Southport’s lead is gone with the wind
BY JOHN VANDERMEER
EFT were the match day sponsors on another blustery day at Waterloo Road with local rivals Tarleton the visitors.
Southport welcomed veteran Col Toohey back into the first team along with debutant Joel Verite who started on the wing with Callum Tootle unavailable and Joe Mawdesley unfortunately injured.
Jake McMullen was included on the bench replacing the unavailable Sam Lawrenson.
Southport started the match very positively and made good use of the wind with Charlie Attis’ trusty right foot making significant gains into the visitors’ 22.
It was not long before Tarleton committed an offence that was well within range and Attis made the most of this opportunity giving the home team a three point lead.
Southport continued to put pressure on Tarleton and after a patient build up, an excellent cut out pass was delivered to Joel Verite on the left wing allowing him to cross untouched and things were looking positive for the Port.
The conversion was missed but Southport were off and running and hungry for more points and following a period of further pressure a similar cut out move on the right wing to Tom Peacock was deemed forward with the try disallowed however Tarleton were committing multiple penalties which resulted in their centre resting for 10 minutes in the sinbin.
The resultant penalty was converted by Attis and Southport were 11-0 in front.
It was then Southport’s turn to commit offences and try scorer Verite was unfortunately shown a yellow for not rolling away and the momentum seemed to shift towards the away team.
Tarleton worked the ball with great intensity and desire and scored a deserved converted try under the posts and with neither team able to score again before the turnaround it was feeling like Southport, 11-7 up, had not made the most of the wind.
Tarleton were now kicking to the Waterloo Road end and within the first couple of minutes managed to score an unconverted try out wide giving them a slender one point lead.
The away team now had the momentum and were playing with great purpose and with both teams losing a player there was more space and Tarelton were able to score a try again which this time was converted giving them an eight point lead.
With two scores required Southport had to play more expansively which proved to be difficult into the wind and with only minutes to go the visitors scored again and with a successful conversion won the match 11-26.
Southport were ably served by Alex Leadbetter and prop Niall Cooney with an encouraging debut from Verite.
There is no first team match next week which allows the senior squad to work on plans on the training pitch however there is always a hive of activity at Waterloo Road on a Sunday morning so if you want to experience some quality rugby played by Southport’s minis and juniors then that’s the place to be.
The next first team match is away to Winnington Park on February 29 which will hopefully see a return to winning ways for the Port.