On Saturday 19 June 2021 blue skies and bright sunshine welcomed rugby back to Port Sunlight RFC. A 12 month hiatus, due to COVID, finally came to an end as we welcomed Prenton RUFC for the first of two local derby games. Prenton arrived in great numbers with a good mix of fresh faces and older heads all sporting a new brightly coloured yellow strip. Port Sunlight in their League Champion winning 19/20 strip were also out in force and looking strong. Both teams were clearly eager to get back into the mix. The game was played with the RFU COVID amended laws; no mauls and no scrums. This made for a very fast paced and open game. From the very first whistle both teams were clearly eager for the contact. It was a physical if not a little scrappy first 20 minutes. The subsequent periods were more structured and controlled but certainly no less physical. The players struggled with the adapted laws, and the referees interpretation of them, but this did little to deter from a great game of rugby. The sides traded hits and moves with tries coming again and again; a real spectacle for the many supporters basking in the sunshine. At the final whistle it was Port Sunlight RFC that took the victory but only by the narrowest of margins 28-26. It was an entertaining game to mark the return of rugby and enjoyed by all in attendance. The celebrations continued into the evening in and around the new Club House with our growing rugby family. As the sun set over the Leverhulme playing fields it was good to reflect on a great day knowing that the Sunlight is back shining brightly.

All photos of the game available https://flic.kr/s/aHsmW4N5TQ

Tries: John Glover, Dave Milne, Tom Philips (2). Note: Henry Hibbert-Jones (Honorary half a try)
Conversions: John Glover (4)
Next game: Saturday 3 July 21 at Prenton RUFC