Another try fest as red hot Greens hit top form

BY VINCE ELLIS

FOLLOWING last week’s try fest win against Eagle, Ormskirk travelled to Clitheroe on Saturday eager to maintain their good run of form, always a tough place to play, complacency was not on the cards.

Ormskirk were quickly into their stride as they contested an early Clitheroe ruck.

Centre Jake Hodson turned over the ball and set off, ghosting through the home defences to within five metres of the line where an off load to back row Tom Owens brought the first score, converted by winger Matt White.

This early 0-7 score set the visitors up for what was to be a dominant first half display of clinical attacking rugby.

Two further try scoring opportunities went begging due to a forward pass and a double movement on the ground, before Jake Hodson once again showed his class with a trademark silky run that lead to number eight Lee Arrowsmith increasing the score to 0-12.

The foundations for the attacking flair were being laid by Ormskirk’s strong defensive qualities which nullified Clitheroe’s big forward’s drives.

Any mistakes by the home side were quickly pounced upon and turned into attacking opportunities.

A 60 metre clearing kick by Alan Sinnamon put Clitheroe on the back foot as it rolled into touch five metres from their line.

The home side then gave away a free kick for an infringement at the resulting line out, Ormskirk took full advantage by taking it quickly for full back Alan Sinnamon to cross the line, 0-19 with the Matt White conversion.

Ormskirk continued to press home their advantage, straight from the restart the forwards went through a number of phases of taking the ball into contact and committing increasing numbers of Clitheroe players to the breakdown.

Arrowsmith broke through the weakened defensive line with a strong charge and strode the remaining 50 metres to dot the ball down under the posts, a simple White conversion followed.

A 0-26 lead and fourth try bonus point gained within the first 20 minutes could have seen a fall-off in intensity from Ormskirk, but this possibility was quickly dispelled as again, from the restart, they were smartly on the front foot. A strong surge by second row Steve Rouke gained large metres and quickly recycled ball from the supporting forwards ended in the hands of centre and skipper Mike Knowles to break the rapidly retreating Clitheroe defences, 0-33 after White added the extras. Clitheroe were unable to cope with Ormskirk’s attacking flair, despite their gallant defensive efforts and forceful tackling, the visitors were not to be denied. Knowles again broke the defensive line to put Hodson over the whitewash, he then quickly doubled his try count after a good backs handling display and as half time came, winger Dave Webster got himself on the scoresheet.

With White converting all three of these tries, the interval score of 0-54 was impressive.

It would not have been surprising if Ormskirk’s levels fell off after such a good first period and Clitheroe were sure to be motivated into a better display after the restart.

Sure enough, Clitheroe began by trying to be adventurous and run the ball wide through the backs, Ormskirk’s defensive line was up to the task and repelled these early home forays.

A long clearance kick from Clitheroe ran over the dead ball line in the strong breeze resulting in an Ormskirk scrum back on the edge of the home 22.

Again on the front foot, Ormskirk showed their levels were good enough as back row Tom Owens increased the score to 0-59 with a try in the left corner.

Clitheroe were being shown no leeway by the visitors as at the tackle area Ormskirk were quick to get their hands on the ball and create turnovers, snuffing out any opportunities they may have had for a score.

Tensions were mounting in the Clitheroe ranks and one of their forwards was yellow carded for stamping in the ruck.

A hopeful long kick from Clitheroe failed to find touch and was run back by Ormskirk from deep in their own half.

The forwards again were clinical in going through their drive phases and as the ball moved left a speculative kick forward was collected by the Clitheroe full back, only to be tackled and pushed back into his in-goal area.

An attacking Ormskirk five metre scrum was won and Hodson took the ball on the crash under the posts to earn his hat-trick try, 0-66 following the White conversion.

After a fracas amongst the forwards Steve Rouke was yellow carded by the referee for retaliation and sent to the sin bin for the remainder of the game.

Ormskirk were to have the last say in the proceedings as the ball was moved efficiently through the hands of the backs and Hodson smoothly scored his fourth try of the game.

The resulting 0-71 final score, including eleven tries, was an emphatic display by this Ormskirk side, who at the moment are scoring tries for fun.

Will they continue in the same manner over the coming games?

Come down to Green Lane next Saturday and see when North Manchester are the visitors, kick-off at 2.15pm, all are welcome.