3RD TEAM REPORTS
18th September 1999
Third xv vs Birkenhead Park Result Won 24-5
By Chris McGrath
The day didn't start to well with 3 people 'crying off' just before 2pm. which was hardly ideal preparation.So with the luxury of traveling away with 3 subs gone , we boarded the cars and set off to Birkenhead Park.
I personally wasn't looking forward to the game as stand in captain i had to play 4 people out of position against a team that took sunlight 3rd's apart only 2 weeks ago by 45-7 and moral in the changing room was low before the game.
The first 10 minutes was spent in our own half defending desperatly and trying to find our feet in new positions.
With our first clean possesion instead of clearing the ball scurm-half Tony Tharme decided to go alone ,lost the ball and we found ourselves facing ruck ball under our posts via an opposition scrum.With the attack offside and a good chance to take play to the half-way line with a penalty, did we take the opportunity.......no !Chris Parry at fly-half kicked deep to thier fullback and we found ourselves back in our 22 via a swerving run from probably thier best player. Their attack came to nothing and we plodded back to the halfway line.
I gave our half backs a quick talking to, telling them not to pannick as calmness will win us the game. Pete Ascroft ,the regular 3rd team coach was unavailable but had instructed me to run the ball when at all possible. 'Park's' backs were older and slower than ours (only just) and he thought they would eventually tire'. He was right ,,just before halftime our pack ,less experienced and much lighter gave an almighty shove on thier feed the ball was whipped out and winger Tony Whiting had an unoppossed run to the line.
On the stroke of halftime a wild pass by the improving Tharme landed at my feet ,i just managed to break the gain line and found Gav Haigh on my shoulder who cantered in for his first score which was duly converted for a 10-0 lead at the break.
The opposition came at us like dervishes in the second half and after constant pressure scored in our corner for a 10-5 score.
We managed to work our way upfield and after good work from Steve Cropper and the versatile Jeff Forshaw we won a penalty on their 5 yard line.However poor dicipline from the very inexperienced Peter McCardle cost us dearly. The decision was reversed and we found ourselves back in our own half.
Sunlight then weathered the storm in a vital period of the match and ran the ball freely. The resulting pressure led to White going in for his second try which could so easily have been his fourth had he been able to catch.
Park were now abeaten side ,even with 12 consecutive penalties in thier favour the couldn't break the sunlight defence. Then on the final play, with my job easy having with the gifted Parry inside me and the athletic Haigh outside me an opportunist interception enabled me to pass the ball to the latter for a score under the black dot.
A special mention goes to the tireless Dave Wooley for his constant Pressure and less tackling that enabled us to win precious ball.
We now look forward to probably our toughest game of the season next week against Anselmians .Talking to one of their players this week ,they have no less than 11 ex first team players in this weeks team. With our 'stars' unavailable this weekend the task ahead will be tougher, but i've no doubt we shall relish it.
25th September 1999
3rd xv vs Old Anselmians Result lost 10-17
Report by Chris McGrath
The day started wet and got wetter, it was not ideal conditions for running rugby although 5 tries were scored in the course of the match. Once again I assumed the role as stand in captain and prepared the side for probably their toughest game of the season.
We didnt have the best start as we conceded a try after 2 minutes following a huge drive by the more experienced Anselmian forwards , which in turn led to a 2 man overlap and a score out wide.I questioned the referee's descision in what I thought was a movement with an obvious forward pass. This led to a penalty for the opposition following thier missed conversion attempt from the restart . I then approached the referee explaining as captain I was entitled to question his descisions and would expect explanations. He told me to" go away or I would be cautioned". I explained to the team that it was going to be one of those days and it would be in our own interests to keep quiet at the refereeing descisions against us .
The remainder of the second half was uneventful mainly due to the poor weather and the referees insistance on blowing the whistle at every opportunity. Our lineout this week was similar to last week .....poor ! Having no regognised jumpers we struggled on our own ball as well as theirs . Anselmians scored thier second try through good alround work by thier forwards who kept the ball tight in greasy conditions and crabbed their way upfield, until another penalty in thier favour enabled them to 'crash' over out wide. This was unconverted but followed by another penalty for them at the restart for words spoken by Pete Metcalf , unhappy at the way the try was awarded.
The team talk at halftime was kept simple as I believed we could still win this game if we tried to win more ruck ball and maintain possesion. With the wind at our backs and clever kicking from Lee Parnell we found ourselves in thier '22' mounting serious pressure . Then after good work from backrower John Williams and Metcalf we were on thier line with a try beckoning. This was abruptly ended as we conceded another penalty for 'going over the top'. Anselmians took the opportunity to take a quick tap and ran the ball blind to make 85 yards only to be caught just before our own try line.
