Winners are Grinners!

In a hard fought final at Winnington Park RFC Bo’ completed their third and toughest win over a resolute Oswestry side to come away with the silverware. With only 2 minutes left to play and the scores tied at 27 all Harry Booth crashed to score the decisive try that enabled Bowdon to steal the spoils 27 : 32.

From the kick off this was going to be a very close encounter with both sides looking to fill a space in their trophy cabinets after a long season. For Oswestry this was their last competitive game of the season, with them looking to see a reverse of the two league games between the sides, both won by Bowdon. For Bo’ this was the first of two season defining games, with next week’s clash with Liverpool Collegiate settling the last promotion place and possibly the league title.

On 6 minutes Oswestry opened the scoring with a penalty straight in front of the posts. Bowdon replied with a well worked forwards try almost immediately, from a line out 5 meters out, Brighty took the lineout cleanly, The forwards coming round and mauling the ball over the whitewash, No. 8 Thiu Barnard coming up with the ball. Swets coming close with the conversion attempt but pulling it from the wide position. This gave Bowdon a slender 2 point lead.

Oswestry regained the lead on 23 minutes with a well worked converted try scoring between the posts, helped with poor tackling from Bowdon, This would be a feature throughout the game - too many missed tackles. Bowdon replied with an almost identical try to their first, only on the right side of the pitch, this time Neil Bright coming up with the ball to equal the scoring. Swets was again close but not quite there with his kicking.

The final points of the half came from some great handling from Bowdon, fly half Paddy Shaw starting then finishing the move that saw the ball pass through several pairs of hands, the ref blowing up for half time just after the re-start. This brought the half time score to 10 : 15 in Bowdon’s favour.

Within two minutes of the re-start Paul Mosley scored arguably the try of the match. From a lineout on the Oswestry 10 meter line, Bo’ threw to the front Martin, the Badger, Gallagher catching the ball cleanly, and passing to scrum half Chris Hares. The ball was moved out quickly to Swets, who looked like he was going to take a crash ball and make yards down the centre of the park, as he has done all season. This pulled in both the Oswestry centres, allowing a small gap to be created, Swetman popping the pass to outside centre Paul Mosley who ran a fantastic line through the middle of the flapping defence. With only the full back to beat he brushed off the tackle to score near the posts, giving Swets easy conversion attempt. Bowdon now with what looked like a healthy 12 point lead.

But any thoughts Bowdon had of running away with the game were snuffed out when Oswestry hit back ten minutes later, again poor tackling helped their cause, the well worked converted try near the posts reduced Bowdon’s advantage to 5 points. Within 3 minutes Bowdon had more points on the board. Alex Hartley, who had come on as a replacement, scoring the try. From a ruck midway between the 10 meter and Oswestry 22, the ball was initially kicked through by Luke Brown. Hartley followed this to fly hack the ball on, then score out wide to give Bowdon a ten point lead.

Oswestry were not a beaten side yet, coming back with two unconverted tries to level the scoring with 6 minutes to go. It was now squeaky bum time, with the final looking like it could go any way. Oswestry had their tails up and looked to be finishing strongly. Bo’ were again giving too many penalties away - and were reduced to 14 men with Swets yellow carded with 5 minutes to go! It looked like the writing was on the wall. It was time for The Clay Lane men to stand up and be counted. To a man they all stepped up no missed tackles and great cover defence from all, Mosley and Hartley giving a great account of themselves in the dying minutes.

With two minutes to go Bowdon fought up the field with both forwards and backs combining moving the ball first right then left. Oswestry’s cover defence was looking strong. With the ball moving left again 10 meters out Harry Booth burst through the line, making just enough ground to stretch for the line as the tackles came in, his arm looked to grow a food as he hit the whitewash. Although the final score of the game Bo still had a lot of defending to do. With Oswestry still looking to grab the silverware they were pressurising the Bowdon line with waves of attack, the ball finally breaking to the defenders and being kicked into touch to seal Bowdon’s victory.

As the final whistle blew Ben Sutherland took a heavy knock to the neck which meant he didn’t pick up his medal - instead making his way eventually into an ambulance and off for a precautionary check up. The last message was battered and bruised and looking for his medal!

Man of the Match was given to Paul Mosley. The quote of the day goes to Brighty! - With Ben in the ambulance – Rach the physio was trying to find his clothes and kit bag! With everyone looking for it in the dressing room Brighty piped up - “Who’s is this bag with 85 on it?” As everyone looked round - the retort came – “It’s not 85 you dumpling - it’s B S!!” If you bank with Barclays I’d be afraid - very afraid!!