AK denied bonus point in 22-8 victory away at Sefton

as the race for the title continues to gather pace!

Altrincham Kersal 1XV travelled to Sefton for the latest match in the Lancs/ Cheshire Division 1 league.

The match started with a good tempo from both sides which after some good forward pressure and a number of penalties in the opposition 22 led to a penalty for the visitors.
More pressure from the Altrincham Kersal pack saw James Coulson finish off a good phase of play from the backs to deliver a well crafted try.

Sefton then replied with a try from a forwards drive to make the score 10 - 5, to which Altrincham Kersal countered with good work from both forwards and backs for Cal Robinson to finish off another well worked try. This was how the first half ended with a score of 5-17 .

In the second half Sefton scored n early penalty to make the score 8-17, but continual pressure from the visitors saw James Coulson crash over for his second try to make the score 8-22 which was the final result.

Cal Yates scored one penalty an two conversions as part of the scoreline.

Overall this was an example of two teams who looked to play fast and open rugby but were frequently disrupted in this aim by some questionable decision by the referee.
Most profound was the decision to call time six minutes from the clock during a period of sustained and unanswered pressure from Altrincham Kersal culminating in what should have been a five meter scrum for the visitors.
This unexpected decision left the visitors most frustrated as the flow of play had it been allowed must surely have lead to a further try which would in turn have given Altrincham Kersal a bonus point win.
Report by: Simon Gallimore