or more players in a match; and both sides, when either the two clubs agree to play a game of 'tens' or similar when one side has insufficient for a full match, or when a one-sided match has been stopped and a subsequent training game or a mixed training session is arranged.
Under 13s:
(337) Fleetwood 7 Sedgley Park 37
(photo images from Andy Duffy - Sedgley Park)
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On a bitter wind-battered morning Sedgley Park visited Fleetwood to play their 4th round Lancashire Challenge match. Early play was even with both sides making handling mistakes in the middle of the park. First blood came to Sedgley with Ty Newall forcing through the Fleetwood back line at pace to score under the post. Ty could have easily made it a second try but for him being reminded by the coaches of his need to be unselfish in his scoring and missing a simple pass to reward a team mates support play during a subsequent break through.
Fleetwood responded strongly and forced the initiative from a restart to ensure a reply was soon registered by the consistent Munro Lewis and successfully converted by Chris Hampton. Scrummaging by both sides was even, however, the improvement of handling along the Sedgley line from the scrums and breakdowns demonstrated their clear objectives to out flank Fleetwood defences. Towards the interval an opportunity came with a skillful through kick along the touchline by Sedgley's Kieran Tierney that was thwarted by Sam Maiden of Fleetwood. Unfortunately this was Sam's last involvement in the game as he left the field of play unaided with what turned out to be a broken collar bone.
Incursions through the Fleetwood defensive lines by the Sedgley backs resulted in a brace of tries each from Sam Turner and Oliver Carroll. It was not all going Sedgley Park's way with Fleetwood applying pressure in the middle of the park and, on occasions, gaining some well deserved ground. Sedgley’s pack secured the foundation for this convincing win at the breakdowns, allowing the backs to drive home the advantage.
This enjoyable game was officiated by Brian Cardwell showing consistent guidance to both teams during technical plays, many thanks. Sedgley Park wish Sam a speedy recovery.
(338) Preston Grasshoppers 30* Widnes 0
Grasshoppers overcame the late withdrawals of Tom Whitham and Callum Wilkinson to record their second win in this year’s Junior Challenge. Andrew Hughes opened the scoring on his competition debut, collecting the ball from the back of a maul to charge over the line, in the shadow of the posts. James Worlock, Ben Rhodes Powers, Matt Beatty and team captain Sam Gale registered scores whilst Tom Deakin maintained his strong kicking sequence.
The coaches where pleased with the improved performance of the scrum as a unit, with Matt Hardman and Robert McQuirk standing firm against strong opposition. Full-back Jack Wilkinson counter-attack and kicking technique was also used with effect by the team, keeping their opposition on the back foot. Whilst identifying a number of areas for improvement, the team has to develop their ball handling skills, lines of running and support play.
For the second game, each of the twenty-two registered players played a part in the fixture, with a 'Chabalesc' contribution after half time from Luke Woodward at hooker. Effective contributions from Adam Drew and Alex Johnson showed the strength in depth of the squad.
The last word has to go to Lee Carmichael, who joined an established team at the start of the season, with twelve of the 22 squad players starting out together as six-year-old youngsters, and all 15 of the players who started the game, playing together since their introduction to contact rugby at under 9's.
In September, Lee had never played rugby, but with a lot of commitment and a willingness to listen in such a short time he has become an active member of a squad that continues to grow and with a lot of hard work and an element of luck will hopefully, continue to improve.
Report from Chris Johnson - Preston Grasshoppers
(340) Ormskirk 30* Sefton 0 (photo images from Nick James - Ormskirk)
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(345) Blackpool 10 Leigh 10 (photo images from Blackpool)
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A great game was played today at Blackpool’s Fleetwood Road ground, with Leigh bringing a strong side.
