'Park learn a lesson just in time.

Broughton Park 41 v 18 Oldershaw

Straight from the kick off 'Park won the ball and drove towards the Oldershaw line forcing Oldershaw to give away a penalty. Simon Verbickas kicked for touch and 'Park had a line out on the Oldershaw 5 metre line. A well worked line out move saw the ball reach Mark Poole who scored five metres in from touch to make the score 5 - 0 after 5 mins play. A portent of things to come? No! The half went on with neither side gaining the initiative and the play becoming more and more scrappy.

Oldershaw eventually got a penalty but it was a poor kick which a 'Park player knocked on giving a scrum to Oldershaw on 'Park's 5 metre line. Oldershaw won the ball and drove towards the 'Park line but lost the ball. 'Park's centre tried a relieving kick but the kick was charged down to give a simple try to Oldershaw after 27 minutes. 5 - 5.

After 31 minutes 'Park drove towards the Oldershaw line but Oldershaw tried to stop the drive illegally and Simon Verbickas punished them with a penalty. 8 - 5. Lessons were not learned because Oldershaw repeated the offence and were again punished by Simon Verbickas. 11 - 5 after 37 mins.

As the half drew to a close a speculative kick ahead by Oldershaw was not gathered by 'Park and Oldershaw won a lineout 5 metres out from 'Park's line. From the lineout Oldershaw drove the ball and despite desperate defence from 'Park scored a try in the corner. 11 - 10.

Just before half-time the two sides swapped penalties making the score at half-time 14 - 13 to 'Park.

The second half started as scrappily as the first half ended with Oldershaw being punished with another penalty from Simon Verbickas after 15 mins. 17 - 13. Oldershaw's strength was in their forwards and 'Park were making the mistake of keeping it in the forwards and after 23 mins Oldershaw had a driven maul which resulted in an unconverted try in the corner. 17 - 18

Full back Simon Verbickas came into the line on the half way line and ghosted through the seemingly non existent Oldershaw defence before finally passing to debutant winger Alan Middlehurst to score an unconverted try. 22 - 18. After learning this lesson the ball was freely moved from the forwards, and side to side, eventually reaching blind side wing forward Matt Sheen on the wing to score a converted try near the posts. 29 - 18 with 10 mins to go.

5 mins later No. 8 John Clifford picked up from the base of a scrum and made good ground as he had all afternoon, without too much support, but this time he did not need any, because he was able to go all the way to the line to score near the posts.

'Park were now running every ball, and the ball went from side to side in a dazzling passing movement to eventually reach Simon Verbickas who unselfishly passed when over the line to Alan Middlehurst to score his second try. Simon converted to make the final score 41 - 18.

Perhaps in future matches moving the ball quickly out wide to test the opposition's defences may be tried earlier in the game?

Next match away to 2nd in the table Vagabonds.