Orrell had to change grounds for this game as the pitch at St John Rigby was still unfit and Qrrell would like to thank Wigan St Cuthbert's ARLFC for making a pitch available for this Orrell Home game and especially Tony, Derek, Kate & Mandy of St Cuthberts for all their help and assistance in enabling this game to be played.

Orrell started well and from the kick off early pressure by the Home sides forwards result in Orrell being awarded a penalty, which Scott Robinson converted to open the scoring and to give Orrell a 3 point lead after just 2 minutes play.
The visitors, began to recover from this early set back and especially the Didsbury forwards who began to dominate in the set pieces and rolling mauls, resulting in Orrell giving away a number of penalties. This enable the visitor to gain territorial advantage and a drive by the Didsbury forwards was stopped, just, by desperate Orrell defending and the ball held up over the line.
However, moments before the break, Didsbury were again held up over the line, close to their left hand corner. The visitors moved the ball across the field from the resulting 5 meter scrum to score an unconverted try, to give Didsbury a 2 point lead.
Orrells kick from the restart was poor and Didsbury immediately moved the ball back up the field, and desperately trying to stop the visitor attack Orrell gave away another penalty, and were reduced to 14 players as forward Andy Stott was yellow carded. Didsbury converted the penalty to extend their lead, and make the score Orrell 3 Didsbury Toc H 8 at Half Time.
Orrells forwards, although one player short, began to get back into the game. This provided more ball for the backs, and just before Orrell were restored back to full strength, a good move by the Home side backs, starting close to the half way line, resulted in an Orrell line out close to the visitor try line. From the line out the Orrell forwards carried out a number of pick up and drives, resulting in Didsbury giving away a number of penalties. Orrell declined the opportunity of a penalty conversion and opted to tap and drive. However after all the effort from the Home side forwards, it was back Adam Worsley, who touched down after he picked the ball up at the back of a ruck and was driven over by his forwards. The conversion was missed leaving the score tied at 8 points each. Orrell were back full strength after the try. 15 minutes later Orrell tried to regain the lead with a penalty kick from the half way line, but the ball fell short.
Although, the Orrell backs did get more ball and started a number of attacks, which result in winger Louis Whitfield, as well as putting in a number of good tackles, making a few good breaks. it was the defences of both sides, that now dominated the game and with a few minutes left to play it appeared the game was heading for an 8 points draw.
Then an attacked by Orrell in their opponents 22 meter area was stopped. Didsbury's clearance kick was collected by Martin Gleeson, just inside his own half and he immediately ran the ball back into the visitor half, and as he was about to be stopped, passed to Orrells other centre, Scott Robinson, who continued the move forward and when he was about to be stopped he passed the ball back to Martin to finish the move by scoring close the corner. The conversion was missed, but Orrell had a 5 point lead with just a few minutes left in the game.
However, Didsbury still had time to put in a long kick down field, which they quickly followed up and Orrell kicked the ball dead and that gave Didsbury a 5 metre scrum. The visitor them scored a try from the scrum to level the score at 13 points each.
If Didsbury could convert the try they would win. When the kick was taken, despite the Didsbury touch judge putting his flag up, the referee deemed the conversion attempt had missed and blow his whistle for Final Time, leaving the Full Time score Level at 13 points each.
Next week, Saturday 13th February 2016, Orrell are Away at Pendle. Kick Off 2.15pm.