Despite last week’s results, Sefton had confidence in getting something this week. A few cry-offs didn’t hamper Sefton’s spirit, with a strong front row and a fast paced back line. A welcome return for Wayne Osborne enabled the backs to get quality ball, and our Irish contingent, Paddy McCleery, Alistair McKie and Ali Telfer also return unharmed after last week’s pummelling, though all looking a little glum after Japan’s victory. We were hoping that this would inspire them to put a little more effort in than their fellow countrymen.

---- The Game ----
Birkenhead were a big side, but Sefton started well using their backs to stretch the opposition to good effect. Though nothing came from the initial attack, it gave Sefton a foothold in the Birkenhead half. The break eventually came in the forwards with Luke Griffiths breaking through from ten metres out to score. Jay Evans converting.

At the restart some poor tackling allowed Birkenhead to reach Sefton’s five metre line quite easily, and they looked like they were going to break through. A superb tackle by Jay Evans though made the opposition spill the ball in the centres, and the loose ball was hacked down field, with both sides chasing after it. Sefton just got their foot to the ball first, and the ball continued its tumble over the try line for Adam Mutch to fall on the ball over the try line. Jay Evans again converted the try.

Despite the backs dominance a series of penalties starved Sefton of the ball, and Birkenhead forwards were happy to just trundle up the pitch. The penalty count kept rising and eventually Sefton were unable to keep the opposition off the try line.

From the restart it didn’t get any better, losing Owen Collins to an injury didn’t help. A number of penalties allowed Birkenhead to get a dominant position in Sefton’s half, and this didn’t stop until their big forwards eventually crashed their way through to score again.

Sefton eventually get a penalty of their own, and Jay Evans goes for the kick, and although it misses, at the twenty-two restart the ball is caught by Sean Muirhead! Yes, I did say Sean, and no matter how unlikely that sounds you have to look at the odds. It’s mathematically possible that if he plays enough games, he will eventually get something right (a bit like the infinite monkey theorem producing Shakespeare). At Sefton, we call this the ‘Dobie Effect’. From this amazing catch the ball is passed to JP Ellis, who finds Wayne Osborne in a bit of space. Osborne is then left to navigate his way through the very slow covering defence to score unhampered (to envisage how slow they were, they were outpaced by Osborne). Evans added the extra two points with the conversion.

With a slender lead at half time, Sefton just had to stay on even terms with the opposition, and try to reduce the huge amount of penalties they were coinciding. This didn’t happen, in fact it got worse and it was starting to look like the balance was unfair compared with what the opposition was getting away with.

Surprisingly, Sefton manage to get up to Birkenhead’s five metre line, but that’s as far as they got before the penalties came. Anger Management was the victim of this latest run of penalties, receiving a yellow card for his actions. As you can imagine, he wasn’t very happy, as he ranted all the way to the side line. All those weeks of counselling have gone out of the window.

The penalties were coming thick and fast now, so much so, that it was getting ridiculous. Blatant penalties by the opposition were missed, but the ref was very sharp to pick up anything Sefton did. I understand that a ref can’t see everything, and I don’t mind if it is the same for both sides, but the penalty count was about 20-1 against Sefton. In the end we were being penalised just for asking who’s ball it was at a scrum. Not that I blame Birkenhead Park, they just played to the ref, but I think I would have been embarrassed if it was the other way round.

----- Kicking Update -----
For once this isn’t about Jay Evans, not once did he kick inappropriately, I do believe my weekly rants are getting through to him. I can’t say the same for the rest of them, Wayne Osborne, Ali Telfer, and Kyle Robinson all put foot to ball, usually straight to oppositions big full back, who was more than happy to run the ball back. With our fast paced backs it would have been much better to keep the ball in hand, and stretch them out wide.

Our tackling technique was also fairly poor, going too high on their big players, allowing them to trundle a further five metres before being dragged down. In the end, Birkenhead managed to get over for two more tries, and a very rare drop goal to take the game away from Sefton. Only in the closing minutes did Sefton finally get into the oppositions twenty-two, getting a couple of penalties by driving them off at the scrum, but it was by then too late for a comeback.

The game eventually finished with a bust up, as JP Ellis takes a quick penalty and goes over the line, only to be brought back, for taking too quickly. The frustration eventually showing on the Sefton players.

---- Who is Sean Muirhead ----
It never surprises me that Sean always manages to get noticed. This week Sean seemed to think he was a forward, rushing head first into the mêlée at the end of the match with no thought for his own safety. With his sudden injection of adrenaline he rushes towards the prop shouting “get the one, get the one”. Unfortunately when the number one turned to face him (three times the weight of Sean), his bravery recedes and he suddenly stops, and goes very quiet. Now who am I to say this actually happened, this was only hear say to me, but I think it should be recorded, after all why should anyone lie about such an incident.

A few outstanding performances with Jay Evans and Kyle Robinson both putting in some quality tackles, however Man of the Match went to the wizard himself, Wayne Osborne who showed he’s still got it, though at a slower pace.

I didn’t see the ref in the club afterwards, I think he made an early exit, so I could not ask him if he thought he had a good game. We will never know. Admittedly refs have a very hard job, and without them, there wouldn’t be a game. However, this is one game where maybe I should have stayed in bed.

Next week the seconds have another home game against Capenhurst. Hopefully Jack won’t have to wait too long for that elusive win. Off now to show Sean how to hide behind his prop when in mortal danger.