What a week it’s been, players have been dropping like flies. As a consequence a number of second team players went up to the first team. I wonder whether the fact they were playing top of the league had any bearing on availability. This meant that the seconds had to draft in the majority of the third team who luckily didn’t have a game this week. With our own cry-offs, including a money hungry Dan Leary, who couldn’t resist the temptation of some overtime, leaving us with just four regular second teamers in the squad. Of course there was no sign of our ‘great’ captain, Jack Beckwith, who claimed his sacrifice was for the good of the club. We in the second team, couldn’t agree more Jack.

---- The two McCleary confusion ----
Having left a trail of tears back at Sefton, we set off, picking Luke Griffiths up on the way, unnerved by his request to “grab him just before the tunnel”, I didn’t think we were that close. On the way we also got a call from Chris McCleary, saying if we wanted him, he was now available to play. This left us with quite a Dilemma, as me and Campo discussed the various advantages and disadvantages of having Chris play. On one hand, he is another player, on the other, it is McCleary.
We gambled on Chris having an exceptional game and agree to him standing on the pitch, which gave us ‘thirteen, and McCleary’. Poor Ali Telfer just nods his head slowly in the back, like one of those nodding dogs that people used to put on their parcel shelf. Later Ali explains his confusion, “when you said ‘thirteen, and McCleary’, I thought you were insinuating we had a full team, as Paddy McCleery is almost like two men. But then, after realising there is another McCleary, and witnessing Chris standing idly on the wing all game, I now know what you mean, ‘thirteen, and McCleary’. Come on Ali, there not even spelt the same.

An added factor that I didn’t want players made aware of, was that Birkenhead’s second team didn’t have a game this week. It was like leading lambs to slaughter.

Birkenhead generously lent us a player, so at least we could match them in numbers, if not on talent. At least the firsts left us with Precious, who somehow avoided the big harvest.

---- The Game ----
First contact was promising, in that Sefton didn’t immediately surrender a try. In fact the defence held strong for a good ten minutes before Birkenhead finally broke through. There were areas where Sefton controlled the game, such as the lineout’s, and at times the scrum, which was understandable, considering the forwards consisted mainly props.

As the game went on Sefton’s forwards became more confident running with the ball, with our main battering rams coming in the form of Luke Griffiths, Mike Dempsey, and Rob Morton, who all gained considerable ground with every run. With this Sefton were rewarded with a penalty within the oppositions twenty-two, so not knowing whether we would ever be there again, Precious was called upon to kick for the three points. We would at least be going home with something.

Defence was mainly left to Campo at full back, as Jay Goulding shepherded Birkenhead through the centre’s, whilst Chris McCleary and Tom James practiced their dodge tackle at every opportunity on the wings. Luckily for Sefton the opposition were very handy at knocking the ball on, and after a few phases, we would be faced with another scrum. However, not even Campo could stop the barrel shaped winger, who had no intention of passing, leaving a handful of Sefton players in his wake.

---- Kicking Update ----
We won’t talk about Precious’ first two restarts, but just say they required improvement. He eventually relinquished the restarts to Ali Telfer, allowing him just to concentrate on penalty kicks. Ali’s performance with the boot was adequate, except for one elaborate attempt to chip the ball over the defence. This went at the most five metres, and straight into the oppositions waiting hands, thus relieving us of the ball.

In the closing minutes of the half, Sefton finally get some reward. A penalty is kicked into the corner, and from the lineout Sefton start to push Birkenhead back, with Jack Crone and Rob Morton making significant yardage every time. Surprisingly Aaron Gore was instrumental in the try, with his one, and only run of the game. Up until now he had been walking from ruck to ruck, and having a lovely time just leaning on at the side. That’s where I find him, just laying out his picnic blanket on the grass just to the side of the ruck, and about to bring out his various savoury snacks . Gently pulling him out to a position just left of the rick, he was bullied into receiving the ball at a gentle jogging pace, and initiate contact with the opposition. The act of him falling into the opposition gained us several yards, and allowed Precious to get the ball out quickly to Ali Telfer on the blinds side, who stepped his way through to the try line.

Half time and everyone was happy. Okay we’d let in four tries, but this was perfect for Campo’s game plan which was on track at keeping them below sixty points. The second half didn’t go as well, as a few fast backs found their way onto the pitch, and caused havoc. Not even McCleary needed to fake the attempted tackle as they passed their way through Sefton’s perforated defensive line. Before we knew it, we were facing a rout, with Birkenhead able to score at will. Our immobile pack was barely getting around the park, and our backs were quickly tying white sheets to sticks and waving them. Campo at fullback was furious, after hearing about the sand quality on the Birkenhead pitches, he had been looking forward to building a handful of sandcastle, but never got the time, due to his workload.

In the last ten minutes, Sefton finally got some consistent ball and even Kurdish Dave got the chance to run with the ball. This managed to slow the flow of tries going through, even spending a brief time within Birkenhead’s twenty-two. With Sefton managing to keep Birkenhead below sixty points, Campo was very pleased, and even happier when we heard that we had beaten the first team points difference. They hadn’t had the best of days either.

Despite the result, the players did really well with some good performances, especially in the pack. Luke Griffiths was relied upon immensely in the open as the only forward considered remotely mobile, and Mike Dempsey, still only a novice with a handful of games under his belt, showed what an immense talent he's going to be, clearly the best Dempsey in the family. Sefton’s Man of the Match however went to Ali Telfer, who was pushed into fly-half, and didn’t disappoint. His control at the pivotal role was calm and collective, with ‘most’ of his kicks going where he wanted them to.

Next week all senior teams have a much needed break. With a long injury list growing, this couldn’t come soon enough. If you are missing your dose of Sefton rugby, the Colts are at home against Littleborough on Sunday, 2.00 kick-off.

I am curious what Dan Leary will spend his blood money on, after abandoning us to our gruesome fate at the weekend, I will expect a few pints on the bar next time he joins us.