We barely had time to gather ourselves when following our own lineout we lost possesion and we conceded a third try, which was duly converted.At 17-0 down we picked ourselves up and took the game right back down the park. For the next 20 minutes we slugged it out toe to toe with a tireing pack who were running out of ideas . Our improving scrum base was enabling us to win cleaner ball and the sharpness of scrum half Sean Harris took conrtol at the base of the scrum to feed his backline clean, quick ball.
A massive ruck and maul drive enabled Sunlight to gather 30 yards and good recycling by workhhorse Steve Cropper and the industrious Williams led to Harris switching play blind for me to wriggle over for my first try. Anselmians hardly had a moments rest as the Sunlight pack tore into the opposition unrelentlessly. With just over 5 minutes remaining the Anselmian outside- half knocked on attempting a clearance 30 yards from his own line. This led to a Sunlight scrum and quick ball enabled me to execute a 'scissors' with flyhalf Parnell and have a clear run to the line . The conversion was missed and with only 2 minutes remainig we failed to get back on terms with a team that we really should have beaten .
Praise must be given to Brian Heath who worked well at loose head prop against a much more experienced player and also wing Nathan Jones and fullback Stu Lloyden who played well and put good pressure on thier opposite numbers. Next week is another home game against Mossely Hill,who although reside a division below us will be no walk over.
Saturday 6th November 1999
Wallasey 3XV 5pts - Sunlight 3XV 44pts
Report by Chris McGrath
Conditions for this fixture were the usual at Wallasey, a cold breeze coming from the clubhouse end of the pitch maintained throughout the game. Sunlight started well as we had narrowly lost here last season 7-0 and fully intended to reverse that defeat in a match we felt we should have won.
The pack were primed from the start and good rucking by Steve Nicol and Dave Wooley enabled scrum-half Tony Tharme to give the backs quick ball and a series of breaks put us within 10 metres of the wallasey line. The opposition then decided to kill the ball and Sunlight opted for the scrum underneath the Wallasey posts. A Tharme switch to the blind side via myself and Phil Cullen enabled fullback James .......... to put Dan Corfe in at the corner .
Sunlight then felt the sting of a Wallasey revival from the kickoff. They moved the ball cleverly into Sunlights 22 with some solid mauling keeping the ball tight within thier pack. Eventually the ball was moved to thier backrow who barged their way over for their only touchdown .
Sunlight then procceded to make hard work of the second half against the wind . Instead of playing textbook rugby every player that received the ball from whatever position decided they were going to score. Some harsh words from back leader Pete Metcalf soon pressured the Sunlight pack to play a tighter more controlled game instead of making basic errors by being to eager .
Eventually this paid of as quick hands to winger Corfe and good support work from cullen enabled me to go over more or less unopposed from the halfway line. The score under the black dot was converted by flyhalf Graeme Cooke for a half time score of 12-5.
The second half was more or less one way traffic with a quick try from the restart from flying winger Liam Devlin after good allround work from the forwards and quick ball to the backs.A lull of 10 minutes then took place with the resiliant Wallasey withstanding constant Sunlight pressure until a missed tackle in thier mid field enabled the Sunlight backs to launch another attack from the halfway line .The ball was again moved quickly and Devlin found himself on the end of an overlap and cantered in for another score .The conversion was missed by the usually reliable Cooke who had extremley difficult conditions in which to hone his radar. The next two tries were scored by Andy White the first from close range after good work from Props Brian Heath and Graeme forrester, following good lineout work on the Wallasey 10 metre line. The second a longe range effort after a Chris Mcneil steal and good backup from Jeff forshaw and the tireless Wooley who was now punishing the opposition at every opportunity with solid tackling.Both were unconverted by Cooke.
Another try followed the kickoff as Sunlight attacked a broken Wallasey defence in waves , and an opportunist quick lineout throw gave Ged Small a stroll over try from 5 metres out . With some 20 minutes to go and sunlight well on top needless kicking by Cooke ,when the ball should have been kept in hand enabled Wallasey to threaten again , but alas only briefly . A counter attack started by fullback ............. enabled Devlin to scorch some 60 metres close to the opposition line before being hauled down . At the scrum thhe Wallasey no8 attempted to go it alone and was met by the reception commitee of Metcalf, McNeil and Forshaw. This enabled a Sunlight turnover and a a short pass gave the irrepressible 19 stone Nicol a charge at the Wallasey halfs. Having eliminated them both from the equation a pickup by Tharme saw him beat three men on his way to the line for a nice solo try, thhis was thhen converted by ............
