Sefton RUFC

Sat 6 Jan 2024

Sefton

29 - 20

(HT 19-8)

Southport

Sefton

Southport

Sefton welcomed Southport on Saturday, two evenly matched sides, with Southport coming out on top, the last time they met.

Sefton would have to cope without their coach, Jamie Luck this week, who was on the slopes of some distant mountain evaluating the amount of alcohol required before he could ski. This left Matty Thomas in charge of keeping control on the touchline. A loud Welshman, replaced by an even louder Welshman. The ref was going to have no peace.

At least captain, Christian Caine was back to full fitness, after a tentative bit part in the last two games. Surprisingly, still able to move round the pitch despite his failing body. You may ask how he manages to get in the side, and the answer is, he’s captain, and he’s the only one with a seven seated car for away matches.

- The Game -

A positive start by Sefton, that led to a well worked early try, when Sefton found themselves with a scrum in Southport’s half. The ball goes right, and with Nathan Lewis entering the line from full back, they were able to create an overlap on the outside, allowing Callum Rossiter to dive over in the corner.

Southport hit back just three minutes later, when they got a number of penalties, which eventually allowed them to kick to the corner for a lineout on Sefton’s five metre line. The catch and drive was clinical, and Sefton were unable to stop their forwards from trundling over the line for an unconverted try.

After the fast paced start, both sides started to probe for advantage. Southport’s lineouts were faultless, and they disrupted a lot of Sefton’s ball, however the scrums were dominated by Sefton, with Matt Faulkner causing numerous problems for his opposite number.

- Everyone should have an angry Jock -

I’m unsure of what rugby skills Allan Tyler has, other than hurting people. The Scotsman, fondly known as ‘Jocko’ (It took a creative imagination to come up with that), seems to have incredibly sharp elbows, and knees, that are unavoidable when tackling him. Speaking to him, you would easily be mistaken for thinking he was constantly drunk, maybe he is, on past observations, most Scots I know are. Maybe they all are?

Sefton eventually make their way down into the corner of Southport’s half, following another passage of play from the backs. A penalty is awarded, and Sefton opt for a quick tap, using their forwards to draw the defence in. The ball is finally released, and a long floating pass is directed to James Wilson, who is undefended out on the wing, and able to stroll in left of the posts. Jay Evans converts the try.

Southport recover some points when a penalty is awarded to them in front of the posts for a high tackle. Southport take the kick for the three points.

A kick, and chase out of Sefton’s half is rewarded when James Wilson is taken out as he is about to take the ball. This allows Sefton to kick onto the opposition’s five metre line. The lineout was successful, and after a few phases, JP Ellis was able to crash over for a try, converted by Jay Evans.

The last ten minutes of the half, were spent within Southport’s half, but some solid defending, and some poor attacking options by Sefton, denied them any more points.

In the second half, it was Southport’s turn to put the pressure on. With Sefton trapped within their half, and unable to escape despite having chances to kick their way out. Eventually, the defence was breached by Southport’s forwards, and they were rewarded with a converted try.

It was the seventieth minute mark before Sefton saw any more success in Southport's half. A penalty allowed Sefton to kick into the corner, and from the lineout, Southport conceded another penalty trying to stop them. A quick tap was taken, and Kyle Noon manages to take a number of defenders with him on the crash ball. The ball was quickly recycled, and allowed Sam Heeley to sneak through the gap created, to score. Jay Evans converts.

Southport push for a reply, and press Sefton’s line with some big ball carries, however not only was it rebuffed, but the ball was stolen, and quickly passed out to the backs. The kick out by Heeley allowed Isaac Lancaster to chase, and reach the ball first. Kicking the ball through twice, till it was over the opposition’s try line, but just beaten to the ball by the covering defence.

This however, only allows Sefton to retain the ball with Southport’s having a drop out from under the posts. As Sefton return the ball, the opposition are penalised for a late tackle, and Jay Evans slots the ball between the posts, to put Sefton two scores ahead.

In the final minutes, a last gasp effort by Southport gets them forward, with their pack overwhelming Sefton to crash over for an unconverted try.

A quality performance from Sefton who worked hard in defence, as well as attack. A commanding performance from Sam Heeley at stand-off with the majority of the attacking options coming through him. However, a lot of work that generally gets unnoticed is the defensive work, and Seb Caine put in a double shift this week, and therefore earned Man of the Match.

In other news, the club must be hitting hard times, with the second team going away without any balls to use in the warm-up. Managing to borrow one ball from Widnes, the forwards naturally got first dibs on its usage. Meanwhile the backs practiced with an imaginary ball. It was reported that Jay Goulding still managed to drop it twice.

Next week the 1XV are away at Tyldesley, Christian Caine will be picked.