03rd September 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 17 Merseyside Police IXV 5
Jcup Prelim. Round

The sun is high in the summer sky and the mercury in the thermometer is touching 70. Must be time for rugby then! And back, back by popular demand (well two people), back like a chastened Michael Owen from his sojourn in Spain are the legendary Sunlight match reports. New, improved and now with pictures! Fear not though some old favourites make the cut. The Ali Bongo Kicking Slippers make an unwelcome return and the Man With No Name will still keep his mysterious moniker.

In the first fixture of the season, Port Sunlight under new captain Adam Metcalfe travelled to Merseyside Police’s rather swanky clubhouse on the Costa del Mersey. Nice to see our council tax is being put to good use!

The game itself was typical early season fare. Sunlight started well but were disjointed and rusty in attack, and whilst the pack generally controlled the game the backs conspired to drop balls and miss passes. The Police were shoved all over the park and came out second best in the line out where Metcalfe and Hibbert-Jones dominated, however their backs looked dangerous with the little ball they did win and Cletus, their mulleted, slack-jawed yokel of a back row made a nuisance of himself all over the pitch.

Sunlight had come close to opening the scoring a number of times in the first half, however use of the aforementioned Ali Bongo Kicking Slippers had seen a hatful of scoring chances squandered. They finally took the lead on the stroke of half time. Strong work by the pack was rewarded when Adam Metcalfe was driven over for the first of his two tries. The Police hit back early in the second. Good pressure from the Sunlight three-quarters came undone when a midfield pass went astray allowing the hirsutely challenged Police centre to intercept and streak the length of the field for an equalizing score. Luckily for Sunlight their kicker borrowed the Ali Bongos and missed the conversion attempt from in front of the posts.

Sunlight redoubled their efforts and hit back with two further tries from the pack. A second converted effort from the captain and another driven try by Terry McManus. If Sunlight’s backs were misfiring going forward then they were resolute in defence. The interception try aside the Police backline was ruthlessly tackled by the Sunlight backs, with young winger ‘Lance’ Brookes looking particularly promising in defence.

With the heat and general lack of (match) fitness taking its toll on both sides the match ambled to its conclusion. Sunlight’s 17-5 victory setting up a trip to promoted rival Mossley Hill in the first round proper.

Port Sunlight :- Worsley, Brookes, Outram, McGrath, Randles, Parry, Naylor; Metcalfe A (capt.), McManus, Horner, Hibbert-Jones, Metcalfe M, Bonner, Lister, Clark. Subs. McMillen, Corfe, McCardle

10th September 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 15 St Mary's IXV 21
League

Karma reasserts itself and the universe is appeased as Sunlight lose to a last second try from St Mary's Old Boys. We robbed them with John Skarrats last kick of the match at their place last season. So despite controlling large portions of the game we probably had it coming ? if you believe in fate and stuff. Karl Taylor and Mayo Metcalfe bagged our tries.

17th September 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 25 Mossley Hill IXV 12
Jcup 1st Round

Last season's promoted side are seen off in fine style as the Sunlight pack dominate from the off. This frees up the backs to enjoy their finest running performance since the turn of the year. Karl Taylor is again on the scoresheet as are Adam Metcalfe and Chris's Lister and Randles (2). Sunlight's final try followed great work at the restart from Chris Lister who drove forward before freeing Rick Outram for a mazy run before he was reluctantly obliged to pass the ball to his pie eating mate to run in the score and get his name in the papers.

It's Bury in the next round apparently. They're in North Lancs 1. Wonder if there'll be an attack of Orrellitis that day?

The biggest talking point is reserved for after the match where horrified onlookers witness a senior player refuse to drink a yard of ale on his birthday. Oh the drama!

24th September 2005
Port Sunlight Platypuses IXV - West Park Warriors IXV
League

West Park have trouble fielding a front row so the match is called off. Cynics wonder if this may have anything to do with the St Helens' Super League play off that evening. Not me though.

