Sefton RUFC

Sat 29 Nov 2025, 14:15

New Brighton 2nd XV

53 - 8

Sefton 2nd XV

New Brighton 2nd XV

Sefton 2nd XV

Yet again Sefton had to fulfill three fixtures this weekend, with all three teams playing. The seconds were away at New Brighton who came up with Sefton into Division 3.

The captains worked hard to get numbers this week, especially Jay Goulding in the third team. Which allowed the seconds to get a full side out, including sub, Chris 'Salad' McNeil.

- The Game -

Sefton had a big heavy pack, which allowed them to dominate in the scrums, and the lineouts. Other than that, New Brighton seemed to outclass them in everything else. Their backs attacked the gaps within Sefton’s defensive line, and if they did get a hand on them, it took several yards to drag them down. Within minutes they had scored their first try, and we're hungry for more.

An early set back for Sefton was Laurence Twycross going off with a busted noise, so Salad comes on at hooker, and Lancaster goes to flanker.

Surprisingly, Sefton get some points, firstly a penalty in front of the posts, which is kicked by sHamling.

Then a break in the backs allows Ben (3/5) Rowland to take the ball wide, and bundles over in the corner for an unconverted try.

- Save Yourself, no really, save....Oh you have! -

An injured hamstring compromised 'big' Lanky, but he played on as long as he could, for the sake of the team. Unfortunately, 'little' Lanky didn't care about the health of his old man, and went off immediately after getting injured himself. Bizarrely, a hamstring injury on the same leg. With only one sub, this meant there was no more replacements left. Lanky Snr. had to stay on, and hobble around for the whole of the second half.

With 30 points in the first half, Sefton were by this time not realistically going to win, but their performance could improve.

Sefton did manage to improve their game, keeping New Brighton out, but not managing themselves to break through the opposition’s defence again.

A yellow card was bizarrely given to Mark Dobie for pulling the lineout down. As if Sefton needed to be a man down, in a game that was all but over. No cards were given to New Brighton for the several high tackles they committed. Was the ref aware we were being battered? It's not as if New Brighton needed his help.

A final try was scored by New Brighton, with Giz sliding in with both feet in a last ditch tackle, and probably lucky not to be sent off. I'm starting to wondering whether Giz knows any laws in rugby, or whether in his head there's just a little voice repeating the word, 'kill, kill......' If we are all slaughtered in a Rambo style massacre, don't ever say there wasn't any warning signs.

- Captain Berates -

I've never seen Kev so angry, he was red faced, with a purple vain pulsing in the side of his head. We felt like naughty school kids. No one laugh, or you'll get a blackboard rubber on the back of your head.

Apparently, we didn't stick with the plan, but I think the plan went out off the window pretty early on. My new plan was to survive till full time. Everyone stood half a yard further back, and avoided eye contact.

As the captain pointed out, there was some very good individual performances. Harry Gribbin was rock solid in his new position as prop, Laurance Twycross was mobile and energetic at back row, and Ben (3/5) Rowland, was a big threat in the backs. However, collectively it wasn’t a well oiled machine this week.

No one bet on the Man of the Match this week, with only one of Kev's favourites playing, Seb Hannibal. We thought it was a sure thing, but it went to Mark Dobie. I don’t think it was for being sent off, it was more like his overall commitment over a number of games. However, he didn't dare give the Captain his post-match back rub.

I'm sure your worried about little Lanky. Let me assure you he's fine, and he should recovery from his traumatic hamstring strain. As he pointed out, "sacrifice, is an important part of rugby", and he didn’t hesitate in throwing his dad under the bus.