Away game this week to another St Helens side. We have played clock face many times with wins and losses on both sides the games have always been close when we have met before. Clock Face are a fair team and they play good rugby hopes were high that IRB straight off the back of the win away against Thatto Heath could double the run of wins.

Oddly for first day of July it was a cold rainy day, must be because its Wimbeldon fortnight so it always rains for that. The sides lined up Bridge eager to show off what they have been learning in training. Grahame has been showing them how to tackle in 2’s and 3’s and during training things have looked promising, with our new passing skills we hoped we could win the day.

The game started with clock face kicking off, it was a spectacular kick off going out of play on the bounce just in the Rose Bridge half, Clock Face had the ball for the first set of six. Bridge defended this set well and managed to stop Clock Face scoring holding the ball up. The ball was turned over with Clock Face denied, Ince’s first set of 6 on the ball they played really well with Josh Aspinall running in a try and then managing to convert. 0 - 6 to Bridge. Bridge then continued the effort keeping Clock Face out again before on the next set of six Kian Harrison ran in another try but then missed the conversion.0 - 10 to Bridge.

The game looked like it was all going one way with Bridge playing really well in attack and defence, Clock Face looked on as if they were spectators. Some more excellent defence from Bridge kept Clock Face out again. Then it started to turn into a bit of a farce. Rose Bridge knock on results in turnover followed quickly by another knock on by Clock Face, this carried on for several minutes with neither side able to catch the ball properly. Ince then broke the Knock on deadlock with a stunning try by Connor Pardon then successfully converted by Josh Banks 0 - 16 to Bridge. The game looked like it was in the bag.

Clock Face were not downbeat though and managed to drag Rose Bridge into touch getting the ball near the Ince line. They took the most of this opportunity and scored , a successful conversion tool the score to 6 – 16 to Bridge. The half time whistle blew, time for some talk.

Second half started and it looked like the Clock Face coach had inspired his team they started the half strong, Bridge held them back but then another touch decision close to the Bridge line gave Clock Face the ideal place to strike back. They took advantage of the situation and scored but missed the kick. 10 – 16. Ince responded in kind though with another Josh Aspinall try and Ryan Smart converted to extend the lead 10 – 22 to Bridge.

It then all seemed to fall apart for Bridge, they seemed to lack the drive that Clock Face had and their defending and attack skills melted away. Clock Face scored and converted to narrow the gap to 16 -22 before coming really close again, they were denied only by Ryan Smart diving on the ball to save a try.

The ball then started to go between the teams again with a to and fro from Knock on’s and errors. Clock Face beat the curse though and run in another try right before the end, If they got the kick the scores would be level. Kick was taken and the ball sailed between the posts for a draw.

At the end of the game draw. Inces bad second half performance let them throw away a commanding lead. The last minute try in the first half seemed to punish Bridge and their heads went down allowing Clock Face to come back into the game.

Final Score 22-22

Ince Try Scorers: Josh Aspinall (2), Kian Harrison, Connor Pardon

Successful Conversions: Josh Aspinall, Josh Banks, Ryan Smart

Man of the Match: Brandon Carrington

Top Tackler: Kian Harrison

Player of the Week: For the first half the entire team, for the second half none of the team