1st October 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 25 Helsby IXV 3
League

One month on from the freak heat wave at Merseyside Police it's all change on the meteorological front. Cold temperatures, high winds and driving rain are the order of the day. It must be time to play Helsby! Since we last played at their place in February a new Tesco's has gone up by the pitches necessitating a trek of Shackleton proportions just to reach the game.

A falling out amongst their firsts has seen them wave goodbye to a number of familiar faces including Big John the worlds largest centre. Our boys give silent prayers of thanks!

With the weather conditions essentially dictating style of play Sunlight adapt much quicker than Helsby and play a controlled, tight game. Matt "Razor" Ray adds to his debut second team score last week with one for the firsts and Chris Lister also bags a score that sees Sunlight turn round 10 - 3 to the good.

The second half follows the pattern of the first with more pack dominated rugby, the rolling maul being employed to devastating effect by the pack

before Terry Mc drives the black and white tractor over for another score. Lister grabs a second before the backs are finally trusted to run with the ball (without kicking it away or dropping it) and Joe Worsley goes over in the corner to finish the scoring at 25 - 3.

Port Sunlight : Worsley, Brookes, Outram, Parry, Randles, Roberts, Naylor; Metcalfe A (capt.), McManus, Ray, Autey, Metcalfe M, Ward S, Lister, Clark. Subs. Ward R

08th October 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 34 Linley & Kidsgrove IXV 7
League

It was Thomas Hood who noted "Here the Autumn melancholy dwells, And sighs her tearful spells." He's right cos it's raining again pre-match, absolutely lashing down, but miraculously as kick off approach the showers cease.

This doesn't help Linley & Kidsgrove who've had to deal with the triple whammy of the long car journey up the M6, coupled with the traffic making its way to Old Trafford for the football international and an abnormal wide load taking up two lanes. This leaves them arriving with mere seconds to go before kick off. Maybe they should invest in a state of the art sat-nav system like Lister's that saw us arrive at Congleton last season a full ten minutes after kick off.

Mitigating factors out of the way, Linley struggle to contain a fired up Sunlight side seeking their fourth win in five games. From the off the Sunlight pack take the game to the opposition. A series of scrums in Linley's twenty-two finally see the re-jigged three-quarters combine to put Joe Worsley over in the corner on a clever loop.

Soon after strong driving from the forwards sees captain Adam Metcalfe reach over his own head to score from close range. Linley regroup from these early setbacks but are unable to sustain any meaningful pressure in the Sunlight half, Karl and Paddy, at half back, consistently pinning them deep in their own half with some astute kicking.

Sunlight's third scores comes when scrum half Karl Taylor cleverly kicks down the narrow side from an attacking scrum. The Linley fullback, under pressure from Chris Randles, kills the ball on the floor and concedes a penalty try. Martin Naylor bags the conversion.

The second half continues in the same vein. After negating early Linley resistance the Sunlight forwards reassert their dominance with the back row of Dunc A, Razor and Big John winning all fifty-fifty ball. Sunlight are similarly on top in the tight where Matt Metcalfe, Dunc C, Si Ward and Chris Lister constantly have the Linley forwards moving backwards.

Sunlight score again when the ball is shipped along the three-quarters to Chris Randles on the left wing. He chips ahead and wins the race for the touchdown leading spectators to note "He's deceptively fat for a fast lad."

Randles gets his second try when, again, quick ball is shipped along the backline leaving him with the easy task of falling over the line. Sensing a jug could be in the offing he eagerly agrees to be substituted for John Skarrats. Proving this was a wise decision Skarrats bounces would be tacklers aside as he bludgeons his way over for Sunlight's final try, which he converts himself.

There's just time for Linley to bag an consolation try from an interception before full time is called leaving the score 34-7 to Sunlight who have now scored twenty one tries in five outings. Thirteen to the forwards, seven and a penalty try for the backs. Fifteen-man rugby, it'll never catch on.

