Sefton RUFC

Birchfield away is not something to take lightly. It would be a tough game, with hard hitters, and a side that tries to intimidate you. Sefton could not allow this to happen.

An injury in training to captain Kev Mainwaring ruled him out for this game. He would be sorely missed, with Sefton needing to dominate in the scrums. As I've said, nothing good ever comes from training, stay well away.

Captain for the match was Isaac Lancaster, a decision I don’t think was well thought out. Not because he wouldn't be a competent captain, just that he was at scrum half this week, not his normal position, and could have done without the extra burden on his young shoulders. Plenty of experience was in the side, perhaps James sHambling would have been a better option, ex-captain, good under pressure, and it would not effect his game. However, I was not going to steel Isaacs thunder, he would be thrown in the deep end, and learn to sink or swim.

In the team talk before the match, Isaac went for the Seb Caine approach, the angry rant. Me, and Joe Clarke took a step back, just in case.

An odd pre-match concessions from the ref, required the whole team to go back into the changing rooms, before coming out for the match. Which wouldn't have been so bad, if the changing room weren't 400 metres away.

As expected Birchfield came in hard on first contact, not shy to add a little elbow into the mix. James Wilson's first bit of contact was met with a couple of digs. At first the referee handled it correctly, issuing two yellow cards consecutively for two high tackles. This allowed Sefton to find space on the outside, and Seb Hannibal was quick to capitalise on it with a run out on the wing, and through under the posts.

Birchfield had a long period of possession and managed to contain Sefton within their own half. A number of penalties didn't help this, and this eventually led to a yellow card for James Wilson. Further assault on Sefton’s line eventually led to a converted Birchfield try.

The refs previous willingness to penalise high tackles dries up, as Birchfield repeatedly offends, with no consequence. Most of this aimed at Sefton’s stand-off, James Wilson. Normally we would welcome this personal approach, after all, James is an angry person, who somehow attracts this sort of attention. However, even I thought they were going above and beyond the remit of targeting the stand-off. I don’t think there was anyone on the Birchfield side he didn't have an altercation with. I think he enjoys it.

Seb Hannibal could've scored more, but yet again we're met with this, lazy, nonchalant run he has when he gets the ball. Instead of hitting the outside line, he maraudes around, taking a cha, cha, cha, sideways step, or a backwards movement, inviting the opposition to tackle him.

Joe Nice goes off. I don’t know why, he wasn't injured, I think he just went for a rest. I would love a rest, Joe! We have decided he is not nice.

A surprise break by the Birchfield prop down the wing looked to be a sure try, with only Danny Harrington in position to stop him. The prop surely thought he could power himself over in the corner, but did not factor in Danny's new bulked up status. The prop was totally bewildered when he is put down on his backside, and off the pitch.

With the end of the half approaching,  neither team looked like they could break through and score another try. Therefore, when Birchfield were given a penalty, they opted to kick for the posts. Going into the break, they were three points up.

Another bizarre stipulation came from the ref. Apparently, we are not allowed to do the half time team talk on the pitch. We had to go over to our 'technical area'. We shuffle over, not saying anything, just incase he suggests another weird technicality, such as having to take our boots off, or only drinking left handed. Maybe he had a bet with someone as to how many stupid things he could make us do?

The second half was mainly Sefton, I don’t think Birchfield got into Sefton’s half more than twice. They certainly didn't get into the twenty-two. However, they defended fiercely, if a little high on more than one occasion. Harry Mawdsley insisted on taking it in numerous times, despite being one of the lightest in the pack. This was easily defended by Birchfield, and some of the more 'solidly built' forwards should have taken more responsibility.

He was not the only player that thought he was invincible. Isaac Lancaster took it upon himself a number of times to take on two or three of their forwards, and at one point was picked up and marched back like a fish being reeled in on a line.

A score for Sefton was looking inevitable, with the Birchfield tryline under siege. A number of crash balls were taken up by the forwards, and this, for once left the opposition's defence out of shape. A jinxing run by Seb Hannibal forces the gap, and he is over under the posts. His excitement, and exuberance was probably a bit over the top, but he had been battered and bruised all game, and he let it show. Bizarrely, the ref disallows the try, not for an infringement before the try, but for unsportsmanship behaviour afterwards. A strange decision which should probably have been questioned more thoroughly. Surely you can't penalise an action that happened before an offence? A penalty at the restart would have been a more sensible decision.

There was other chances, a dropped ball out wide, and numerous entries into the opposition’s twenty-two. The lineout's still need a little work, as Sefton adapt to the new moves. I did appreciate Andy Farlie's advise on the side line though, "just throw straight'. Thanks Andy, I was wondering what was going wrong.

At one point Sefton’s captain questioned Birchfield being continuously off-side, and was marched back himself ten metres. By this time the ref had completely lost it, with several scuffles going on, and he just let play go on around it.

In the end, Sefton just ran out of time, and Birchfield held on to the victory.

A frustrating game, and who knows if the try was allowed, how Birchfield would have responded. Teams play differently defending a lead, rather than chasing a lead.

Man of the Match went to Harry Mawdsley, he was everywhere. Although, sometimes I wish he would have delegated some of the ball carrying duties to the more bulky forwards.

Some of the refs decisions were outrageous, granted, but Sefton should have made sure of the win, rather than relying on the decisions of the ref. In all honesty, he was probably out of his depth on this one. He was a young lad and maybe shouldn't have been given such a potentially volatile game. It wouldn't have mattered as much if one team ran away with the game, but such close contests are always going to create an intense niggly contest. We look forward to the rematch at our place, the fire has been lit.

Yours, Lanky.