Sefton RUFC

Sat 2 Oct 2021

Liverpool Collegiate 2nd XV

38 - 14

Sefton 2nd XV

Liverpool Collegiate 2nd XV

Sefton 2nd XV

It could well have turned out to be a brown shorts day. All three teams were in action this weekend, and with cry-offs widespread during the week, it was a struggle fielding full squads for all teams. Our courageous captain almost made it to the field with fifteen, but a Saturday morning late cry-off left him without a prop. What made matters worse was Collegiate first team didn’t have a game. We had packed a brown shorts in anticipation of what was to come.

Games against Collegiate could be described as volatile at best, like mixing potassium and water. Maybe not as bad as they used to be, when fights often broke out even before the teams left the changing room, but they still have that local derby rivalry. To Collegiate’s credit they fielded an honest side, with no first teamers involved, very rare morals to have in lower level club rugby in our experience.

The captains team talk was limited compared to the other week, it was as if he had used all his best material on the first game. Sean's inspiring speech implied that we didn’t need one, because we were playing Collegiate.

Surprisingly this worked, as Sefton started strongest. It wasn’t long before the first mellay was instigated, by who, probably Jamie Luck, but this quickly evaperated as fast as it appeared. Sefton got the decisions in the early half of the match, and used a number of penalties to get deep in the oppositions half. The lineout was dominated by James Wilson, and Dan Drakeley, in his first senior game, with Collegiate eventually not even bothering to compete for the ball. The break came through the centre when Dan Harper finds enough space, and slips through under the posts for the first try. Converted by Jamie Luck.

Sefton continued to push for a second try, with the Jordanian going through a ruck and over the line, only to spill the ball before he grounded the ball. Another chance came when Harper broke the line and then off-loaded the ball to Lancaster. However, the versatile hooked was unable to get a clean ball away to Russell, who would have had easy run in under the posts.

Those missed opportunities cost Sefton later in the half, after dominating for thirty minutes, Collegiate started to make inroads into Sefton’s half due to a number of penalties against them. This ended with Collegiate finding a gap and running under the posts for a converted try in the closing minutes of the half.

Confidence was high at half time, with Sefton believing they had the better of Collegiate. However, a few fresh legs gave Collegiate more dynamism from the start and a quick try around the outside gave Collegiate confidence. Obviously their team talk at half time was focused on keeping away from our forwards, and exploit the space out wide with the extra man. Collegiate did this a further two times to increase their lead.

The fire under the boiling pot was stoked, when Ali Telfer had his ankles danced all over. His part in this was not entirely innocent when he trapped the Collegiate flanker feet so he couldn’t escape. Ali’s acting was of the highest quality, as he rolled around on the floor screaming just like a professional footballer. In the melley that followed, there was plenty of pushing, shouting, and possibly the odd fist, but after it calmed down the Collegiate player who stamped got a red, and the Jordanian got a yellow.

Some brave defending kept Collegiate from increasing their score, including a try saving tackle by Jon Neville, and James Wilson jackling a number of balls.

--- The kick ---

In the last ten minutes Sefton found a bit more consistency, and were witness to their first 50/20 kick executed by Jamie Luck (a kick from your own half, that bounces out in the oppositions twenty-two, resulting in your lineout). I don’t think he intended to do it, but that didn’t stop him talking about it in the bar all night afterwards.

This gave Sefton a foothold in the oppositions half, and they were able to push Collegiate back onto their line. A strong direct run by the Jordanian allowed him to break through with several defenders unable to drag him down. Firstly he bounced off the post shield, before falling over the line on his back. The Jordanian used all his strength to place the ball on the ground, but was halted. He then turned the other side and attempts again to ground the ball, with an opposition player holding him up. To save his embarrassment, Lancaster comes in and places his hands on the ball and pressed it down to the ground. The relief on the Jordanians face was palpable, though he was not so happy when as we got up, I told him I scored that. Confused, he asked what I meant, and I explained, I put downward pressure on the ball, it must be my try. The try was converted by Ali Teller.

I final try by Collegiate came from a breakaway deep in their own half, in the final minute of the game.

A fantastic game, with quality on both sides, but the fourteen of Sefton showed immense resolve. There was many outstanding players, with new boys Tristan and Dan looking in great form. James Wilson, JP Ellis and the Jordanian worked tirelessly in attack and defence. Man of the Match went to Dan Harper, who is becoming an invaluable member of the team.

The debate about the try, and who owned it went through the night. The Jordanian claiming that the ball was going down anyway without intervention, however I claimed I had the final downward pressure on it. Eventually getting a well-respected referee involved to make the final decision, who concluded after looking at all the facts that Lancaster scored the try. Apparently, although possession is nine tenths of the law, as the Jordanian hadn’t yet paid his membership, he can’t be recorded as the try scorer.

The Jordanian is now a fully paid up member.

--- Lanky ---