Sefton RUFC

Sat 19 Nov 2022

Liverpool Collegiate 2nd XV

26 - 32

Sefton 2nd XV

Liverpool Collegiate 2nd XV

Sefton 2nd XV

Collegiate away doesn’t need any explaining. It is usually a closely run contest, and hotly contested.

I thought we would have plenty of volunteers to put the shirt on, and would have to beat them away with big stick, but was left with eighteen, comprising mainly second team and a few third team, enough for a team and an appearance of subs. Mistakenly I had not accounted for cry-offs and by Saturday was down to fifteen plus Campo, as my not so intimidating sub. On the group chat there was an eerie silence when asking for players.

 With a Vets tournament on at the same time, Sefton were placed in the squash changing rooms downstairs. I turn up and am confronted with JJ and Daniel Craig both in the sauna, worryingly reminding me of those old Swedish movies you could get. I increasingly think the Welsh are very strange.

The place was buzzing, with the Vets playing at the same time Collegiate had plenty of players to choose from, and a large crowd, baying for blood.

- The game -

Sefton started badly, giving away two converted tries when Collegiate passed out wide to their winger who had a serious turn of pace. It looked as if it was going to be another long afternoon.

After this however, Sefton managed to compose themselves. Going to their fail safe of keeping it tight in the forwards, relying on their scrums and lineouts to secure the ball, basically starving Collegiate of any ball.

Soon Sefton were pressing the oppositions line, and despite some solid defence Gorgeous was able to twist himself over for a try.

At this point Brian Gardner looks very red, and gasping for breath, so he’s replaced with Campo. The dominance in the scrums was starting to tell, and Sefton were now having all the ball. A scrum on their five metre line was controlled at the back, before Tom Founds picks up and goes over the try line. Converted by Gorgeous.

A rare period of possession for Collegiate showed how dangerous they were with the ball in hand, with Sefton’s defence taken one way, before switching back the other way to go over for another converted try.

- The habitual fight -

I’m surprised the game lasted this long without any disagreement, but it was bound to come. A sudden break by Josh McLeod allowed the centre to reach the opposition twenty-two. before being brought down, and this is when it all kicked off. As this escalated, the game carried on, and gorgeous was able to go over for his second try, converting it himself. As if a tradition had been fulfilled it suddenly calmed down after that and the players got on with the game.

The final minutes of the half was spent on Collegiate’s five metre line and with a penalty awarded Sefton opted for the scrum. The first was collapsed by Collegiate, and Sefton retried. Again collapsing just before the line, but the ref refused to acknowledge this and the half time whistle was blown.

In the second-half Sefton were going uphill, but only two points behind. Keeping the pressure on in the scrums and lineouts, they were awarded a penalty inside Collegiate’s twenty-two. Sefton opt for the kick to the dismay of the crowd, and Gorgeous kicks for the three points.

Sefton now seem to be able to drive Collegiate off their scrum ball at will, choosing the right time to take the ball. With a scrum lost on there five metre line, the ball was taken blind and sHamling goes over the try line. Converted by gorgeous.

- The John Terry moment -

Right on cue, Brian Gardner decides to come back on just as we take the lead in his full John Terry ‘I’m going to lift the trophy’ mode.

Gorgeous kicks another penalty in front of the post to increase our lead further.

- A tale of two catches -

A superb catch in the previous restart by Campo was marred by his second attempt in the next restart. A confident call of “my ball” was replaced with a look of shame as the ball bounces off his chest and lands on the ground in front of him.

With 10 minutes to go Collegiate hit back with a converted try to put them within one score. The remainder of the game was spent rebuffing Collegiate's attack as they throw everything at Sefton to try and get the winning try.

In the closing minutes Mark Dobie nearly blew a fuse when he thought a lineout decision went against him. He went into a full rage and even Anger Management turned away in disgust. The crowd however loved it, and jeered him as he wandered off in embarrassment.

 A shout off “send then back from where they came” didn't effect Sefton, and they held out for a deserved victory.

 A great game with the forwards dominating Collegiate, Matt Faulkner and Anger Management did a superb job in the front row, and Tom Founds was everywhere again. However, Gorgeous recieved Man of the Match for the way he controlled the game at scrum half.

JJ and Daniel Craig were soon back in the sauna together and they have requested that Sefton invest in one at the club. I have yet to hear from the director of finance whether this has been approved.

Lanky