Port Sunlight : Naylor, Brookes, Worsley, Lewis, Randles, Parry, Taylor; John (Student) Grant, Ray, Autey, Metcalfe A (capt.), Metcalfe M, Ward S, Lister, Clark. Subs. Outram, Skarrats, Corfe

15th October 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 34 Bury IXV 24
Jcup 2nd Round

Sir Robert Peel, John Kay, Ralph Little, Philip Neville, Gary Neville, Neville Neville, Suzanne Shaw, vi har slått dem alle sammen, vi har slått dem alle sammen [we have beaten them all, we have beaten them all]. Peter Skellern, can you hear me? Peter Skellern your boys took a hell of a beating! Your boys took a hell of a beating!

Ok, in all honesty they didn't, but they do play at least two leagues higher than us so it's a giant killing which ever way you look at it! Especially as we spotted them a 14 - 0 lead.

The result is once again credited to the forwards who negated the obvious Bury backline strength by playing a tight, controlled game that the Bury pack had trouble dealing with.

Sunlight started brightly and were unlucky to find themselves 7 ? 0 in arrears when poor tackling saw the Bury backs swing the ball wide before scoring under the posts. Worse was to follow for Sunlight from the restart. The ball didn't travel ten metres and from the resultant scrum the Bury backs again skipped through under the posts.

Instead of buckling at this point as so oft in times past Sunlight merely responded by driving into Bury territory, where, from a close out scrum, Karl Taylor burrowed over for Sunlight's first score, Martin Naylor knocked over the conversion.

Two minutes later Sunlight were level when good pressure from Ross Lewis forced the Bury inside centre into a wild pass which was picked off by Joe Worsley who returned the interception under the posts for his third try in three games, Martin Naylor again bagged the conversion.

The Sunlight pack weren't finished and another scrum close to the Bury line saw Adam Metcalfe give Sunlight a lead they would not relinquish.

The second half started as the first had ended. More pack domination saw first Chris Lister barrel over from close out, then Karl Taylor get his second sniping try.

Bury showed their class though by coming straight back at Sunlight. They managed a penalty then a fluid move that saw them use the pace of their backs to score down the right. This lead to an anxious last ten minutes before Dunc Autey settled the home nerves with a try in the corner following more strong driving from the pack leaving the final score 34 - 24 to Sunlight and speculation of who might follow in round 3.

Port Sunlight : Naylor, Brookes, Worsley, Lewis, Randles, Parry, Taylor K; John (Student) Grant, McManus, Autey, Metcalfe A (capt.), Metcalfe M, Ward S, Lister, Clark. Subs. Outram, Taylor D.

22nd October 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 12 Capenhurst IXV 5
League

Capenhurst arrived at Green Lane undefeated in the league and top of the table. They left having been more convincingly beaten than the score line suggests.

Capenhurst's big strength was their powerful and bellicose pack and they sought to utilise this advantage all game by using runners off the back row to attack the Sunlight line. They continued to use this strategy even after it became apparent that the Sunlight loose forwards Ray, McManus and man of the match Perrot were more than equal to the task of repulsing them.

Sunlight began brightly for a change. Using what little wind there was in their favour they kept Capenhurst pinned in their own twenty two. Then a series of mauls close to the try line enabled Terry McManus to score from short range.

The first half continued in this vein, enlivened briefly by the sin binning of the Capenhurst No. 8 for persistent offside. Sunlight generously did not score during the period he was off the field, instead waiting for his return before unleashing the backs to swing the ball across the pitch for Chris Randles to go over on the left with Martin Naylor adding the conversion.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first. Sunlight made consistent forays into the Capenhurst twenty two without being able to apply the killer finish, strong, sometimes desperate defence for Capenhurst keeping them at bay on more than one occasion. In the final five minutes Capenhurst were at last able to apply consistent pressure of their own. A never ending series of penalties near the Sunlight try line finally saw them make the breakthrough, but it was too little too late.

