Champions Elect

Garstang all but secured the Lancs/Cheshire Three North title as they sweep to a comprehensive win away at Bury

BURY 15-33 GARSTANG
Garstang started the New Year much as they finished the old one with a convincing 33-15 win at Bury in which they gained a bonus point and, barring a mathematical miracle, all but secured the league title.
This season Garstang are playing in North Lancs/Cheshire Three which contains just eight teams. The first phase of the season see each team play each other home and away in fourteen fixtures. At this stage the top four split off to form a new league which joins up into a new league with the South Lancs/Cheshire Three leaders with promotion being the prize.
So, although no prizes are handed out at this stage, Garstang can take a great deal of satisfaction at winning the Three North league in the first leg of a quest for an unprecedented treble.
With a prize at stake Garstang put together a very strong squad for the game and they never doubted that they would get the job done.
A convincing first half performance saw Garstang score three tries through Sam Tomlinson, Adam Nickson and Joel Dugdale. Bury only had a penalty for the efforts so the score was 15-3 to Garstang at the interval.
Bury briefly threatened in the second period and when they scored their first try they were in touching distance at 8-15. However, Lawson Whittaker then scored to stretch Garstang’s lead out to 22-8.
Bury bounced back with another converted try but Garstang got the job done as Gavin Barton and Charlie Clark both went over to give the team a comfortable 33-15 win.
In theory North Manchester, who have four games to play and are twenty points behind Garstang, could overhaul them but given the huge points difference between the sides it is almost impossible.
Garstang now have three league games to go before the league splits and they will be keen to go through the first phase of the campaign unbeaten.
The next game is at Hudson Park when the team take on Ashton-under-Lyne on Saturday, KO 14:15.
Team: Nicholls, Barton, Parkinson, Hodgson, Whittaker, Tissingh, Slater, Kelsall, Riley, Davies, Tomlinson, Harrison, Dugdale, Nickson, Richmond. Replacements: Clark, Brown, Quinn, Smeaton
While things are going really well for the 1st XV the 2nd XV (The Blues) are really struggling with playing numbers at the moment. On Saturday they had been scheduled to play Burnley 3rds but they forfeited the game as they could not field a team. The club is looking to actively recruit players of all ages, standard and whatever experience. If anybody would like to take up rugby or get back into the game you can contact the club via twitter @GarstangRUFC; on Facebook Garstang RUFC; Email Garstangrugbyclub@hotmail.com ; Phone Head Coach Gavin Barton 07809 469931 or just turn up on a Saturday afternoon at Hudson Park. Full details can be found at www.pitchero.com/clubs/garstangrufc
The 2nd XV are away against Aspull 2nds this Saturday.