Ormskirk find the answers to early setbacks
ORMSKIRK’S season had a successful beginning to life in the newly formed Lancashire RFU League on Saturday.
The opening ADM First Division fixture brought Ashton-under-Lyne to Green Lane but a poor start by the home side saw them give away attacking positions through dropped ball at key moments.
Ashton were allowed to move up field and a penalty at the scrum gave them an early 3-0 advantage with its simple conversion.
Ormskirk where given little time to reorgansie themselves when quite soon after the restart a miskicked clearance from inside their own 22 area flew straight to the Ashton right winger who, gratefully accepting his good fortune, gathered the bouncing ball and scored unopposed close to the posts for a converted try, increasing their lead to 10-0.
Quickly shaking off their errant start, Ormskirk’s chase from the kickoff caught the Ashton catcher in possession and forced a knock on.
A good heel at the resulting scrum gave the back row space to attack close to the scrum.
Fast ball at the breakdown was moved down the back line, giving centre Mike Knowles a gap to go through and score out wide.
Now having reduced the arrears to 10-5, the home side applied good pressure on the Ashton defence, working their way up field.
A series of forward moves saw second row Steve Rouke crash over from close range, putting Ormskirk ahead 12-10 after James Lang’s conversion.
Ormskirk where still making small errors, lost ball in the contact preventing further scores, but their continued movement of the ball through forwards and backs created problems for Ashton and eventually resulted in a third try when prop Tony Hudson crashed over.
The game could have been all over before half-time as more chances for Ormskirk went begging through lost ball in contact, knock ons and not releasing the ball to the man with a clear run for the line.
As it was the half-time score stayed at 17-10.
The home side where in no mood to hang about after the restart, forcing a penalty from the opposition.
A quickly taken tap ball set the forwards on the front foot, they took the ball through three phases of play before releasing the backs for full back Kieron Beswick to enter the line and obtain the bonus point fourth try, increasing the lead to 22-10.
As Ormskirk tried to put the game to bed, further errors continued to keep Ashton in the game and allow them to pressurise the home 22.
A clearing kick relieved the strain, and a good chase and further kick ahead saw them into Ashton’s 22 area.
A smart lineout move allowed second row Steve Rouke clear space at the front of the line and he scored his second try unopposed in the corner.
Not long after, the second row was on the scoresheet again with his hattrick try, this time with an audacious dummy pass following a series of strong forward drives.
At 34-10 following Mike Knowles’ conversion, the game was now out of Ashton’s hands.
There was though time for Ormskirk to earn a seventh try when, now well on top, the pack won a scrum against the head with a powerful drive. With the ball in hand fly half Nat Wildman broke the Ashton back line with a dummy pass, although taken in a tackle, Ashton were in disarray. Recycled ball was moved wide for centre Mikes Knowles to bag his second try.
The full time score of 39-10 was well deserved by the home side in their first league game of the season.
There are areas that need to be tightened up, especially with ball retention and handling, but an optimistic start.