This week was our final game of the year for both 1s & 3s & both teams at home. It was very pleasing to see 2x strong teams out on the pitch as when we get our players playing we are always competitive regardless of the opposition.
As last week the weather was atrocious (dark, very windy, rainy & very very cold!) & again as last week the weather would have a major say in how the teams approached game. The 1s boosted buy our Capitan Andy Johno back in the Prenton shirt for his 1st league game of the season & it didn’t take AJ long to get in the game, a neat inside pass from number 10 Phil Tollady put AJ through for a 40m break up field. Playing against the wind this was valuable ground made. Now up in the 22 & retaining possession the Prenton team kept the ball & went through the phases & slowly closed in on the Mossley Hill line & Todd Bell to open the scoring 5-0 Prenton. Due to a ball shortage between the 2x home games & me pumping up match balls in the changing rooms I missed the next part of the game but when I returned Mossley Hill had just slotted a penalty to make the score 5-8 Mossley Hill (not sure what happened??). However for the remainder of the 1st half as it was pointless kicking the ball against the wind Prenton played the smarter Rugby, keeping hold of the ball & possession & making good territory. Often our hard work was undone by some good place kicking from the Mossley Hill 10 to drive us back into our own half but still turning around at the break attacking the club house with the wind at our backs & only 3 points down was seen as a positive.
As we had been keeping hold of the ball for the majority of the 1st half & now even with the wind we did not want to kick the ball & possession away unless necessary so again we kept the ball, the pick & goes went well, we got the 2x passes going from rucks , centers & wingers looked for work & between the team we pinned the visitors in their 22 & under sustained pressure. Making lots of tackles & unable to relive the pressure or gain territory via the boot we eventually wore them out. Our set piece worked well especially in the scrums & buy the hour mark they were shot & credit to them for sticking it out & not going to uncontested scrums. As said the weather was bad which equalled more knock ons & scrums but in the last quarter the Prenton pack walked through the Mossley Hill pack & 2x scores coming via our scrum/pack dominance with push over tries. So in the last 20 mins we began to run in the scores & pull away on the scorecard. Big Ace nearly scored the try of the game, on the edge of the 22 the big prop as always brushed aside the 1st tackler, broke the line put on the afterburners with only the fullback to beat bashed him out the way & then dropped the ball about 2 meters from the line (blame the weather). So we ran out comfortable winners scoring 6 tries in the process. Sorry boys but like you by the end of the game & with the onset of hyperthermia taking hold of my body I cannot remember who got all the tries?? Mark Asp, Gino & others. Final Score Prenton win 34-8
A fine performance with the Prenton team playing to the end for every extra valuable point. With the 3s also getting a win on the top pitch it was the perfect end to the year & onto a full & happy clubhouse.
Have a great Xmas everyone & enjoy your break with those who are special to you & will see you all next year (if not before).

Match day Squad
Terry B
Lee Raff
Ace
Todd Bell
Jason Torrance
Knappo
Sam Johno
Lee Gordon
Mark Asp
Phil Tollady
Andy Johno
Robbie Johno
Gino
Ste Williams
Jordan Ainslie
Chris Kirkham
Barry Miller