Sefton RUFC

Sat 12 Mar 2022

Winnington Park 3rd XV

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Sefton 3rd XV

Winnington Park 3rd XV

Sefton 3rd XV

Winnington Park must have thought we were keen when Sefton turned up 1½ hours before kick off. However Sefton were expecting a 2.15 start, whereas Winnington were already on 3.00 o’clock kick-off time. Who is to blame for this misinformation could be put on two people. Absent captain, Campo, or stand in captain James sHambling. I suggest it was a joint effort of incompetence.

A mixture of old heads and young Colts graced the field, including a young Harry Osborne playing for the first time with his dad Wayne. A monumental moment, spectated by all the Osborne clan, somewhat raising the crowd attendance inexplicably to a record high for the third team.

The game

I great start was probably Sefton’s downfall with the ref identifying the stronger team and immediately trying to even it up. Dominance in the scrums and lineout restricted Winnington's possession of the ball, but Sefton were getting a lot of penalties against them, which hampered their progress.

The forwards may have won the ball, but it was the backs that finished it off, with some great offloads in the tackle, which ended with Wayne Osborne putting Isaac Lancaster over for the first try.

With Luke Griffiths winning everything in the lineouts, Sefton could almost stay as an attacking line, and spin the ball wide at every opportunity. This time Harry Osborne was able to race away, taking the ball round the outside and over for a try. Sefton were now camped on the opposition’s try line repeatedly, but also penalised just at crucial moments and allowing Winnington an easy escape. After a long period of the siege, and a number of crash balls, Billy Heist was finally able to wriggle his way through just about avoiding hitting the posts to score under them. James sHambling converted.

Yet another penalty for Winnington, frustrated Sefton, but because of their failure in winning any lineout’s they were running everything. This led to the ball being stolen in contact by Costa, who quickly went on the counterattack. Billy Heist received the offload and was able to go over for his second try. sHamling was just lining up his conversion when the ref decides that Sefton were not back ten metres on the penalty, and changes his decision, scrubbing the try, and awarding Winnington another penalty.

To make matters worse, the opposition was filled with new enthusiasm and went on an assault of their own. A number of penalties eventually allowed them to get over for a try of their own.

Can it get any worse

That question was answered in the second half. The scrums were rock solid for Sefton, but Paddy Arnold managed to break his replacement prop, a lad who only lasted one scrum, and looked as if he should have retired many years ago. As he lay in a heap on the pitch we wondered how we were going to drag him off to restart the game. Greenpeace might need to be called. Luckily after several minutes he got up, and hobbled off on his own accord.

Uncontested scrums was the result, yet again taking away sefton's advantage. Winnington played with new vigour, putting on their seven subs helped pick up the tempo and they looked a different team. A try by their winger put them right back in the game. Luckily their kicker couldn’t hit the mark and missed the conversion.

Still the ref insisted on giving Winnington every advantage he could, which left Sefton backtracking. The one time that Sefton did get a penalty they opted to kick for the posts just to keep the two scores ahead, with Anthony hawksford slotting it over.

Normal service resumed after that with Winnington awarded numerous penalties to push Sefton back onto their line. A final push broke the Sefton defence, and Winnington went over for a third try. Luckily the kicker still couldn't kick, and that left Sefton with a five point lead.

The new Grant Leary

Costa, what a player in the loose, elusive, dynamic, ferocious in the tackle, but has no idea of the rules. Possibly responsible for a lot of the penalties. He would look up from an infringement with the look of confusion on his face, not knowing what he'd done wrong. It was only after the match, he told me he had no idea of the new rules, instead playing the laws that applied ten years ago. His statement, “So when he puts his knee on the floor, you have to let go of him!” was priceless. I suggested he watched a few rugby games before playing his next game.

With Sefton again on their own try line, the defence were all sucked in and all it took was a ball out wide for Winnington to run it in over in the corner. Again the conversion is missed and the scores are all square.

The final nail

What happened, I don’t know, a total collapse of game management maybe. The blatant knock forward by the opposition, which was missed by the ref probably sums it up. This eventually leads to a penalty right in front of Sefton’s posts. Winnington Park opt to kick, and unfortunately this time where successful. Right on cue, the ref blows the whistle for full time.

A disappointing end to the game, which was ruined by inconsistency. A draw I think I could have lived with, but to lose it at the very end really does ruin the day. Performance by the team couldn’t be faulted, with some monster tackles going in, especially from the back row of Costa. Demsey, and Hunter. However, Man of the Match went to Luke Griffiths for his Goliath performance in the air, and around the pitch.

As for the goats son, Harry Osborne, I was hoping to welcome him into the Sefton fold with the complimentary back wash that all new comers get, however he must have been forewarned and was last seen scurrying out of the changing rooms. I was left with Anthony Hawksford who worryingly loves the attention, which is frankly, a bit unnerving.