Sefton RUFC

This top of the League clash was going to be a key deciding point in the season. The return of our captain, JP Ellis was going to be hard for the players, after getting used to sHamblings 'unique' style of captaincy. For a start he would have to introduce himself to the kids, gain their trust, you can imagine the trauma this could have on them. Telling them "It's OK, it's just like having two dads, mummy has a new captain now".

A full compliment, and four subs were accumulated, to the disgust of Campo in the thirds. Four subs! He was not happy. New boy Cameron Hughes was the new captains favourite, with Chris Brogden from last week, a distant memory to our captains fickle mind.

The Game

Shock and awe is all I can say to describe the first ten minutes of the game. In that time, Sefton never saw the ball, unless it was in the hands of some large burly New Brighton player running at them. 

- Man Down -

The first of our props went down, with Ben Webster supposedly suffering with cramp. I think it was a big mistake turning up at training on Thursday night, that attitude is no good for a highly tuned athlete like Ben. He hobbles off, determined that he would be back. We didn't see him again, possibly a hamstring injury? Did no one tell him, he should have handed them in when he became a prop. Charlie Renshaw goes into prop.

Sefton defended bravely, but after some sustained pressure the line was broken, and New Brighton went over for a converted try.

At the restart, New Brighton take the ball up with little resistance, only stopping their marauding forwards with some desperate tackles.

Sefton's bad luck with props continued with Charlie Renshaw injuring his shoulder, they were down to their reserve, reserve prop, sHambling! Despite the weight disparity in the front row, they just managed to hold their own.

A high tackle on Steve Kidd gets New Brighton all wound up, cheering and jeering. He is down for a while, eventually getting to his feet, but earning his team a penalty for his pain.

Sefton manage to get the ball down in the opposition’s half, and New Brighton kick to escape, only for it to be run back by Lancaster. A random pass out finds Ali McKie who steps through a disorderly defensive line, before Luke Griffiths takes it on. With space out wide Wayne Banthorpe switches play to the left onto sHambling and out to Steve Kidd who is able to go over in the corner for an unconverted try. New Brighton weren’t jeering now.

Sefton had a large amount of time camped on New Brighton’s line, but could not capitalise on it. 

A period of disorganisation followed, with Sefton's forwards forgetting their game plan. New Brighton’s stand-off was also causing problems with a strategic kicking game that kept Sefton within their half. This resulted in Sefton giving away numerous penalties, and New Brighton were able to get a converted try from the back of a scrum.

At the restart, Wayne Banthorpe did a crunching tackle, and Sefton won a penalty for not releasing. Big Joe steps up as a runner, with clear intentions in his eyes. Unfortunately, the ball bounces off his barrell chest as he runs in, and the chance is lost. New Brighton clear their lines, and before Sefton know it, their back in their twenty-two.

New Brighton quickly take the initiative,  and before Sefton could react, they were over the try line to gave them a fourteen point lead at half time.

A lot of chat went into sorting out Sefton’s problems at half time, mainly tiring out the large New Brighton pack, and getting the ball wide for the backs to do the damage. Cameron Hughes comes on at half time, as does Dan Harrington to get some extra pace in the backs.

A lot of pressure now came on New Brighton, with them unable to get out of their half. From a lineout, the ball was sent out, and Cameron Hughes was able to step through a fractured line to go under the posts. Jay Evans converts.

sHambling takes the ball up the middle, and as he passes, he is hit from the side. Sefton lose their reserve, reserve prop. Although Charlie Renshaw comes back on, Sefton have to go uncontested. Great commotion follows, with New Brighton deeply unhappy, and throwing lots of rules at the ref, all made up. One of their props actually walks off, ranting as he went. Later, we find all his toys thrown out of his cot.

- Career ending injury -

It's not many times you witness such a horrific injury. At first we thought it was just his ribs he had damaged, as Joe Clarke hobbles off. It was much worse than that, some barbarian had stood on Joe's toe!

Now most players would have rushed off to A & E, where the triage would have seen the grotesque mangled toe, and rushed Joe straight into surgery. Flying in a specialist surgeon to try and save his toe nail. However, Joe bravely stayed pitch side, so he could cheer his side on, despite what must have been extreme agony. What a team member, what a man, what a brave little soldier.

The side struggled on, despite loosing their talisman. Once again the backs up the pace, and New Brighton have no answer when Isaac Lancaster comes into the line from full back, and passes to Lughaidh Power who uses his pace to go over in the corner for an unconverted try.

A number of penalties scupper Sefton as they are again pinned back in their half. A half chance at an intercept ball drops to Cameron Hughes, but a knock on gives the ball back to the opposition. From there, New Brighton are able to sneak round the blind side and over for an unconverted try. Now seven points behind, and New Brighton sensing victory, Sefton needed a big finish.

Firstly, Cameron Hughes is nearly through the middle, and under the posts, but is just held up over the line. The restart kick only gives the ball back to Sefton, and Dan Harrington runs it back. A jinxing run through the centre by Jay Evans sends New Brighton into panic. The ball comes out the back, bobbling on the floor, and Isaac Lancaster scoops up a loose ball, allowing him to race over in the corner for an unconverted try.

With minutes to spare, New Brighton start to panic, and give away a penalty, which is kicked deep into the opposition’s half. Ali McKie takes the ball in, and New Brighton flock to the ball, leaving the blind side sparsely defended. JP recieves the ball, and steps past a stranded forward, and beats the covering defence to go over in the corner. The conversion is slotted over from wide out by Jay Evans, to complete the victory.

What a game, with every player deserving the plaudits. It could have gone either way, but again Sefton's superior fitness helped them over the finish line. Man of the Match went to Cameron Hughes.

Great hospitality by the New Brighton lads after the game, with a boat race challenge to demonstrate Sefton's drinking talents. A great start by Joe Clarke, despite his hurty toe. However, Charlie Renshaw seamed to think he was drinking a cocktail, taking tiny sips, or maybe his shoulder injury prevented him from lifting his arm up. Either way, Sefton's hopes of winning the drinking competition were dashed.

- Love Triangle -

Their like a magnet, when the Welsh meet each other. As we get back to the club Matty Thomas made a bee line to Cameron Hughes, and started flirting with him immediately, to us onlookers,  it was quite embarrassing. Cameron's girlfriend tried to prise them apart, but she had no chance,  not able compete with Matty’s comprehensive knowlege of parts of a lamb. Cameron was obviously impressed, and Matty was last seen enticing Cameron with slow cooked lamb chops, with a light sprinkling of oregano. Those Welsh are weird.

As for Joe's toe, I have set up a Just Giving Page, to raise funds for the unfortunate appendage, and there is a 24 hour live feed, so you can share his pain, and monitor its recovery. Billy Ray Cyrus is even talking about bringing out a charity record called 'Acky Breaky Toe'. We're here for you Joe.

I'm off now to try some of those lamb chops, they sound delicious.

Yours, Lanky.