Orrell vs New Brighton

1st Team

1. J Grant 2. L Davies 3. K Herbert 4. J Granby 5. A Kelly 6. M Huxley 7. B Garner 8. W Harris (C) 9. A Worley 10. J Ratcliffe 11. M Johnson 12. C Thomas 13. Alex Gaskell 14. M Stott 15. C Owen 16. M Williams 17. A Stott 18. J Presho

With Dan Huxley not available Wilbur Harris is made captain for the day. Brad Garner and Craig Thomas move up from 2xv team duty and John Presho makes up the 18 man squad.

Orrell kick off and immediately put New Brighton on the back foot. Orrell press forward and on 6’ win a scrum against the head and the resultant break from James Ratcliffe is finished off nicely by Josh Grant. Conversion by Ratcliffe
7-0 scoreline.

Next 10’ Orrell are dominant in the forwards and on 16’ a cross kick from Ratcliffe, Matty Johnson makes the tackle and Alex Gaskell picks up spilled ball and scores under the posts. Conversion kicked Ratcliffe Orrell lead 14-0.

17’ New Brighton kick off and with kick going directly in to touch, scrum on half way line. Harris picks the ball up and feeds Worley, perfect timed pass to Chris Owen who score under posts. Conversion kicked by James Ratcliffe 21-0,

Orrell forwards continue to rampage the New Brighton forwards and from a scrum Josh Grant receives a yellow card on 23’.

Substitute referee joins the match on 26’. New Brighton rally briefly and on 31’ from a scrum on Orrell try line score under the posts 21-7. Orrell score a fine try on 38’, line out and strong run by Harris recycles the ball James Ratcliffe passes to Josh Grant one handed pass to Craig Thomas is tackled on try line but manages to flip for Chris Owen to score his 2nd try under posts Conversion kicked by James Ratcliffe, half time score 28-7.

HT 28-7

New Brighton kick off and 44’ on the clock kick the ball into Orrell half Chris Owen picks up ball runs through New Brighton forwards exchanges passes with Matty Johnson and completes hatrick under the sticks. Conversion kicked and score moves on to 35-7.

Rampant Orrell to continue to press hard and Matty Johnson scores on 50’ after a cross kick by Ratcliffe is collected by Johnson scores try in corner. Conversion Ratcliffe 42-7

Possibly the try of the game, New Brighton deep in there own half run the ball and with a swift break catches Orrell defence out on 60’ A superb try moves score onto 42-12.

Wounded by this on 64’ Orrell put ball through hands in back line which allows Matt Stott to score in corner. Conversion Ratcliffe 49-12.

Final try of the game is Orrell’s, nice interchange between Josh Grant puts Jack Granby in the corner 72’. Conversion missed
FT 54-12.

Some fine performances today especially Max Huxley, Josh Grant and James Ratcliffe. MoM award goes to Chris Owen for his hatrick of tries.

John Huyton u