Wallasey will visit sunlight in January which i'm quite sure they will not relish. I hand over the reigns of Captaincy for next weeks match against a tough Wirral team away ,which I am unfortunately unavailable for. However on the strenghth of this victory I have every confidence that another victory will follow shortly.
Saturday 20 November 1999
Anselmiens 3XV 20pts - Sunlight 3XV 10pts
Report by the 'Grammatically incorrect' Jeff Forshaw
It was another defeat for Sunlight, but on reflection this was a great fight back from what initially looked like another hammering.
The team sheet for Sunlight looked impressive, with 1XV lock Matthew Metcalfe returning from injury, and Kered Duncalf available for the 3XV's. Old Man Metcalfe back to number 8 to give the pack, the leadership which was lacking in the previous week (the Wirral game which Sunlight lost 61pts - 3!). Initially the team sheet had also included Chris McGrath, Andy ‘Evo’ Evans and Chris Randles, but these and Ged Small had been taken off the team during the week.
With only 10 minutes before kick off, the Sunlight team were 3 men down.. It was only Jeff Forshaw’s 2nd Game as Captain. What do we do? On paper and in promise, we had 16 players.
The truth was that Sunlight initially were 5 players down, but Chris Riley turned up at Anselmiens on speck, and Mark Forshaw was available at late notice for the first time this season. Luckily (for Sunlight!), the answer was 3 players from Hightown. As a miscommunication from their fixture secretary, meant that a full side had appeared at Anselmiens but they did not have a game. So an offer of assistance from Hightown was duly took and we were extremely grateful for!
The players came in the shape of a hooker, back row and a center.
The game kicked off a few minutes late. Because of the manner in which Sunlight was organised, Anselmiens soon capitalised. Sunlight straight away were on the back foot. Three tries in 30 minutes for Anselmiens, meant that the score was 15pts to nil. And everyone thought that this was going to be an easy win for Anselmiens.
A bit of confidence was needed. Out of the blue, but deserved none the less, a ball out from a maul released the backs who then passed the ball to Chris Riley who showed everyone his pace, and raced from 40 yards to score.
The half time whistle blew, and the 3XV-team confidence started to rise. From the kick off, Sunlight were camped in Anselmiens half, a few line outs and charges for the line, were met by some good defence. Mayo produced some excellent running at Anselmiens the lock acting like a center. Then the pressure in the 22, produced another try for Sunlight. Kered Duncalf punching the defence, and passing out to Riley to claim his second try of the game.
More pressure mounted, Sunlight 75% in Anselmiens half. A penalty and Sunlight were just 10 yards away from making the scoreline level. Again, full marks to Anselmiens defence, although to their credit they did have some very experienced players in the ranks. The attack broke down, and the ball kicked away deep in Sunlight’s half with the Anselmien wingers pouncing.
Substitutions were made, with the young promising back row, Chris McNeil being replaced by Peter McArdle. And Dave Wooley limping off with a groin injury for Tony Whiting. Unfortunately the fresh legs didn’t have chance to make any impact.
A line out ensued, which the outcome was a Sunlight back grounding the attacking ball into the dead ball area. Some bazaar referring a 5 yard scrum when it should have been a 22 drop out at Sunlight’s 22.
Anselmiens with their bit between the teeth, gave everything, and the released ball at the number 8’s feet gave great ball to the scrum half who released the backs to make a good try by the Anselmiens winger.
Defeat when it could have been so different. But the result on reflection of the absent (late) players, and a team already beaten by Anselmiens on two other occassions (one very heavily) was not bad at all.
I am sure Anselmiens would have to agree that both teams played some good rugby, and it was a very close contest which either side could have won.
A BIG THANK YOU TO THE HIGHTOWN PLAYERS. Who played exceptionally well with an unfamiliar team.
Caretaker Captain Jeff Forshaw (AKA moi) is unavailable for the next 3 Saturdays - as he is on vacation in DisneyWorld, Florida USA, and then a quick cruise round the Bahamas. (HEADLINE.. Mickey Mouse Captain goes home?!?!?!). So the Captaincy is once again getting passed on. This time to Kered Duncalf.
Note from Jeff. So don’t be phoning me at 11:00pm this week and upsetting Deb’s!
Next Saturday’s match is a pool match and the fixture will only be known mid-week.
