Sefton RUFC

Sat 9 Dec 2023, 14:15

Sefton

12 - 10

(HT 5-10)

New Brighton

Sefton

New Brighton

Maximus Decimus Muridius wasn’t rearing up on a horse, ready to charge into a gladiatorial battle. It was a hard slog, I imagine, difficult to play, and at times, even harder to watch. We weren’t being entertained.

A wet and windy day welcomed New Brighton to Sefton, with most of the crowd huddled under the limited shelter available.

New Brighton played with the wind in the first half, hoping that their stand-off could give them good field position with the boot.

It was Sefton that struck first though, using a penalty to get them a lineout five metres from the oppositions try line. The catch, and drive was good, and Kyle Sharples was able to trudge over at the back of the maul, grounding the ball on the line. A difficult conversion into the wind by Jay Evans fell short.

With the wind advantage New Brighton now pinned Sefton down in their twenty-two, unable to get out. A scrum central, was passed out to the wing, and they score a neat try in the corner.

A bizarre decision by New Brighton to kick a penalty five metres inside their half, fell short, and Sefton were able to kick clear. New Brighton continued to kick the ball back into Sefton’s territory, however, SJ was in full control at full back, and was able to run it out of danger. In fact a better ball to Faris Ejimofor, and the winger would have been through for a great counter attack. Unfortunately, he juggled the ball several times before knocking it on.

Half way through the first half, and New Brighton were finally penalised for the ball not being straight at the lineout, having failed to get any straight so far.

However, a blow came soon after, with Christian Caine Jr. hobbling off, a worrying site, with his dodgy knees. Fortunately, it wasn’t his knee, just his ankle, another broken piece of a Caine. If only there was a spares depot, where you could get replacement Caine parts. There must be a scrapyard of Caine’s somewhere. The old goat Wayne Osborne replaces him, coming on in the centre.

Scrums had been problem for Sefton, with New Brighton able to disrupt them, but now our front row was starting to get the better of them. A loose ball out the back was poached by Jay Evans, but any ball they had was soon handed back to the opposition.

A penalty for New Brighton on Sefton’s twenty-two was quickly tapped, and went out wide, to score in the corner.

We’re not France

Who is in charge here? When you get a penalty on your five metre line, you tend to kick it out, and gain a lineout further up the pitch. All I can think of is captain Seb Caine had a rush of blood to the head, and decides that running the ball out from there was a good idea. It didn’t end well, by the time the centres got the ball, they were back on their try line with the opposition defence right in their face. Fortunately, for Sefton they got another penalty, and this time kicked for touch.

In the closing minutes of the half, New Brighton had numerous chances to increase their score, with a dropped ball over the try line, and two penalties under the posts. Both times they opted to play the ball, instead of kicking at the posts, and both times they messed up.

Now with the wind behind them Sefton did exactly the same as New Brighton did, kicking the ball into the opposition’s half, and keeping them pinned down in there.

Just like New Brighton, Sefton wasted scoring opportunities. New Brighton only entered Sefton’s half three times in the 40 minutes played, only once getting into the twenty-two! However, despite this huge territorial advantage, the crowd was left with anxious looks at the clock as it ticked down.

A returning Christian Caine Snr. came on for the last 20 minutes, but despite the captains influence, New Brighton clung onto their five point lead.

With five minutes to go, and time running out, Sefton managed to get a penalty, which was kicked into the corner, just on the opposition’s five metre line. Though the lineout was messy, they still managed to retain the ball. The ball was passed out, and SJ stepped back inside, and managed to break through New Brighton’s defensive line. Brought down just short of the try line, he was able to reach out, and place the ball on the line.

The conversion was difficult, not wide out, but tough enough, with a swirling wind behind him, and the small factor of taking the lead up for grabs. As usual on these pressurised moments, Jay Evans was the calm in the eye of the storm, and sweetly slotted the ball between the posts, to give Sefton a two point lead.

The next five minutes were tense, but Sefton managed it well, to come away with a slim victory.

Not a great game, but a victory, for a Sefton side that didn’t play great. In the end, you take them, because there has been times this season when they have deserved the win, but come away with nothing. A well deserved Man of the Match for SJ, in defence, and attack. Unlucky for New  Brighton, who if they took the kicks when they had them, could have come away with the win. I guess they might have to revise their five year plan.

After the game a generous spectator left some beer money behind the bar for our courageous lads. I'm not sure if he meant the players, or the people watching?

Lanky