Port Sunlight : Naylor, Brookes, Worsley, Lewis, Randles, Parry, Taylor K; Perrot, McManus, Ray, Metcalfe A (capt.), Metcalfe M, Ward, Lister, Clark. Subs. Taylor D.

29th October 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 29 Christleton IXV 3
League

Sunlight extended their unbeaten run to six games with a 29 points to 6 victory away to Christleton. Chris Parry, Ross Lewis, Matt Rae, Steve Brookes and Jimmy Roberts scored the tries, with Martin Naylor adding two conversions.

5th November 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 6 Whitehaven IXV 24
Jcup Round 3

Sunlights Cinderella excursion into the later rounds of the Junior Vase came to abrupt halt at the hands of a well drilled Whitehaven side who amply demonstrated why they are unbeaten and top of the Cumbrian league.

Facing an opponent two leagues higher than themselves Sunlight went down with their heads held high. Though often under pressure they did not buckle and dominated in the tight. Sadly they could not turn this advantage into points on the scoreboard, two Martin Naylor penalties scant reward for the efforts of the pack.

Whitehaven competed ably and negated the Sunlight hard work with a clever game plan centred on feeding quick ball to their backs, who ran in two tries and were also awarded a penalty try after a slightly dodgy tackle (ahem) on their winger.

Their tactics were aided by the referee who made somewhat questionable decisions in the home teams favour. They didn't need the additional help!

Port Sunlight : Naylor, Brookes, Worsley, Lewis, Randles, Parry, Taylor K; Autey, McManus, Rae, Metcalfe A (capt.), Metcalfe M, Ward S, Lister, Clark. Subs. Roberts, Sutton, Outram, Bonner, McArdle, Hewitt

12th November 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 5 Trentham 24
League

The game was lost at two o’clock.

Poor pre match arrangements led to an even worse performance on the pitch. The first half saw a lack lustre effort from all concerned with the forwards unable to convert territory Into points. A try from Metcalf was cancelled out by some woeful defence as the Trentham hooker ran in unopposed from a maul on the 22. The match was still retrievable at half time but a pitiful display of tackling, and general defensive positioning gifted Trentham 3 tries in a five minute spell no body would want to remember. Sunlight once again bombarded the opposition line to no avail. The only saving grace is the possibility that this kick up the arse may go some way to ridding the first team of their complacency and stir some much needed passions.

Port Sunlight : Worsley, Brookes, Skarratts, Lewis, Roberts, Parry, Naylor; McCardle, McManus, Rae, Metcalfe A (capt.), Metcalfe M, Bonner, Lister, Clark. Subs.Horner.

26th November 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 38 West Park Warriors IXV 5
League

Sunlight bounced back from the torpor that engulfed them during the Trentham game to overcome a West Park side armed with Jedi mind tricks ("thrash us you will, fourteen men only we have") thirty-eight points to five.

In fairness the scoreline flattered both sides. Sunlight benefited from two breakaway scores from substitute winger Jimmy Roberts whilst West Park never looked like scoring until the final second of the match when they were gifted a try.

Typically strong running from Ross Lewis opened Sunlight's account and he was soon followed over by captain Adam Metcalfe who extended his season's tally to seven tries when he galloped down the right wing like a rampaging giraffe.

Sunlight failed to make further inroads on to the score board during the first half due to the strong spoiling tactics and resolute defence of West Park and also Chris Randles inexplicably spilling the ball whilst going over ("I was tackled" was his lame protestation). This lack of scoring was despite excellent games with the boot from both Chris Parry and Martin Naylor at halfback.

Jimmy Roberts replaced Steve Brookes at half time and had an immediate impact. West Park strung together their best move of the match to storm into Sunlight's twenty-two only to be undone when a wayward pass was intercepted by Roberts who galloped the length of the pitch to score under the posts.