Blackpool had a great start with Bradley Lyndon returning from injury, scoring the first try with a good forward effort, the pack pushing Leigh over the line. Anthony O'Brien missed a difficult conversion. Blackpool continued to take the game to Leigh with good rucking and with a determination that will always make a team competative. Blackpool's newest lad Conner Buchan made an effective contribution, whilst Cameron Thorpe, Crawford Barber and George Burns also caught the eye.
Leigh’s No 8. Adam Laycock brought the visitors level to five-points-all at half time. The second half was played with the same level of determination, Harry Swann tackling very well as usual. With 15 minutes to go Bradley Lyndon was once again the try scorer in almost an exact copy of his first-half move, the forwards working well together and overpowering Leigh's defence. With just five minutes remaining, Leigh winger Simon Lowe scored their second try aided by the wind and some ball watching from Blackpool.
A fair result, the sides sharing a point twenty result, with Blackpool leaving the disappointed in letting slip the winning margin. Well done to both teams in what was a good and a fair played game, professionally refereed by Sean O'Brien.
Also, given the autumnal conditions in Norbreck, a big thank you goes to the ladies in the club: Sue, Anita, Siobhan and Julie (no photograph supplied!) for the food and hot drinks much appreciated on a cold day.
Report by David Ferridge - Blackpool
Under 14s:
(437) Manchester 13 Preston Grasshoppers 0 (photo images - Andrea Petch of Manchester)
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Manchester won the toss and elected to play up the slight slope into the wind. An expansive style created several scoring chances, especially from quick penalties but final passes recurrently went awry.
It was soon evident that the Preston pack was better-drilled in terms of body position and technique. Every time the Manchester forwards ran at them the more cohesive efforts of the Grasshoppers were able to isolate and hold them, stealing ball or winning penalties for holding on. They began to exert pressure with determined tight driving, counter-rucking and mauling with Dan Burns, Luke Proctor and Jordan Sumner all to the fore.
However their backline was frequently put under considerable pressure when in possession. They seldom got beyond the gain line. Defences dominated and the half ended scoreless.
Manchester changed tactics with the wind behind them, frequently electing to kick for field position. Matt Robinson, in his first full game at outside centre, finally broke the deadlock fifteen minutes into the half when ball from broken play allowed him to outpace his opposite number into the corner. The difficult kick was missed leaving the game still in the balance at 5 : 0.
A little later a well-spotted off-the-ball foul allowed Robbie Hayward to take a penalty, putting Manchester two scores clear. Confident enough to use the bench their pack, far from wilting, finished the game slightly the stronger with good driving runs by Mark Petch, Jo Bradley, Max Beard and Joe Houghton.
The last score and best rugby of the game, came from quick ball after good fringe rolling by the pack had fixed the midfield defence. The back line span the ball wide for Matt Robinson to show his pace in an arching 30 metre run to the corner.
The game was played in good spirit by both teams with the young referee Adam Carter leaving a favourable impression on both sets of coaches and parents. Report from Peter Ding - Aldwininans
Under 15s:
(531) Warrington 0 West Park 17 (photo images Bernard Raynard - West Park)
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This was a really tough cup match for for West Park, much harder than most expected.West Park created chances very early on but in the windy conditions couldn’t finish them off and with hard defence from Warrington West Park were held at bay for 15 minutes.
Two tries were scored in the first half but West Park never seemed to hit full speed due to the tenacity of the opposition. Only one try was scored in the second half and made the result assured for West Park. Tries scored by Marc Bailey (2) and Mike Johnson (1) with one try converted. West Park position is looking good in the table lets hope it can stay that way.
Report from Jackie Gorst - West Park
Under 16s:
(631) Aldwinians 28 Orrell 21
Orrell mustered just 14 players, and without a full supply of forwards, faced the full XV from Aldwinians with sufficient spirit to earn a bonus point, ending the match just seven point short.
Once underway, Orrell lost two more players to injury and the game finished with 13 against 12, Aldwinians removing a player as the visitors numbers were reduced.
Even with uncontested scrums throughout, well done to all concerned for finishing a good, discipline match.
Report from Aldwinians.
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