Seasons Promise Finally Arrives!

At the third time of asking the rugby gods were kind with perfect conditions for the home game against Liverpool Collegiate. The last time these teams met was the final day of the season 2 years ago when a home draw earned Bowdon Promotion to their current league. For those there that day it was a cracking game of rugby - memorable for many things- one being a certain drop goal from Swets - if you don’t know about this ask him in the bar!

With much needed league point for both teams this was set up to be a tight game. Collegiate came to Clay Lane after a great home win over New Brighton, as for Bowdon it was a game to forget away to Wigan! For the first 10 minutes of this game it looked like it was going to be a low scoring close encounter. Collegiate had the best of the opening skirmishes. Bowdon gave them 2 opportunities to open the scoring with a couple of penalties in kicking range. Thankfully for the growing crowd Collegiate’s stand-off was off target. This was a wake-up call for Bo’ and sparked the team into the performance that they had been threatening all season!

The first score was sparked by an initial Lee Brennand burst through the middle. After a couple of rucks Kiki took the ball on popping to Paul Mosley who cantered to the posts for a converted try.

Confidence was building in the team, and this showed in both the tackling and running from all 15 on the park. On the half hour a clearance kick from Liverpool only found Jonny Kennedy who ran the ball straight up the middle, bursting through several tackles. When he was caught he set up the initial ruck, after a second ruck the quick ball was sent to Zac Robb who pulled in the last defender on the right, perfectly timing his pass to give Jonny a run in to score out wide. Again Swets converted this to give a 14 to 0 lead.

With 5 minutes to go to the break a line out on the Liverpool 22 went to the middle. Martin (Frank) Gallagher rose to catch the ball and set up the maul, the forwards drove forwards and in field. Once momentum had been halted the ball was quickly spun wide. Jonny Kennedy, again having a run to the line with more players outside him if needed. Swets in his new blue boots once again slotted the conversion giving the home supporters another 7 points to cheer!

The second half opened like the first with Collegiate initially the better team, scoring an unconverted try just after the re-start. The away team thought they could get back into the game. But Bo’ had other ideas! Swets added 3 points to the score line with a penalty on 50 minutes. From there the points were all one way. Martin Gallagher flopped over the line from 1 yard out after an initial Jonny Kennedy run. Neil Bright drove over from slightly further out after a mesmerising run from Kiki set up a cracking forwards try. The Blue Boots of Swets adding the conversions.

The try of the day came just after the midway point in the half. With both forwards and backs in full flow the ball came out wide on the right side. Kiki took this on and having watched too much Sonny Bill Williams passed to Martin round his back. Martin took this on with Alfie outside him for support. As the collegiate backs moved in Alfie called for the Switch, taking the ball on the 22 and making a bee line for the posts, with still a lot of work to do! Evading a couple of tackles he still had the full back to beat. With a neat shimmy he out-paced him scoring between the posts! This made the extra’s a mere formality for the metronomic Swetman!

The final points came from an interception. Liam Connolly tackling and holding the Collegiate stand off on their 5 meter line, his popped pass landing in Stuart Lindsey’s hands for the easiest of tries. For the icing on the cake Swets made in seven conversions from seven.

As a team performance this was the best in 2 years with all 18 players used adding to the team performance. There were several performances that deserved special mention - Lee Brennand tackled everything until forced to depart at half time with a bad gash above his eye, Jonny Kennedy was making yards with every ball - and also several crunching tackles. Liam Connolly for running though brick walls and tackling all day long. Swets, kicking everything - who needs golden boots when we have Blue boots! But the Man of the match was given to Kiki! Some fantastic running - and sublime skills and we all thought he was only good for the Thursday cooking!

Special mention to the Under 16’s making their third Cheshire cup final in a row with an emphatic 27 Nil victory over Wilmslow The future for Bowdon looks bright judging from the player set to come through in the years to come!