Joint Men Of the Match:- Mayo & Chris Riley & Hightown lads
Scorers for Sunlight:- 2 Tries x Chris Riley
Team:- J.Forshaw, Hightown ‘Neil’, Forester, Mayo Metcalfe, M. Forshaw, Hightown Player, McNeil, Old Man Metcalfe, Tharme, Wooley, Riley, Duncalfe, Hightown Player, Corfe, Concannon. Subs:- McArdle, Whiting
Sat December 11th 1999
Hoylake 3rds 12 v Port Sunlight 3rds 24
Report by Mick Roberts
To many at Port Sunlight RFC, the term "water sports" would evoke visions of golden showers or frolics in the surf with a Baywatch lovely, but on Saturday the reality was a waterlogged pitch, ankle-deep puddles, and a "refreshing" breeze. Rugby logic would dictate that a tight game game should be played; pack the side with burly forwards who could "stick it up the jumper" and slog through the mud, happy to gain a narrow victory from a couple of fortuitous penalty goals. Ever the innovators, Sunlight cocked a snook at convention, played only three recognised forwards, and fielded a team comprised mainly of three-quarters. Who says that flair and unpredictability is the sole preserve of the French?
From the off, Hoylake settled into the expected pattern with fly-half Chris Roberts kicking to the corners to try to turn the Sunlight defence. Normally this approach pays handsome dividends for Hoylake, but on this occasion, the masterful arial game employed by Roberts was more than matched by an outstanding display of tactical kicking from his immediate opponent, Sunlight stand-off Colin Leech, who was to enjoy what was by far the best game I have seen him play. Yet don't be drawn into thinking that was a dull game, dominated by the boot as once the diagonal kicks had drawn defenders into covering the open spaces, both sides, quite perversely in the conditions, ran the ball with gusto.
The tone for the match was set by Sunlight left-wing Dan Corfe who made a blistering break through the heart of the Hoylake side early in the first half. A flowing, and thoroughly entertaining, game was a joy to the handful of spectators, and more importantly, to the players themselves. Having fielded twelve backs, the Sunlight side was the one to take first advantage of the open game and could consider themselves unfortunate to reach the break with just a seven points to nil advantage. (try - Rick Outram, goal - Colin Leech).
In the second half, Hoylake began to impose themselves more upon the match, with their scrum-half Paul Lee, choosing to ignore such trivial matters as the offside law, a constant nuisance in and around set-pieces and breakdowns. Turning to the running game, Chris Roberts regularly released his burly inside-centre who crashed through the Sunlight line with alarming regularity, and only spirited back-up defence stifled the threat. As the game ebbed and flowed, in concert with the water on the pitch, Kered Duncalf surprised the onlookers, and most probably himself, by sprinting half the length of the field. With only feet to go, Duncalf faltered, was half tackled and yet, in another surprise move, managed to slip the ball to the eager Rick Outram who finished under the bar. All hail the Prince of the Pastries, the Sultan of Savouries, the Duke of the Deli who now stood on the threshold of a hat-trick which would bring the opportunity to treat his team-mates to a jug of foaming porter. However, this promise/threat of free beer seemed to effect Outram's game as he seemed to suddenly find it difficult to fashion any more scoring opportunities for himself. Critics on the sideline cruelly suggested that Rick may have been "hiding" in order to avoid having to purchase the aforesaid flagon but I prefer to believe that the Buddha of the Burger was overcome by an attack of modesty and preferred to present his comrades with the chance to cross the line. Rick Outram dismiss the chance to buy a jug? - never!!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Sunlight, somewhat fortuitously, further extended their lead when Colin Leech, chasing a through-ball, was awarded a touchdown even though it appeared that Hoylake's full-back had already grounded the ball in goal. Somewhat embarrassed by this award, Leech asked Rick Outram to take the shot at goal. Outram, mistaken in his belief that two tries and a goal may constitute a hat-trick of sorts, bringing its attendant beer responsibility, put his kick wide. Hoylake 0 - Sunlight 17.
Stung by the injustice of the last try, Hoylake stormed into the game grabbing a try which gave them further heart for the fight. Sunlight nerves were set ajangling when Chris Roberts, so far offside he was even ahead of Paul Lee, snaffled an interception try which he duly converted. With all fifteen players dead on their feet, Sunlight survived the storm and even managed to score a late try from Adi Spence, a spectacularly successful convert to the second-row, which steadied the ship and saw them home safely. Such was the emotion of the occasion that Peter McArdle left the field in tears, the field abuzz with talk of his contribution to the effort. A good win in trying circumstances was thoroughly enjoyed, and duly celebrated, by all concerned who looked forward with relish to the next game. Perhaps Rick Outram may grab that "elusive" hat-trick!
Mentions in dispatches go to Dan Corfe, Liam Girvan, and Chris the hooker, all of whom had splendid games and don't forget Dan Taylor who made a promising debut at number eight.
