Sefton RUFC

Our replacement captain, James sHamling had to rely on bringing some third teamers in to compensate for those lost boys. Many of them involved in the Gallipoli Campaign against Oswestry two week ago. Understandably, I was worried that they may still be suffering some trauma from that experience, maybe post-traumatic stress disorder? Only time will tell.

The Game

Sefton 2’s welcomed Helsby in their first game of the season, two games behind Sefton in game time fitness. With a heavy pack up front, but lacking speed outside, fitness would again be a key factor.

Helsby’s 10 kicked intelligently in the opening minutes, and kept Sefton pinned down in their half. This led to Helsby getting the first points when they kicked behind the defensive line. The ball bounced awkwardly for Alan 'Jocko' Tyler, who was isolated from his forwards, and unable to ground the ball over the try line, before the opposition were on him. The ball bobbled off the post, which Helsby were quick to pounce on, and score a converted try.

Despite this, Sefton bounced back using their fast, capable backs, with the ability to break from anywhere. Helsby could not win a clean lineout, with Tom Rainer causing all sorts of problems for them as the front jumper. Losing the ball, it was Phil Ingham who was the instigator of Sefton’s first try when he broke through, and raced down the middle of the pitch. Caught within Helsby’s twenty-two, the ball was quickly transferred to the wing, where it was held up again just yards from the line. With a small gap spotted on the blind side, Gorgeous was able to sneak through a gap, and score.

A break by Ben Webster put further pressure on Helsby, as they scuttled back trying to stop the marauding prop. Realising he wasn’t going to make it all the way to the try line, he is able to off-load to Tom Rainer, who juggled the ball a few times, before regaining control, and going over for a try. Converted by Gorgeous.

The backs were constantly probing Helsby’s defence, but a number of final passes were also being dropped. It was suggested to Wayne Banthorpe that he shouldn’t pass at all, then maybe the success rate would be higher. Amazingly, this came to fruition minutes later with the ball going through hands, and Wayne Banthorpe went around the outside, and over the try line.

No more passing for Banthorpe was now part of the game plan, and he was soon finding success all the time. Put through a gap in the centre, again Wayne Banthorpe broke through the fraying arms, and this time sprinted half the pitch, handing tickets out as he went, with the opposition unable to catch him. Gorgeous converts.

Sefton had the perfect start to the second half, with the backs passing through hands, and Danny Harrington going through under the posts. Converted by Gorgeous.

The good, the bad

Jay Goulding, everyone loves a tryer. He receives the ball from a kick, and takes the ball forward, executing a perfect dummy. The crowd gasped, shocked at the skill, the defender hadn’t a clue where the ball had gone, looking around, above his head, on the floor, behind him. The crowd went wild. Then Goulding ran straight into two more defenders, and the magic was over. Do they call him, El Matador? ……….No!

A quick ball off the top of a lineout, allowed the backs to totally destroy Helsby’s defence. Probably the first time I’ve seen a backs move actually work, it's clear now that our Auckland grid moves are finally working. Liam Brown was the line breaker, and went over for a try, converted by Gorgeous.

Kicking Update

After the amount of abuse Welsh JJ has received over the last few weeks, you would have hoped it had curbed his enthusiasm for kicking. But no, he obviously has delusions about his footballing talents. He see’s the space, he can probably feel the tension in the air from the deep breath taken by his team members, heard the ‘no’ leaving my mouth, saw the shocked expression on the crowds faces, as the ball leaves his foot. Then imagine the surprise on his face as the ball makes a perfect spiral across the pitch into the oppositions twenty-two, and bounced to a stop yards from the corner. I hold hands to my head in disbelief.

And the ugly

The game seemed to stop for a deep breath, Goulding was the first to react though, and races down the pitch to intercept the ball. Just reaching the ball before the covering full back can get there. We expected him to either kick the ball through, or dive on the ball to gain control. Instead, he slides in with his foot extended, and the ball bobbles away, as he flays on his back. Do they call him, El Futbolista? …………No!

Luckily, Gorgeous was following up, not having to wait for a connection bus service like Blandie, and after swishing his golden blonde hair out of his eyes, he takes the ball from a floundering Goulding, and runs over the try line.

Helsby suddenly find a burst of energy, and push Sefton back into their half. Some strong driving runs from their forwards draws the defence in, leaving a huge overlap on the outside, which Helsby are able to exploit and go over for a try.

This last bit of exertion seemed to finally finish Helsby off. As with Mossley Hill last week, 60 minutes seemed to be their limit, and Sefton outlasted them in fitness. It was especially uncomfortable for one Helsby player who found himself on the wrong side of a ruck. For some reason he got stuck on the underside of Jocko’s boot.

 A second try for Danny Harrington came with a confusing dance, as he stepped left, and then right, and round in a circle, the opposition tried to match him, but his footwork was too quick. Eventually, they gave up and he went over wide on the left, with a pirouette to finish.

A third try also came from Wayne Banthorpe, there was no grace to it, just the need to cause damage, and by that time the game was all but done.

Special Feature – Am I a rugby player yet?

You have to give it to Joe Clarke, coming to rugby at the age of forty is a task. Boxing being his main interest, with a face that looks like he lost more fights, than won. Blessed with a body made of glass, in fact you could say he has more glass inside him than Dayaram Sahu.

His enthusiasm is infectious though, and is always willing to learn, when he isn’t injured. His goal has been to score a try, and we have been on that journey with him.

Golden Try

It’s the last play of the match, and Sefton are on Helsby’s line, with players taking the ball in, but being stopped short. The ball finally comes out to big Joe on the perfect line, he crashing through, probably breaking something, but not stopping, the crowd goes wild as he places the ball over the try line. In the bar afterward, Joe is adamant he was fifteen metres out, and later on it was half the pitch, but in all honesty it was a try two-step Pete would have been proud of. Joe was offered the conversion, but sHamling was worried that over stretching his hamstring would break Joe forever, so he was denied, despite the barracking from the crowd.

A great game, and despite the scoreline, it was very competitive, Sefton just had faster, fitter players than them. Another fine performance by Sefton second team, with some outstanding play, also a little regret, (with JJ now thinking he can kick the ball every chance he gets), and some try scoring milestones reached. You would probably expect Wayne Banthorpe to get Man of the Match with his hat-trick of tries, but anyone can score a try. Tom Rainey was a whirlwind of energy, and Gorgeous was again outstanding, not needing to get a bus to any of the breakdowns, but he did hit the post on the last conversion. In the end it was decided that Mikey Dempsey’s raw meat diet is working, and let off his leash he was a destroyer of men from Helsby.

AS for what we should call Goulding, there are a lot of suggestions, but the jury is still out.