LIVERPOOL ST HELENS 11 BROUGHTON PARK 3
As expected, with just one point separating the teams in North One West, this was a closely fought, low scoring affair. Both sides gave their all and produced chances to score on a day when each of the defences proved to be resolute and not for passing.
The decisive moment came in the 66th minute with the score locked on 3-3. A short pass from an innocuous looking Broughton Park scrum just inside their own half was intercepted by the ever alert Martin Gambles. The diminutive scrum half did not look back and sprinted all the way to the visitor’s line, diving over by the right hand corner flag to score the game’s only try.
Now leading 8-3 and with skipper Phil Kearns leading from the front, LSH cleverly bossed the game right through to the final whistle. Playing safety-first rugby the Moss Laners starved the visitors of possession in the latter stages of the game before Gambles made the game secure in the 79 th minute with a penalty.
Earlier Simon Worsley had put LSH in front with an 8th minute penalty as the home side had the better of the opening exchanges with Paul Bamber, Steve Ormesher and Ian Stanley all going close. The Broughton Park pack seemed to have the edge in the scrums but with Kearns in full control for LSH at number eight, they were not able to gain any real advantage.
They did however enjoy a good spell of pressure midway through the half with dangerous winger Adi Titloye sprinting down the right wing on three occasions. With forwards James Cashman and Jan Lourens in fine form and Phil Battersby putting in another non-stop display LSH remained in front until Ronan O’Brien levelled matters in the 40 th minute with a penalty for Broughton Park. Fortunately for LSH the league’s leading kicker missed the other two opportunities that came his way.
Eight minutes into the second half LSH had a try disallowed for a forward pass but kept up the pressure with a series of catch and drives, all stoutly defended by the visitors. New signing Mark Turner started at full back but having moved to stand off just before half time when Worsley had to leave the field with a hamstring injury, gradually warmed to his task and put in a composed and influential display.
Then with just less than fifteen minutes to go, Gambles pounced, and LSH’s hard work and perseverance paid off.
This was a performance roared on by the LSH Veterans, led by Eric and Bill on the occasion of their annual reunion. In a game where the two physios were the hardest worked people on the pitch, their work rate was only outdone by the LSH bar staff struggling to keep pace with many of Moss Lane’s former warriors. A well represented and contented cricket crew were appreciative of the lad’s efforts whilst little Trevor and big Brian were just glad to have two points in the bag and were already wondering about the best way to get to Burnage. Vinnie, meanwhile, was well smitten with the Broughton Park Lady President – he gave her two Werthers Originals!
Team
15 Turner 14 Ormesher 13 Cunliffe D 12 Tudor 11 Stanley 10 Worsley 9 Gambles; 1 Lourens 2 Battersby
3 Griffiths S 4 Williams 5 Westhead 6 Bamber 7 Cashman 8 Kearns (capt) Replacements 16 Nevitt ( for Griffiths 78 m) 17 Clare (for Bamber 67m) 18 Pape (for Worsley 34m)
John Williams
The decisive moment came in the 66th minute with the score locked on 3-
Now leading 8-
Earlier Simon Worsley had put LSH in front with an 8th minute penalty as the home side had the better of the opening exchanges with Paul Bamber, Steve Ormesher and Ian Stanley all going close. The Broughton Park pack seemed to have the edge in the scrums but with Kearns in full control for LSH at number eight, they were not able to gain any real advantage.
They did however enjoy a good spell of pressure midway through the half with dangerous winger Adi Titloye sprinting down the right wing on three occasions. With forwards James Cashman and Jan Lourens in fine form and Phil Battersby putting in another non-
Eight minutes into the second half LSH had a try disallowed for a forward pass but kept up the pressure with a series of catch and drives, all stoutly defended by the visitors. New signing Mark Turner started at full back but having moved to stand off just before half time when Worsley had to leave the field with a hamstring injury, gradually warmed to his task and put in a composed and influential display.
Then with just less than fifteen minutes to go, Gambles pounced, and LSH’s hard work and perseverance paid off.
This was a performance roared on by the LSH Veterans, led by Eric and Bill on the occasion of their annual reunion. In a game where the two physios were the hardest worked people on the pitch, their work rate was only outdone by the LSH bar staff struggling to keep pace with many of Moss Lane’s former warriors. A well represented and contented cricket crew were appreciative of the lad’s efforts whilst little Trevor and big Brian were just glad to have two points in the bag and were already wondering about the best way to get to Burnage. Vinnie, meanwhile, was well smitten with the Broughton Park Lady President – he gave her two Werthers Originals!
Team
15 Turner 14 Ormesher 13 Cunliffe D 12 Tudor 11 Stanley 10 Worsley 9 Gambles; 1 Lourens 2 Battersby
3 Griffiths S 4 Williams 5 Westhead 6 Bamber 7 Cashman 8 Kearns (capt) Replacements 16 Nevitt ( for Griffiths 78 m) 17 Clare (for Bamber 67m) 18 Pape (for Worsley 34m)
John Williams
