Four off as Port are edged out
AFEISTY De La Salle visited Southport on Saturday with both teams desperate for the points to help them move the away from the bottom of the table.
The match was sponsored by Napthens, a local firm of solicitors with offices around the North West.
De La Salle were out of the blocks quickly and scored a try in the first five minutes with some strong running and led 0-7.
It didn’t take long for Southport to answer and having a numerical advantage after the opposition wing was yellow carded for a head high tackle, Calum Monaghan dived over following some good continuity and recycling of the ball.
Jake Mann was successful with the conversion and it was 7-7.
De La Salle were defending well and despite not having the most mobile of packs kept Southport at bay when the home team gained possession.
Some good interplay from the away teams backs and forwards saw them score another converted try under the posts and the lead was back to seven points.
Southport seemed to lack confidence and made a number of handling errors when they looked as if they could score.
A penalty was awarded to the home team close to half time which left the score 10 -14 at the turn.
Following the restart De La Salle were awarded a penalty which stretched their lead to seven points and then with some poor defending by the home team another try was scored by the visitors and they were 12 points to the good.
There was always a certain amount of niggle in the match and it finally came to a head half way through the second term with an all in fracas which led to the referee showing red cards to two players from each side.
This seemed to afford more space to the home team and with only minutes to go Connor Rylands jinked around the opposition and scored an excellent try which was converted on the touch line by Jake Mann.
With only injury time remaining Southport were finishing with a head of steam but unfortunately a knock on spoilt their chance of levelling the score and De La Salle ran out five point winners.
Man of the match was Calum Monaghan who carried well all day.
The third team were more fortunate and ended up 31-22 winners against a very strong Preston Grasshoppers 5th team.
A number of younger players were selected and they performed heroically against much bigger opposition which all goes well for the future.
As for the ladies they continued on their winning ways with a 21-41 victory away from home against the Upper Eden Ladies leaving them well clear at the top of the table.
Traveling to Carrington was the newly combined U17 Colts.
Southport started brightly playing with great intensity and opened the scoring on 10 minutes from a scrum followed by a well worked move from the backs finished by Mason Roche in the corner. The remainder of the half was largely dominated by Sale, but a fearless and patient Southport defence kept themselves in the game, conceding only twice going into the break 10-5 down.
The second period saw Sale strike first. Southport maintained their effort and composure with a dominating scrum to allow a platform for another well worked backs move seeing Ed Sinclair score in the corner, Jamie Brown with an excellent conversion on the right hand side. After a prolonged period of pressure from Sale they scored with seven minutes to play.
Eight points adrift, Southport heads could have dropped at this point but they kept believing, with Freddie Boardman going in to score only to be then unfairly challenged with a high-tackle from the opposing winger resulting in the Referee presenting Southport with a penalty try.
The following restart was followed by a penalty being awarded to Southport on the halfway line, with the referee stating it was the last play for the game a dominating run forward from the tap, and commanding carries and committed rucks resulted in Mason Roche scoring underneath the post.
This description really does not do the try any justice!
There was pandemonium as Southport won 20-24 with the last play of the game!
Southport Man of the match was Sam Cockwill Stepping into a new position, and ‘bossing it’ in the scrum followed by influential and devastating runs that ultimately led to the final try.
Next week sees the first team away at Rochdale with a coach travelling to the match so please let Mike Dale know if you wish to travel.