We’d not heard from Captain Jack all week, no cries for help, no mystery sobbing over the phone. This could mean one of two things, either everything was well this week in the Beckwith household, or he likes to cry alone. Thankfully, I think it was the former.

A late cry-off by last year’s third team player of the season Aaron Gore was I’m sure devastating for Jack, but we had the return of Brian Gardner, who would try and do as good a job, though possibly found on the wing for most of the game. The trio of drunk Irishmen also turned up again, talking in their lyrical leprechaun voices, and insisting on doing a jig before the match. They crack me up.

It was pleasing to see both Owen Collins and Kiev Mainwaring on the side line at the start of the game, who were asked, where their boots were? Collins was still nursing his ‘bruised’ leg from last week, and Mainwaring claimed he had his kids to look after. I think Kiev should take a leaf out of Mark Dobie’s book of ‘how to look after children’, his are practically feral, needing no looking after, apart from the occasional bone to chew on.

---- The Game ----
Capenhurst turned up with a massive prop, more tank shape than any human form. However Sefton start the better, with a break by Beckwith taking him into the oppositions twenty-two before he is brought down. His off-load in the tackle allows the ball to be kept moving and Precious takes it on, and Capenhurst scramble back to defend, leaving space out wide and a three on one overlap for Sefton. Who was there on the wing to retrieve the ball, but Brian Gardner once again occupying his favourite position, and is able to trundle over for the first try, within five minutes.

Capenhurst show their intensions early on, by using their forwards to charge the ball up the middle, which Sefton failed to stop with their tackles going in too high. A lineout on Sefton’s five metre line allowed them field position to set up a maul, and drive over the line for an unconverted try.

Keeping away from Capenhurst’s forwards was key to winning this match, with the opposition struggling to cover outside the breakdown zone. As Sefton attacked them within the twenty-two, the ball was passed out to the centres, and Kyle Robinson receives an inside pass to go through under the posts. Converted by Jay Evans.

Another driving maul was the undoing of Sefton with their big prop unstoppable from short distance and able to break through for a converted try.

The scrum were going well for Sefton, driving Capenhurst back on most balls, and this is where Sefton had the advantage over the forwards. A scrum put Capenhurst on the back foot, and when the ball went out, Jay Evans is quickly over in the corner for an unconverted try.

Capenhurst didn’t give up, managing to keep possession of the ball and use the short crash balls that had been so effective. Eventually, a missed tackle allows them to break through, and it looked like a certain try as they raced to the line with only Paddy McCleery to beat. However, McCleery did what could be the tackle of the season, not only tackling him as he went over the line, but also dislodging the ball as he attempted to ground it. The knock on was given, and Capenhurst were denied.

Sefton finish the half the stronger with Capenhurst getting tired. A scintillating run by Precious, which takes him ducking and diving his way through Capenhurst’s flaying defence, takes him deep into the opposition’s half. A pass to Sean Muirhead in support was good, but then Sean throws it blindly over his shoulder just as he is bundled out of touch, to end the chance.

Capenhurst spend the start of the second half camped just off Sefton’s try line, however they refused to give an inch, holding the ball up over the line several times. Eventually, though a gap in the defence is found and the opposition is able to break the deadlock, for an unconverted try.

Now all square, it would be dependent on who could be more clinical in attack. Both teams had their chances, but it seemed Sefton had the slight edge with Capenhurst again starting to tire. Some consistent pressure on their line kept Capenhurst busy, and when the ball comes out of a ruck, Precious finds Paul Latham running the perfect line, and going through under the posts. Evans adds the conversion.

Sefton had other chances, with Ali Telfer and Sean Muirhead on the wings, both getting the ball, but unable to beat the last defender, and finish them off.

---- Kicking Update -----
I give up, I have only just re-trained our serial kicker Jay Evans, and then Ali Telfer comes along, and ruins all my hard work. Kicking ball straight back to the opposition, instead of running at them. Jay doesn’t need any encouragement, if he see’s Ali doing it, he might feel like he’s missing out.

Owen Collins came on for the last ten minutes (suddenly, his leg is much better), obviously wanting to get on the winning team after all the hard work was done. He immediately gave away three penalties in the closing minutes, just to keep Sefton on edge. Despite this, Sefton hold onto the game, to register their first win of the season.

---- Who is Sean Muirhead ----
I thought Sean stayed pretty quiet this week, apart from his wild pass to no one in the first half. However, it seem there are plenty of people willing to grass him up, and telling me about the try that could have been. Five metres out with glory in his eyes, he goes for the line only to panic at the last moment and drop the ball. He never fails to disappoint me.

As for man of the match, Captain Jack bottled it, and went for the ‘I want to be loved by everyone’ vote, choosing a forward and back, man of the match. Admittedly Matt Faulkner at prop was solid in attack and defence, and despite Ali Telfer’s kicking, he terrorised the opposition when he ran at them. But choose a side Jack, don’t sit on the fence.

---- Time Out ----
Let’s talk about Captain Jack’s rests. Where is he going when he takes himself off for ten minutes? Is he going off to revaluate the game, to come up with a winning game plan, maybe going for a coffee and a cream scone, or is he just unfit, and out of shape? You have been noticed Jack, leading from the side line.

Next week the seconds are away at Winnington Park, I’m sure Jack will reiterate the importance of keeping the wins going. However, I would just be happy with fifteen players on the pitch, off now to hear about Brian's try for the fifth time.