Sefton RUFC

Sat 15 Jan 2022

Sefton 2nd XV

35 - 21

Liverpool Collegiate 2nd XV

Sefton 2nd XV

Liverpool Collegiate 2nd XV

After last week’s victory over Trafford, confidence was high, and a surprising amount of players put themselves available for this home game against local rivals Liverpool Collegiate. As a result, a side bursting with talent was on show, including old players such as Tom Fletcher and Johnathan James, as well as new young upcoming players like Dan Drakeley, Isaac Lancaster, and Jack Lewtas. The back row was boosted by regular third teamer Adam Hunter. Who for some reason has been kept off the higher team radar by a secretive Campo. I’m sure he was just thinking of the players welfare.

The initial play was edgy, with both sides testing each other, however it was obvious from the start that Sefton had a huge advantage in the forwards set pieces. The powerful front row of Dwyer, Lancaster, and Faulkner dominated the scrums and Drakeley and Fletcher cleaned up in the lineout, to a point that they got pushed off most of the scrums, and didn’t win a single lineout.

It was ‘two step’ Pete Johnson who registered the first points, with a step through the ruck which catches everyone out, and he was under the posts before anyone reacted.

Collegiate pulled the score back almost immediately when they charge the ball down. They then kick through, and it’s picked up by a player who appears to be off-side, however he is allowed to play it, and runs in under the posts for a converted try.

--- The five metre conundrum ---

After Luke Griffith’s embarrassing flop over the five metre line, and JP’s five metre short try last week, it has started a little bit of a trend at Sefton. This week’s unfortunate victim was Billy Heist, who also let out the customary “YES!” as he grounded the ball over what he thought was the try line. He immediately realised his mistake from all the sniggers from both sides, and the ref, and tried to pretend he knew it was the five metre line, sheepishly laying the ball back. He quickly scurries back to his position out of the way, to continue his sand castle building at full back.

This error of judgement didn’t faze Sefton, keeping the ball deep in the oppositions half, and eventually getting a lineout ten metres from their try line. The catch by Tom Fletcher set the maul, and it was propelled forward at a quick pace allowing Grant Leary to ground the ball over the correct line.

Sefton started to give away some needless penalties, and this allowed Collegiate a foothold within Sefton’s half. Some crash balls managed to suck all Sefton’s defence in, and then the ball was flung wide to their lone winger, who had an easy run in for a converted try.

--- Play, card, rest, repeat ---

It’s like groundhog day, with the same thing happening again, and again. Some people collect stamps, or sport memorabilia, but Grant Leary prefers cards, mainly yellow and red. Maybe he’s just someone refs love to hate, but his knack of picking up cards is renowned. He claims he is misunderstood, I just don’t think he knows the rules, any rules. Yet again, he is sent off for a high tackle, but Sefton are well use to playing with a player down when Leary is playing.

Half time, and Sefton survive without giving Collegiate any more points. Tom Fletcher has to go off for a head assessment after having double vision, but after a check over by Dr Thomas he was judged safe to carry on.

With Sefton having all the possession, Collegiate had done well to keep the scores level. It was important that Sefton looked after the ball better in the second half. A break by Russel O’Brian nearly worked but his eagerness to put Jon Nevill in on the wing ends in a forward pass. Sefton started to use their forward’s more effectively, picking from the base of the ruck, and driving forward at a gradual pace into the opposition’s half. A scrum is awarded on their five metre line to the delight of the front row. A steady drive allowed Tom Fletcher the easy task of controlling the ball at the back of the scrum, before grounding it as he crossed the line.

A further try for Fletcher increased the score, again coming from a sustained attack from the forwards, which allowed him break the defensive line and go over right of the posts.

--- Gifting a try ---

It seemed Jonathan James couldn’t resist being involved in scoring by getting an assist. Not for Sefton though, with a stray pass going straight into the hands of a Collegiate player who were able to run in under the posts for a converted try.

Now only seven points ahead, Sefton pushed to try and restore their two score cushion. The forwards took the lead with several pick-ups from the back of the ruck, to drive them closer to the line. However Collegiate’s defence was solid around the rucks, and eventually the ball was passed out wider, with Steve Dwyer able to crash through their defence to score.

--- He will be known as ‘Jon the Squealer’ ---

In the closing minutes Jon Nevill has the ball and as he takes on the defender he goes down squealing like a banshee. Fearing the worse, his team look on in anguish wondering what injury could cause such drama. After a few minutes of rolling around like a professional footballer, he eventually gets up, and hobbles off with his head bent in shame.

--- Kicking Update ---

As the clock goes red, Steve Dwyer hoofs the ball up in the air, and over the boundary fence into a garden twenty metres away. As an explanation to his actions, he says he’d had enough and just wanted to get the ball off the pitch. Well you did that Steve, you try to explain that we don’t kick in the seconds, but props generally just do their own thing. As a warm down it was suggested he had a walk round, and collect his waywardly kicked ball.

A fine win, with five tries, all converted by Gorgeous. It was a strong front row performance with all deserving credit, but Man of the Match went to the commanding aerial performance of Tom Fletcher.

Steve Dwyer was not seen again after his trip round the West Derby estate to collect the ball.