Southport shake off away day hoodoo
BY GRAHAM ELLIS
SOUTHPORT went into this game fancying their chances, but the spectre of having lost every away game this season and of the home side doing the double by the tiniest of margins last season meant that absolutely nothing could be taken for granted.
Despite long term injuries to Tom Smith and Charlie Attis, Southport fielded a decent XV but this was cruelly shattered after a couple of minutes when talisman Sam Cross fell awkwardly and sustained a serious injury to his jaw.
Duly despatched to Arrowe Park Hospital Sam’s team mates regrouped and dug in.
The evolving Chris Mayor and Jack Parker midfield partnership again purred into action and Southport took the game to Hoylake duly rewarded when the powerful Parker crossed the line, Jake Mann adding the extras.
Seven points soon became 12 when the barnstorming second row Dominic Allen notched his debut try in impressive fashion but the conversion was missed.
Hoylake then became to establish some territory and pressure duly scoring a converted try to narrow the gap to five points, but the away team came and secured a two-score advantage through a Jake Mann penalty which they took into half-time. Hoylake 7 Southport 15
Hoylake turned round with the slight wind at their backs and made early inroads, but missed a kickable penalty to give Southport a let off.
This would be rued as Southport returned with interest the savvy Mayor charging down a kick and with Mann’s conversion further extending the lead to 7-22.
Hoylake to their credit just about kept themselves in the game with an unconverted try of their own but at 12-22 it was as good as it got.
Southport upped a gear and a further three unconverted tries from Mayor, Hill and Peacock saw them safely home at 7-37.
In short, a well-earned victory but at a cost with ‘Big’ Sam now out of action for sometime. We wish him well.
But cometh the hour with Allen coming to the fore.
What a game he had, and his teammates were certainly no shrinking violets. An excellent performance all round.
The main pitch at Waterloo Road was the setting, as Southport’s 3rd XV took on their counterparts from Birkenhead Park, writes Graham Whyte.
The visitors were unbeaten and top of the league prior to the kick off.
Southport hoped the momentum would continue from their great second half performance the previous week.
Again Lawrence Abood started at 9 with Dave Atherton at 10. A young, fast set of backs led by Steve Hunter and Luke Monaghan in the centres and Connor Rylands at fullback, Jason Fitzpatrick and Tom Rowe occupying the wings.
The forwards led again by John Gillow, were bolstered by Bert White and Callum Monaghan at prop and hooker.
Jake Pagan playing at 8 with Nick Henthorn and Matty Croughan making up the second row, Graham Whyte and Mark Garner Jones on the flanks.
Southport’s pack dominated the early scrums against a tough, wily, experienced Birkenhead pack.
Securing possession and gaining territory before the backs were brought into the game.
Some great passing rugby leading to the home side’s first try in the corner.
The game continued in this vein for the next 10 minutes, Southport scoring again to make the score 10-0.
Birkenhead’s pack then started to find their feet in the match and they were rewarded when from five metres out the tight head prop crashed over to put the visitors on the score board for 10-5.
Southport then turned the screw, some tough, wrecking ball style running from Steve Hunter led to try number three for the home team, 15-5 at half time.
The second half saw Jamie Church and Dan Lovett enter the fray.
Lovett coming on for the everimproving Henthorn, who had to be taken off after tearing a calf muscle.
Some early dominance from Southport led to a converted penalty by Fitzpatrick to make the score 18-5.
Unfortunately, some ill-discipline saw the home team reduced to 13 men after Church and Pagan were both yellow carded.
This spurred the visitors on, but Southport’s defence stood firm against wave after wave of Birkenhead attacking play.
The home team couldn’t quite manage to keep the visitors out though, after some great tackling their try line was finally breached just before the penalised players returned to the field for 18-10.
Now that Southport were back to full strength, the game got away from the visitors, Abood scoring after some great running once again from Monaghan who moved the score on to 23-10.
Another two home tries followed, before the away team managed to get another try.
The most celebrated try of the day though was reserved for when replacement prop Lovett broke from a ruck and ran 25 metres and scored in the corner, the home fans cheering their approval as time expired.
A brilliant performance and result for the home team in what was a brutal, aggressive encounter against a Birkenhead team who wouldn’t lie down.
All credit to the visitors for making the game what it was. Well done Southport, a much-deserved win and now a week off to rest your bruised bodies!
Bring on LSH in two weeks.