Sefton RUFC

Sat 25 Feb 2023, 14:15

Aspull 2nd XV

21 - 52

Sefton 2nd XV

Aspull 2nd XV

Sefton 2nd XV

A poor week of availabilities meant that the two’s and three's had to combine for the trip to Aspull. A full team and subs was on the cards. Inevitably, cry-offs came including a very dubious ‘I slept funny, and now my neck is sore’ from James Goulding. I’m thinking the real reason must have been so terribly embarrassing that he opted for this lesser of two evils, lame excuse. 

We end up with a committed fifteen. A bonus was having ‘Pistol Pete’ Johnson on the team, however it came at a price, we had to take his son Danny too. A two for one offer, take it or leave it. 

As pre match entertainment went this was priceless, seeing sHambling try and squeeze his fat head into Campo’s spare scrum cap was a real treat. His head looked red and swollen, and his ear lobes were sticking out of the bottom. I love this lad, always prepared to humiliate himself, for the benefit of the team. 

• The game - 

The game plan was simple, give the ball to Lawrence. With Danny Johnson at 10, he had strict instructions to miss out sHambling whenever possible at inside centre, and pass straight to Lawrence Gillen. 

Aspull started the game the strongest, with their heavy set centre partnership testing Sefton’s defence. However, in one attack Lawrence Gillen anticipates the pass, and intercepts the ball mid flight to race away and score under the posts. Anthony Hawksford converts. 

 Aspull hit back with some consistent pressure on Sefton’s try line and from a penalty they eventually crashed over for a converted try. 

This glitch was soon rectified by Sefton, with Danny Johnson putting Adam Hunter through a gap, before stepping round the full back, and going under the posts. Anthony Hawksford converts. 

The dynamic back line was again causing havoc for the Aspull defence, and it was Lawrence Gillen who eventually receives the ball, and outpaces their backs to go round, and through under the posts.  Anthony Hawksford converts. 

 Another break by Danny Johnson, and this time his chip over the defending line lands in the space behind. Although he was able to reach the ball first, the ball bounce wasn't kind, and he had to slow down to gather the ball up, which gave the defence chance to catch him. From the tackle he was able to offload the ball from the ground to Sean Muirhead who was in support, and he went over for a try. Anthony now gives his kicking duty up, and allows Danny Johnson to kick the conversion wide out on the left. The kick is missed, but Anthony keeps his 100% suspicious kicking margin? 

The restart after half time brought instant reward, with ‘Pistol Pete’ Johnson seemingly like a magnet to the ball, and catching his third restart. A break by Adam Hunter sees him go through only to be stopped by the full back deep in the opposition’s half. A penalty was finally awarded and the ball is flung out wide whilst Aspull where still napping. Lawrence Gillen was able to exploit this, and he went over for his third try. Again the conversion out wide is given to Danny. 

• A father and son moment - 

It's good that when the old man gets a bit decrepit that the son steps in and gives him a hand. With Danny Johnson feeding the ball to his dad in space. Although the ball was given a little too early, leaving Pete (I only ever take two steps to score a try), another 40 metres to run. However, his turn of speed amazed everyone as he raced away from the chasing opposition. In reality the opposition players we're not in the best of condition. Anthony Hawksford converts, surprisingly from in front of the posts. 

Aspull did have the ball quite a lot, but wasted the possession by kicking downfield on a number of occasions, only for Anthony Hawksford to pick it up at full back and run the ball back at them. 

A few penalties against Sefton, allowed Aspull to gain some ground, although a lot of the time was spent hunting for the ball in the wooded area on the touch line. Luckily we had Campo on look out, who obviously must play a lot of where’s Wally in his spare time, possibly the only good thing he did all game. 

Gaps did start to appear however, and Sefton fail to react to the pressure, allowing Aspull to go through for a converted try.  

A tremendous run by Richard Bradley put Sefton deep into Aspull’s half, and this led to a scramble back in defence. A pass to Daniel Craig put him into the space, and it was clear between him and the line to go over and round under the posts. Converted by Anthony Hawksford, from under the posts. 

 A last surge by Aspull with ten minutes to go probably saw their best play, with the opposition using their big heavy runners to push Sefton back. A superb tackle by Harry Osborne on their huge full back halted their attack, but kept them in Sefton’s half. The line was eventually broken and they went over for a converted try. 

In the final few minutes Aspull push for a fourth try, and we're close to Sefton's line. A knock on from a penalty put a halt to this, and Sefton were able to get the ball out to Lawrence Gillen, who ran the length of the pitch to go over for a final try. Converted by Anthony Hawksford. 

A remarkable performance considering the majority of the players were third teamers. Hard work from the forwards prevailed, considering we had a very slow back row of Campo and Daniel Craig. 

Even more remarkable was how well Danny Johnson did with Blandie at scrum half. Danny had obviously been pre-warned about blandie's refusal to pick the ball out of a ruck until it was perfectly presented on a silver tray, with a red bow on it. 

 Another great performance from Matty Cunningham, as always very prominent around the ruck area, and stealing plenty of ball. 

Although Lawrence Gillen got four tries, it was the magic of Danny Johnson that stood out. This elusive young player was the maker of the majority of the tries, and had at least four assists, if not more, and therefore deservedly got player of the match. We’re unlikely to see Danny again in the seconds, once the first team suck him into their void, but it was nice whilst it lasted, and at least he got to sing ‘Fat Bottom Girls’ once. 

I hope that Goulding’s traumatic sleeping injury has recovered for next week, nobody wants to NOT see that whilst they’re asleep. 

Lanky