Soon after Chris Lister did his best Neil Back impression emerging from under a mound of bodies having snuck in from close out. He was joined in the scorebooks by fly-half Parry who deceived the West Park defence with a deft dummy to waltz in.

West Park refused to give in and were once again pressing in the Sunlight twenty-two, when Sunlight's pack forced turnover ball. Sunlight managed to switch the ball from Randles on the left wing across the all the backs to Roberts on the right who again ran the length of pitch to score his second and Sunlight's final. In all Naylor managed to convert four.

Sunlight backs, perhaps buoyed by overconfidence, again attempted to run from the twenty-two. This time they were snagged and coughed up a consolation score for West Park as the final whistle went.

Port Sunlight : Worsley, Brookes, Outram, Lewis, Randles, Parry, Naylor; Autey, McManus, Perrot, Metcalfe A (capt.), Metcalfe M, Ward, Lister, Clark. Subs. Roberts, Bonner, Rae

3rd December 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 17 Holmes Chapel IXV 37
League

Worst performance of the season. With all due respect to Holmes Chapel, Sunlight weren't beaten by a better side. They lost to a side that wanted to win more and showed greater heart in achieving this objective. Two qualities Sunlight would do well to match.

On a cold wet day nothing much went right for Sunlight. The backs couldn't hold onto what little ball was fed their way and the forwards lacked a "Plan B" when "Plan A ? overwhelm them with forward might" was stymied.

For the record Duncan Auty and Adam Metcalfe managed touchdowns. Sunlight were also awarded a penalty try, which Martin Naylor converted.

Port Sunlight : Worsley, Roberts, Outram, Lewis, Randles, Parry, Naylor; Auty, McManus, Perrot, Metcalfe A (capt.), Metcalfe M, Ward, Lister, Clark. Subs. Brookes, Bonner, Rae

10th December 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 3 Merseyside Police IXV 5
League

The fifteen men of Port Sunlight won an exciting, high scoring match against the Police 3 points to nil. Sadly the fourteen men of Sunlight, who played the first quarter of the game lost 5 nil. D'Oh! Thanks though to Andy Whyte who risked the wrath of his partner and turned up at Riverside as a late replacement.

There's been a slight change in the temperature since Sunlight first played here in early September. It's brass monkeys today and the Sunlight players are glad of their winter coats to fend off the winter chill, particularly Mr Lister who is looking festively plump in honour of the yuletide season.

Christmas shopping, Foo Fighters concerts and skiving students have eaten into the Sunlight ranks and it is a much changed side that takes to the field for the kick off.

From the opening kick off the Police exploit their man advantage and use the overlap to score in the corner. The game then settles into a to and fro affair with neither side quite able to get the upper hand. Sunlight eventually get on the scoreboard following the timely arrival of Whyte as Jimmy Roberts slots over a penalty.

The second half follows the pattern of the first. Sunlight look the most likely to win, but continually spurn scoring opportunities. Roberts just misses with a drop goal, if that is what the grubber kick he produced was meant to be! Also the police defend resolutely. It was destined not to be Sunlight's day when they are denied a perfectly good try due to poor placement of the officials ? the video ref would have given it!

So the Police hold on to win, what was actually a very entertaining low scoring affair. However there were many positives for Sunlight to take including a much more committed showing from the whole team, a typical bullish performance from the forwards and good handling and tackling from the backs.

Port Sunlight : McGrath, Brookes, Outram, Byrne, Randles, Roberts, Parry (capt.); Ward, Lister, Bonner, Hibbert-Jones , Metcalfe M, Horner, Whyte, McArdle

17th December 2005
Port Sunlight IXV 12 Congleton IXV 14
League

Happy Christmas Congleton. Come to Port Sunlight and though we may not have any gold, frankincense or myrrh we will gift you three penalties that will prove the difference in the result. Two courtesy of the same person. No names, no pack drill. Anagram fans check out "Cedar Temple".

Sunlight got off to the worst possible start by pushing the Congleton pack all over the pitch before Terry McManus burst through to give Sunlight an early five point lead.

