Sefton RUFC

This was his day. There aren't many positives about sHamling. He is lumbered with an uninterpretable language, which only he can understand. Has a lack of understanding for the need of comma's in his literature, and is wavering on the edge of the spectrum. However, this was his time for glory and legacy making.

Last weeks trip to Winnington Park was a great rehearsal to this week's game. A triumphant Sefton 2's overcoming a combined Winnington 2's and 3's side. It's a compliment to Sefton’s depth of talent that many who played in that game, were not available this week, including the MOTM Elliott Lloyd.

Also missing was the thunderous kick of Andy Fairlie, though he did turn up in a supporting capacity. His attire choice, was questionable, turning up in these brown, slip on moccasins. I can only imagine there is a tramp somewhere, flummoxed as to where his footwear has gone. We should call social services, he has clearly lost his self esteem. We'd have taken his belt and shoe laces off him, if he had any.

- The Game -

Sefton couldn’t hope for a better start, receiving from the kick-off, the ball was crashed in by Holywood Joe. Then straight out through the hands in the backs, who held their line to allow Wayne Banthorpe to go round the outside, and beat the covering defence to score left of the post. The clock had barely gone into the second minute. The conversion by Gorgeous hit the upright, going against the wishes of the ground staffs plea, not to hit the newly erected posts. They wobbled, but did not fall down.

The restart gave possession to Sefton again with a rampant Charlie Renshaw taking the ball up this time. With the forwards doing the damage, this left huge holes in New Brighton’s defensive line, and Liam Brown, sailed through, and into open space, to go round the full back, and score. Gorgeous managed to hit central, between the posts for his conversion.

Another restart, with the same effect, Charlie Renshaw collecting, and Mitch Bretherton crashed it up with devastating effect, bouncing off a number of feable challenges, before the ball was released to the backs.

A brief possession of the ball for New Brighton gave them some relief, and was probably the first time any of them had touched it, not counting the kick-off and restarts. This was short lived, however, with Sefton not giving the opposition an inch of ground. The ball was wrestled off them, and another devastating attack through the backs sees Cameron Hughes juggle the ball, before regaining control, and scoring under the posts. Another post hit by Gorgeous denies the conversion, and again tests the workmanship of the ground staff.

Abandoning kicking long at the restart, New Brighton tried to go short, but failed to make the ten metre line. The scrum was again a great platform for Sefton’s backs. Isaac Lancaster was put through a gap, and was clean through to the line, if only he had the pace. Caught, and dragged down short of the line, (I think it was the prop), he was denied a try for now. Sefton kept them trapped in their half, and with the help of their forwards, depleted the opposition’s defensive capabilities. A simple passage of hands, and Isaac Lancaster was provided with a simple five metre run to the try line, which not even he could mess up.

Despite having a bit more ball, New Brighton struggled to gain any ground. Their scrums were ineffective, and Tom Rainey was disrupting most of their lineout ball. When they did get chance to run with the ball, they were met with a solid wall in defence, unable to get through. A try for Jimmy 'two chins' sHamling out wide, increased Sefton's lead, and try by Tom Rainer under the posts, completed the first half performance.

In the second half, Gorgeous continued to dismantle the oppositions defence with a quick tap at a penalty, to go through under the posts unhindered.

Steve Kidd also got on the score sheet with a blistering run round the outside, and through under the posts. Followed quickly after with a try by Mitch Bretherton.

Photographer, Mark Dobie's one big chance came when he ran in with the ball. He hits contact, and goes straight to ground, and New Brighton steal it off him. The only good thing for him was, no one was photographing it.

A spell of possession by New Brighton looked promising for them, and they were close to getting their first try, but Sefton’s defence held strong again.

A second try for Wayne Banthorpe, Cameron Hughes, and Tom Rainey seemed to put all hope of them scoring out of reach, and a chance for at least one hat-trick on the cards. Cameron Hughes had that chance, when he was clean through, but appeared to slow down as he got to the line. A clear attempt at jug evasion, if you ask me.

- Disappointing Finale -

In the closing minutes of the game, New Brighton managed to get a penalty within Sefton’s twenty-two. A loss of concentration, or miscommunication, whatever it was, Sefton allowed them to slip through and score a try. There was genuine disappointment on Sefton’s faces, in what was almost a flawless performance.

With minutes left, Sefton looked for retribution, finishing with deadly precision. Pushing New Brighton back into their half, and Mitch Bretherton was able to crash over for his second try of the match. Converted by Liam Brown (the only decent kick he did all day).

This was as perfect a performance we've seen from the second team, bar the try they allowed through, against second in the League. They weren't a bad side, but Sefton didn't allow them any ball, and the little they did get was quickly nutralised. A thirteen try haul, with eight conversion, and three hitting the posts.

The ref was faultless, and didn't miss much, in a game that was fast paced, and often heated.

I am wondering how long the Veterans can last in this squad. Dobie now relies heavily on his camera skills to get in the team, and my only hope is that no one else gets a big car. Paul Walker, however has still got it, he's like a wrinkly, dried up shammy leather, that when put in water, he instantly looks brand new.

The highlight for me, was seeing Holywood Joe come off, and go into full Diva sulk, for being substituted. Out of the three stooges he is probably the most annoying, always seeking attention, and looking for praise. When they say that parents don't have a favourite, their lying. 

Man of the Match was clearly going to be hard to pick, with so many good performances, it was like a perfect storm, when everything came together just at the right time. However, there was one clear contender, Charlie Renshaw. From the start of the whistle, until the end of the game, he was on fire. Maybe it was the early rest he had last week which motivated him? That will teach him to fake an injury.

Once again I look to Swiss Tony for an analogy of the game. He would say, "Winning in a top of the League clash, is like making love to a beautiful woman. You don't realise now, but this is as good as it gets, it will never get any better".

- Other News -

A huge congratulations to JP Ellis on the hard work of producing a child. He obviously didn't get the message of not having children during rugby season. No doubt our missing captain will turn up eventually, returning after going for milk almost three months ago. He will probably appear at the end of the season, when we've won the League for him. He will turn up in full John Terry gear, and push sHamling out of the way to lift the trophy.

Campo will be fuming, with his third team winning at Birkenhead Park. Apparently, he wasn't playing, so was unable to influence the game.

The Ladies won in a Cup game away at Keswick, taking a coach load of supporters. The Keswick Pencil Museum (second biggest in Europe), was not mentioned to Leonie Robertson.

We've had a whip round, and bought Andy some trainers, velcro ones, obviously.

Yours, Lanky