With seven changes to the matchday squad and several players playing out of position it was always going to be a challenge for Bowdon to start smoothly and Fleetwood took full advantage of an out of sorts Bowdon backline.

On their first foray into the Bowdon 22 a shot at a drop goal went wide but Fleetwood didn’t need asking twice as they slotted a penalty given as Bowdon strayed offside to defend the drop goal attempt.

Bowdon looked to strike back immediately but the new half back combination of George Smith and Jamie Anthony were struggling to get the normally smooth backline moving.

Flanker Tom Gomulko took matters into his own hands with a well worked break on the edge but the move broke down with a knock-on in midfield. A theme of frustration on Bowdon's part that would run throughout the game. To make matters worse Bowdon were forced into an early adjustment when centre Eddie Brady’s game ended with a suspected hamstring pull.

The home sides nerves were finally eased somewhat with a try following a break by Nr 8 Mike Waddington. His charge from the base of a ruck 25 meters out was supported by Will Birtwell who slipped a lovely offload to makeshift scrum half George Smith to cross the touchline to open Bowdon’s account. Try successfully converted by Jamie Anthony. 7 – 3.

On fifteen minutes Bowdon had a try disallowed for offside following a turnover at the scrum. Shortly after prop Ra Thompson had to throw in for Bowdon lineout on the Fleetwood 5 metre line as Hooker Sean Hughes received treatment for a rolled ankle. Thompson opted for a specialty move with a short throw to prop Birtwell at the front of the line. The move worked brilliantly only for the pop pass to be knocked-on by the charging Dan Brown with the line wide open.

Bowdon were again denied a score when they were held up over the line following a drive from another 5 metre lineout. To make matters worse as Bowdon looked to move the ball wide from the subsequent scrum Fleetwood pounced on a loose pass to break away and run the length of the field to score under the posts and take the lead against the run of play. 7 – 10.

Bowdon’s problems grew after they were penalised for pulling down a Fleetwood maul that had driven 20 metres into the Bowdon half. The frustration was eased somewhat when replacement wing Nick Foster made a solo break and raced down the line to go in at the corner. With the conversion being missed it took the score to 12 – 13 at the break.

At half time Bowdon took the opportunity to make some positional changes with George Smith and Jamie Anthony reverting to their usual positions at Fly half and Centre and Wing Ben Thomas going in to the scrum half position. Despite Fleetwood stretching their lead with an early penalty the Bowdon changes looked to have had an immediate impact with the misfiring backline looking far more at ease and soon Bowdon took advantage as Jamie Anthony, now at centre, crossed from a short crash ball following a scrum penalty to take Bowdon back into the lead. 19-16.

Yet again Fleetwood came back and reinserted themselves in the game with yet another penalty. It was at this point and with little more than 25 minutes to go that Bowdon finally clicked in to gear, and, as if to make the point fly-half George Smith, with what was probably the best move of the day, picked out Nick Foster on the Wing with a cross field kick. Foster gathered on the full and completed the move to put Bowdon back into a lead they would not relinquish.

Replacement Ben Dilworth continued the theme as he was denied a dream first touch, his try being disallowed for a double movement. But Bowdon were now well on top. Scoring was completed with tries from Dan Brown and a George Smith penalty to take the final score to 35-19.

In truth this was far from Bowdon’s best performance but given the number of absentees and injuries it showcased the strength in depth and competition for places the club currently has.

Scorers
T – Smith, Foster (2), Anthony, Brown
C – Anthony, Smith (2)
P – Smith (2)

Next week Tarleton away.