And relax.

Congleton refused to buckle and replied with two penalties before further extending their lead when poor tackling by the Sunlight backs allowed their winger to finish off a sweeping move to go over in the right corner.

Congleton bagged another penalty early in the second half before the Sunlight pack roused itself from its slumber. They huffed and puffed and marched Congleton all over the pitch without being quite able to deliver a killer blow until Chris Lister once again emulated Neil Back appearing at the bottom of a rolling maul to claims Sunlight's solitary second half try. Martin Naylor slotted over a tricky conversion to give Congleton a nervous last fifteen minutes but it wasn't to be for Sunlight and they were left to rue over another close defeat.

Still at least there was the club carol concert to raise the spirits. Once again the highlights were "Ding Dong Merrily on Pie" and the traditional segueing of "Once In Royal David's City" into Hark The Herald Angels Sing." How?

So, as the old song has it, "We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" Keep your figgy pudding though. We've already got one of our own wearing number 16! You know who you are Delete Cramp!

Port Sunlight : Roberts, Brookes, Outram, Lewis, Randles, McGrath, Naylor; Lister, Whyte, Bonner, Sutton , Metcalfe A, Horner, McManus, McArdle. Sub. Corfe

28th January 2006
Port Sunlight IXV 7 Capenhurst IXV 22
League

Capenhurst gained revenge for their earlier league defeat by out muscling the Sunlight forwards in a static match devoid of excitement.

After holding Capenhurst in the early part of the match Sunlight where unlucky to go into half time 5 nil down. That soon became 12 nil as the Capenhurst scrum-half took advantage of poor tackling to burst over following a scrum near half way.

Sunlight had their best spell of the match, spending a sustained period camped on the Capenhurst line. They finally gained a score through Adam Metcalfe, John Skarrets adding the conversion.

Capenhurst weren't finished and added a penalty and converted try of their own to seal victory.

Port Sunlight : Randles, Brookes, Skarrets, Lewis, Duane, Roberts, Ward N; Ward S, Lister, Bonner, Hibbert-Jones , Metcalfe M, McManus, Metcalfe A (capt.), Ray. Sub. Horner

18th February 2006
Port Sunlight IXV 56 Helsby IXV 5
League

Ok there's some debate about this score line ? one even that the Port Sunlight Brain Trust (Me, Listy, Terry and Mott-Face Metcalfe ? thanks to Social Services for that one) can't answer with any certainty.

The facts as I recall them (your honour) are that Sunlight got a morale boosting win against depleted Helsby side. We definitely scored ten tries. Terry got three and a jug. Chris McGrath and Jimmy Roberts both got two. The two Chris' Randles and Lister got one each, as did Adam (Not Mott-Face) Metcalfe.

The problems start with the conversions. Did we get two or three? Ross Lewis definitely kicked the most difficult from the right hand touchline and Jimmy Roberts got at least two (we think ? stupid brain) and that's not counting the one that the Man with No Name gave, but their touch judge didn't. But sadly the Ali Bongos were strongly in evidence and kick after kick bananerd around the posts.

What isn't in dispute is that the ref was wrong with his score of 51 ? 5 and the Sunday Telegraph (get me reading a broadsheet) and the RFU website were both wrong with the score of 51 - 0. That's unfair to Helsby because they unquestionably scored.

Considering the one sided scoring Helsby never buckled and came close on a number of occasions. Only a last ditch Mott-Face tackle denying them a second try.

Sunlight were always on top in the scrum and line out and the backs enjoyed finally having some ball going forward. Jimmy Roberts opened the scoring being driven over the line after a clever cut back. Chris McGrath soon followed after a deft pass from Dunc Autey. Chris Randles was next capitalising on neat flick on from Nige Ward. Terry McManus scored his first after throwing an outrageous dummy. He got two more driving the black and white tractor over the line to seal his hat trick. Chris Lister and Adam Metcalfe added similar scores. Jimmy Roberts scored his second with a mazy run and there was still time for Chris McGrath to round off the scoring following up on a cross field Rick Outram kick.

