There have been loads of good things to have come out of Chorley. Who isn’t partial to one of their cakes, far better than the Eccles variety. In rugby league terms, the Tomkins boys and Josh Charnley started at the Chorley Panthers, the hosts of the festival. The heritage of the other clubs in the Falcons group could not be questioned either. Blackbrook where the likes of James Roby, James Graham and Paul Wellens cut their teeth and as if that was not enough, strong Wigan outfit, St Cuths, completed the group. The fact that the Falcons only had thirteen men would not help them a bit.

It looked like it was going to be a long day and to be honest after ten minutes of the first game against the hosts, Chorley, nothing had occurred that would challenge that statement. A Sloppy start by the Falcons gifting the Panthers loads of possession and field position with which they were able to convert into points. Despite a second half resurgence, the visitors never got back in the game and ran out losers 21-12.

Second up St. Cuths and things were beginning to look slightly better as the Falcons started to fire. One unkind soul suggested that the departure of club chairman, Mark Parry, was the catalyst. I couldn’t comment but whatever it was, the weather, the hour of the day, the time, something had changed. Whilst still not at full throttle the u12s did enough to take the game 16-10 in a most improved performance.

Final group game and a Blackbrook side that had demolished both Cuths and Panthers by more than thirty points without conceding a try. Hey-ho, back home in time for lunch.

What was to follow should prove to all how much potential this group of u12s has. Fifteen minutes of consummate rugby league was to destroy the St. Helens outfit. The completion of sets, hard running and top defence saw three unanswered Falcons tries going into the break.

Blackbrook, as you would expect were not to lie down though. A try just after the half gave them hope. Perhaps the most pleasing aspect of the afternoon was the Falcons response. More faultless grown-up rugby saw the boys run in two more unanswered tries to seal a monumental victory 24-5 in what I would consider to be one of the best performance ever by a Falcons team of any age group.

A victory which would see the Falcons finish a very respectable second in their group and gain a final tie against fellow second placers Oldham St. Annes, another big rugby league name.

The final tie was a game too far for the Falcons. The lack of subs had taken its toll and although a game performance the big Oldham pack was to prove crucial in them running out 27-13 winners.

That should have no reflection on the day though and what was eventually a magnificent performance and I certainly think one or two more players would have made the difference and possibly resulted in first place in what was however a first rate performance.

It would be unfair to single out individuals so Tom Coombs, Jay Pearson, Jacob Mitchell, Abe Kamber, Sam Doughty, Rian O’Malley, Lewis Craft, James Holmes, Jon Dessington, George McNally, Harri Evans, Jack Roberts and Harry Leech take a bow. I hope today has proven to you how good you can be with a little more concentration.

I think the most telling verdict on today’s performance was given by the number of people who stopped me throughout the day to congratulate the team. As I left the site a lady from St Cuths asked how we had done and added ‘You’ve got a cracking bunch of players there’. You know what? she’s not wrong. Well done all.