Tyldesley 1st XV 22 - 12 Bowdon 1st XV

He woke up on the morning and raised his weary head – an old coat for a pillow n roses were last nights bed. Better go direct got the kids in the morning staying off the bad medicine today. Stumbling into the changing rooms questioning – what language and number today Andre? – it had to be Harrison – you can tell him by the way he walks.

A wonderful English spring day on the high plains of Tildozley was the setting for the return fixture of last weeks encounter between two teams seemingly evenly matched. A brief look at the programme and one realised that the recent slip in form of the home team was a result of a lengthy injury list and had nothing to do with the two “o”’s in BowdOn.

Tildisley kicked off and from the beginning played with purpose and pace applying pressure to the set piece and the loose ball. Early social exchanges between the referee and loose head Bowdon prop Neal Collinge set the tone for the day as the BowdOn scrum was policed with a vigour and intensity reminiscent of the famous Wilkinson world cup final. Four minutes in and as the crowd grew in size Tillsley took the lead driving over as BowdOn struggled to shake off the journey and altitude sickness. Converted with ease the blue and whites were off to a fine start.[ 7 – 0 ]

Hanging in BowdOn fought hard to stake their claim and slowly but surely began to see more possession and immediately the backline began to threaten. It was however the pressure exerted by the forwards , in particular Grimes at 8, that following a number of near misses finally gave BowdOn their first score of the day. [ 7- 5 ]
Both teams competed hard for ascendancy throughout the first half in a fascinating if not a little disjointed contest between the forward power of Tyldeslie and the ever present threat of a Bowdon backline break out.

The second half began with Bowdon contesting in the opposition 22m but this was not to be a day of grazing these pastures as they were soon under the cosh defending their line a little to fiercely as Lamb added to this seasons yellow card collection.The ensuing penalty increasing Tyldslys lead 10 – 5.Further sustained pressure and TyldOsley powered over to take the score to 15 – 5.The alarm bells rang and Bowdon’s forwards manfully increased their work rate as Landman and Collinge took on the opposition supported by the ever improving Breen and Coleman who worked tirelessly throughout.

The effort was rewarded when outside centre Ame Rataluva swotted away tacklers as he crossed the line to take the game into a tense last 20 minutes following Harrison’s conversion. [ 15 – 12 ]

Bowdon were playing controlled crowd pleasing rugby but all to often in the wrong areas of the paddock as their inability to cross the half way and stay began to take its toll. The crowd and both teams knew that a single slight of a hand, a split second of majic and the visitors to St.Georges Park had it within the team to steal a win. However on the last play of the match for Bowdon a tap penalty under their
own posts led to a slipped pass interception try for Tyldesly and a deserved victory 22 – 12.

Some good performances today – Collinge had an excellent game as did the languid Grimes and impressive Rataluva but man of the match head and shoulders above was Landman who roamed the transvaal of TylOdesly majestically.

Next week and the multi tasking back up team and ever increasing travelling support pack up their 6 strings and hitch up the steel horses and have a trip to Shropshire to support the lads at Oswestry.

The time has come - take a tip and make the trip this team is worth watching and always entertains.