Port Sunlight : McGrath, Brookes, Roberts, Lewis, Randles, Parry, Ward N; Ward S, Lister, Bonner, Metcalfe A (capt.), Metcalfe (Face of Mott) M, McManus, Harrison, Autey. Sub Outram

25th February 2006
Port Sunlight IXV 13 Linley and Kidsgrove IXV 0
League

Sunlight travelled the fifty odd miles south down the M6 to take on not just Linley, but also Kidsgrove! A fixture that combines some of the best hospitality in the league with the worst playing surface by a country mile.

Resembling a bog with deep patches of mud and several inches of standing water the pitch was not conducive to the exciting "festival" style of running rugby are Port Sunlight famous for (ahem). Luckily the forwards are adept at playing a tight controlled game. This combined with sterling defence from the backs ensured that L&K in the words of their chairman "never turned up."

Sunlight took advantage of what little wind remained from the pre-match gale and soon had Linley penned in their own twenty-two. Stolen ball on the left was shipped via Ross Lewis and Adam Metcalfe to send Dan 'The Mudskipper' Corfe picking his way through quagmire to score in the right hand corner.

Sunlight drove down the pitch again and were rewarded with a Chris Parry penalty in front of the posts. Shortly afterwards a poor clearance from the Linley fly-half was gathered by Chris Randles and combined with a well timed Dunc Autey pass put Chris McGrath over on the left.

This was to be the final score. Sunlight spent large periods of the second half inching their way down the pitch only for Linley to relieve the pressure with huge clearing kicks. Linley's scrummage was constantly put under pressure by a quietly devastating performance by the Sunlight tight five. What little ball they attempted to run was nullified by strong defence in the midfield with Ross Lewis and Terry McManus in particular having very effective games.

Port Sunlight : Roberts, Corfe, Outram, Lewis, Randles, McGrath, Parry; Ward S, Lister, Bonner, Metcalfe A (capt.), Metcalfe (Face of Mott) M, McManus, Harrison, Autey. Sub The Man With No Name (46 in age, iq and waist line)

25th March 2006
Port Sunlight IXV 16 Prenton IXV 29
League

Prenton confirm their promotion but are pushed all the way by a Sunlight side who, had they not run out of steam in the second half, could have pulled off an upset. Sunlight even managed to be leading at half time. A Chris Lister try and a Jimmy Roberts conversion and two penalties saw them hold an astonishing 13-12 lead. It was not to be enough alas. An early Prenton score saw them regain the lead. Then as fitness told late in the game another Sunlight penalty was nullified by two late Prenton tries. Apparently they train. Cheaters!

1st April 2006
Port Sunlight IXV 10 Congleton IXV 8 (Match Abandoned)
League

What was shaping up to be a nice evenly poised match was brought to a sickening halt when Sunlight Number 8 John Perrot suffered a broken and dislocated ankle. All the best to him on his road to recovery.

For the record Sunlight were up at half time 10-8 courtesy of an Adam Metcalfe try and Jimmy Roberts penalty and conversion.

8th April 2006
Port Sunlight IXV 22 Merseyside Police IXV 24
League

Missing one or two regulars Sunlight were beaten by an experienced Police side that made better use of the wind. Sunlight played with the wind in the first half and scored tries through Danny (Nice Smile) Bonner, Jimmy Roberts and new boy Dave the Centre. Jimmy Roberts also managed one penalty and a conversion. Crucially the Police managed a single score into the wind and this would prove decisive as they overturned a 22-5 deficit to nick the game 24-22 in the dying seconds. D'oh!

Port Sunlight : Roberts, Brookes, Outram, Dave, Randles, McGrath, Parry; Searle, Lister (capt), Bonner, Lewis, Horner, Rob, Ray, McArdle.