Two weeks ago, Orrell had travelled to Thornton Cleveleys for a league game with 17 players, several of which had to play in unfamiliar positions, and lost 22-12. With a squad of 23 to choose from Orrell were able to field a stronger team for the home game in the second round of the Brooke Edgley Specialist Technical Services Shield.

From the kick-off Orrell immediately gave away a penalty and put themselves under pressure. Good defence turned the ball over and Orrell broke up field only to knock on.

Thornton Cleveleys won their own scrum but a mistake from their backs allowed Alex Gannon to recover the ball and score in the corner, Alex converted his own try 7-0.

The game then went into a pattern. Penalty to Thornton Cleveleys, pressure on the Orrell line, good defence turning the ball over followed by an Orrell break up field. Repeat.

The only breaks in this cycle were tries for Matt Johnson and Rob Farrar and a yellow card for captain John Dickinson. Both tries involved good interplay between forwards and backs as Orrell broke from inside their own half to score close to the posts. Alex Gannon converted both making the half time score 21-0.

From the second half kick off Orrell broke from deep and Rob Farrar finished off another good move to score under the post. Alex Gannon again converted to make the score 28-0.

The game then settled back into the familiar pattern of the first half although Orrell were finding it increasingly difficult to break into the Thornton Cleveleys half.

Eventually a penalty gave Orrell an attacking line out. The forwards put a training ground move into practice and drove Mike Walker over for Orrell’s fifth try of the game. The conversion was missed 33-0.

Helped by the number of penalties given away by Orrell, Thornton Cleveleys then had a period of sustained pressure and were rewarded with a try under the posts which was converted 33-7.

From the kick-off Orrell again found themselves under pressure on their own line. More good defence turned the ball over and the Orrell backs saw an opportunity to move the ball wide. Quick hands got the ball to outside centre Rob Farrar who decided he didn’t need any help from his winger and beat four players to score under the posts. Alex Gannon again converted 40-7.

This was the last score of the game. Full time 40-7.