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Sat 23 Nov 2019 · Lancs/Cheshire One
Garstang Oaks (1st XV)Orrell
17
24
Beaten But Back On Track
Simon Whittingham29 Nov 2019 - 17:49
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Garstang Disappointed as They Lose to the League Leaders but They Give as Good as They Got
GARSTANG 17-24 ORRELL
Garstang welcomed the league leaders to Hudson Park on Saturday and they were keen to avenge the narrow defeat that they suffered in the reverse fixture a couple of months ago.
A draw in the Isle of Man against Ramsey and a humbling ‘defeat’ at New Brighton meant that Garstang came into the game low on form, but confidence within the camp was high that they could get back to the required standards needed to compete against a team as accomplished as Orrell.
The visitors came out of the blocks in style which showed why they are unbeaten so far this season. However, Garstang’s defence was resolute and they managed to repel the Orrell attackers early on. Despite this the sheer amount of possession that Orrell were enjoying meant that a score was inevitable and eventually they forced their way over in the corner after a controlled set of phases (0-7).
The intensity of the opening salvo from both sides died off a little but things looked bad for Garstang when Orrell doubled their lead to 14-0 with another try, and then Dave Miller was yellow carded for a petulant push. The card was probably a little harsh but the experienced prop should have known better!
The disruption seemed to galvanise the team though and the intensity went back up another notch. This was epitomised when Harrison Pickervance made a huge hit in midfield which forced his opposite man to spill the ball, as it came out of his hands Kieran Davies gathered it up and won the foot race to the line despite still having plenty to do. He improved his own score with the conversion to narrow the gap to just seven points (7-14).
With the half time break approaching and the team restored to fifteen men Garstang had gained the impetus and Dave Miller made up for his early indiscretion as he made a mess of an Orrell ruck to force a penalty under the posts. Kieran Davies added the two points to further narrow the deficit (10-14).
The second period was a much cagier affair as both teams nullified each other for the most part. When Orrell won a penalty fifteen minutes in they elected to go for goal, rather than the corner which they had done earlier, and it was the right call as the kicker slotted it over to extend the lead (10-17).
With fifteen minutes to go Orrell broke and got close to the line. Garstang had the defensive numbers but a mismatch out wide allowed the winger to out-pace the defender and squeeze over in the corner (10-24).
That was a huge blow to Garstang and probably ended any realistic chance that they had of winning the game, particularly as Orrell were pushing hard for the bonus point. With a few minutes to go Garstang were pinned on their own line but they nearly turned a defensive situation into the try of the season with an outstanding individual effort from Toby Inman. Harrison Pickervance cleared from his own line but, despite having decent distance, the ball didn’t make touch. However, Inman didn’t give it up and he beat the winger to take the ball on the full, he then dinked over his man and regathered in impressive style, with just one defender to beat he cut inside and created a clear run to the line. A wonder try looked inevitable but with the line at his mercy he didn’t trust his pace and cut back the other way which allowed the winger to get back to tackle him and dislodge the ball as he was agonisingly close.
His effort wasn’t in vain though as Garstang spent the next few minutes camped on the Orrell try line. With time nearly up Lawson Whittaker finally broke the defensive wall and went over near the posts. Kieran Davies clipped over a quick conversion and Garstang basically had one play to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat. They received the ball but infringed immediately and Orrell kicked the ball dead to seal a narrow victory.
Similarly to many games this season this was another that got away but the pleasing thing was that the attitude, application and intensity was a notch up on the previous couple of outings.
Team: Miller, Wilkinson, Parkinson, Davies Taylor, Johnston, Pye, Kelsall, Billington, Brown, Davies, Swale, Tissingh, Knowles, Inman, Nickson. Replacements: Barton, Whittaker, Pickervance.
Garstang welcomed the league leaders to Hudson Park on Saturday and they were keen to avenge the narrow defeat that they suffered in the reverse fixture a couple of months ago.
A draw in the Isle of Man against Ramsey and a humbling ‘defeat’ at New Brighton meant that Garstang came into the game low on form, but confidence within the camp was high that they could get back to the required standards needed to compete against a team as accomplished as Orrell.
The visitors came out of the blocks in style which showed why they are unbeaten so far this season. However, Garstang’s defence was resolute and they managed to repel the Orrell attackers early on. Despite this the sheer amount of possession that Orrell were enjoying meant that a score was inevitable and eventually they forced their way over in the corner after a controlled set of phases (0-7).
The intensity of the opening salvo from both sides died off a little but things looked bad for Garstang when Orrell doubled their lead to 14-0 with another try, and then Dave Miller was yellow carded for a petulant push. The card was probably a little harsh but the experienced prop should have known better!
The disruption seemed to galvanise the team though and the intensity went back up another notch. This was epitomised when Harrison Pickervance made a huge hit in midfield which forced his opposite man to spill the ball, as it came out of his hands Kieran Davies gathered it up and won the foot race to the line despite still having plenty to do. He improved his own score with the conversion to narrow the gap to just seven points (7-14).
With the half time break approaching and the team restored to fifteen men Garstang had gained the impetus and Dave Miller made up for his early indiscretion as he made a mess of an Orrell ruck to force a penalty under the posts. Kieran Davies added the two points to further narrow the deficit (10-14).
The second period was a much cagier affair as both teams nullified each other for the most part. When Orrell won a penalty fifteen minutes in they elected to go for goal, rather than the corner which they had done earlier, and it was the right call as the kicker slotted it over to extend the lead (10-17).
With fifteen minutes to go Orrell broke and got close to the line. Garstang had the defensive numbers but a mismatch out wide allowed the winger to out-pace the defender and squeeze over in the corner (10-24).
That was a huge blow to Garstang and probably ended any realistic chance that they had of winning the game, particularly as Orrell were pushing hard for the bonus point. With a few minutes to go Garstang were pinned on their own line but they nearly turned a defensive situation into the try of the season with an outstanding individual effort from Toby Inman. Harrison Pickervance cleared from his own line but, despite having decent distance, the ball didn’t make touch. However, Inman didn’t give it up and he beat the winger to take the ball on the full, he then dinked over his man and regathered in impressive style, with just one defender to beat he cut inside and created a clear run to the line. A wonder try looked inevitable but with the line at his mercy he didn’t trust his pace and cut back the other way which allowed the winger to get back to tackle him and dislodge the ball as he was agonisingly close.
His effort wasn’t in vain though as Garstang spent the next few minutes camped on the Orrell try line. With time nearly up Lawson Whittaker finally broke the defensive wall and went over near the posts. Kieran Davies clipped over a quick conversion and Garstang basically had one play to snatch a draw from the jaws of defeat. They received the ball but infringed immediately and Orrell kicked the ball dead to seal a narrow victory.
Similarly to many games this season this was another that got away but the pleasing thing was that the attitude, application and intensity was a notch up on the previous couple of outings.
Team: Miller, Wilkinson, Parkinson, Davies Taylor, Johnston, Pye, Kelsall, Billington, Brown, Davies, Swale, Tissingh, Knowles, Inman, Nickson. Replacements: Barton, Whittaker, Pickervance.
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