Early Saturday morning as the sun rose wearily over the hedge painting a Nippon sky the A – team volunteers worked diligently upon the fields of Clay digging and spiking, bucketing and splashing. Resplendently clad in their hi – viz jackets, hats, scarves, gloves and sensible footwear returning to earlier times like toddlers let loose they toiled on. Their scant reward a slice of Dundee cake and a brew. Clay Lane, at last, was awakening from the annual festival of indulgence and worship. After a weather compounded prolonged mid - season break it was to be business as usual today come what may.

Remembering a difficult game early in the season Bowdon were not taking today’s opponents Ormskirk lightly especially with a number of key players missing due to injuries. Bowdon kicked the match off with the wind and clubhouse at their backs through that once familiar “figure” of Eddie B. who was standing in at 10 today for the damaged in action Armstrong. Ormskirk repelled the home sides inappropriate advances the kirks back three returning the ball testing fullback David Poots with lofted kicks on a number of occasions. Bowdon were showing signs of certain rustiness as they controlled possession but failed to make the territorial progress that the wind advantage should have allowed. Some unusually poor handling and decision making in the backs didn’t help the situation. However, slowly but surely Bowdon began to get the machine running as the forwards exerted their influence at the scrum, lineout and in the loose. Open side Storey was never more than a metre from the ball as he pressed and harried the opposition with the same appetite he supported his lock Landman, hooker Hines and the centres. The break through came at circa and allegedly 15 minutes into the match beginning with the aforementioned pairing of Landman and Storey linking up 10m into the opposition half on the right. As quickly as Storey went to ground the ball was released left where Bredenhann stepped inside creating room for the Fijian pairing of Kolinsau and Bau to show silky handling skills scoring the opening try of the match. Gare’s conversion giving Bowdon a 7 – nil lead.

Ormskirk responded within minutes attacking through the mid field to find that, despite the signs, the farm gate had been left well and truly unlocked and wide open. 7 – 5 Bowdon. [Wait until I see that A-Team!]

There then followed a power play from Bowdon when a kick into the defending teams righthand corner led to a series of plays on their line. When awarded a penalty 15m in from the touch 17st.Stephane quickly [?] moved menacingly onto, 7st when wet, Gare’s wing – a tap and a pass left from inventive Bredenhann set him loose in the neo 90’s rugby style of some ex N.Z.wing called Johna someone. Accordingly he bounced the defending wing to clear space for his try and a 12 – 5 lead which Bowdon carried into the half time break.
The general consensus within the watching crowd of allacadoos, wives, baern’s in arms / prams, mums, dads, wags, dogs, Angus, M n J’s, U10’s, u12’s and those that had just got stuck in the mud crossing the fields was, that it wasn’t enough considering Bowdon had had the wind at their backs. Hey maybe that was just a Christmas thang. Time for some wise words from coach Baama.

Captain Blackwell kicked the second period off and Bowdon attacked hard through centre Stephane who was unlucky when he forced a pass as he powered through from the return kick from Ormskirk. Bowdon’s forwards soldiered on despite some sterling defense from the visitors as the partnership and linkage between ball carrying ground eating number 8 Grimes and his 9 Blackwell tightened after an indifferent 1st half. As pressure built upon the Ormskirk line the backs hovered like overweight vultures whilst the forwards suffered from repeated white line fever. Finally 6 minutes in a short sharp pass from Kolinsau found Bredenhann who flopped over the line as if to show props Buckley and Collinge not only what they look like but also more importantly how to do it! Gare, having left his kicking boots somewhere behind in the first half failed to convert, 17 – 5 Bowdon.

Grimes left the field with a cut to be temporarily replaced by the sun bed king and white knight Brighton at 8.Almost immediately he found himself desperately defending in a sprint to the ball as Ormskirk found some purpose despite the energy sapping pressure they were enduring. Fortunately Bowdon retrieved said ball and 10 seconds later Grimes was ready to replace the panting muddy - kneed knight in white satin.

With back row’s Baldwin and Storey making their presence felt all over the park and crucially scrum half Blackwell playing at a higher tempo after finding his lost hand from the 1st half it was time for the locks to have a run. On 18 minutes Calvely, who had worked hard throughout, as had the ever-impressive Landman, appeared as if by magic on the right wing just inside the Ormslirk half. Not only did he have the ball in hand facing in the right direction but also ample space and only a wing and a fullback to beat! What happened next I won’t spoil, best you look him up and ask for the full un-edited version. Needless to say he crossed the line having shown some not inconsiderable prowess and skill to score. [Bolt who?] 22 – 5 Bowdon. [ Left wing and non kicking specialist Gare then had some more kicking practice.]

With the bonus point secured Bowdon played the game out with freedom dominating all areas of play despite the best efforts of a fit Ormskirk side and rounded the day off at 31 minutes when Blackwell added to the score. 27 – 5. [ Gare threw the kicking T away and wasn’t given it back!] Coach Baama rang the changes giving the bench a run out before the referee called an end to proceedings.

Despite a slightly disjointed start this was a pleasing effort from Bowdon with some notable performances within the backs and forwards. Poots at fullback coped well with all that fell from the sky and ran forward illusively. Whilst Kolinsau had, what was for him a quiet, game showed some silky handling providing opportunities for his comrades. Stephane played his usual influential match supporting the vision and guile of Bredenhann to the maximum. In the forwards Storey was always irritating to the opposition and integral too much of the cohesion between the backline and forwards.
Baldwin, Landman, and Calvely worked tirelessly and as for the front row – ageing yet effective! [ A.Y.E. lad aye!]

M.O.M. was given by coach Baama to Captain John Blackwell however men of the day / week were the often forgotten “A”-Team. A big thank you to volunteers Flanagan – Lee & Roberts without whose efforts the Fields of Clay would have been waterlogged. My office in the morning – we have a gate to discuss!

Wins at home for the 3rds, who continue their progress up the league under the guidance of Captain Tom Cressey, and the Manchester Medics added to the flavour of the day. The 2nds had a very narrow defeat at Broughton Park but continue to make pleasing progress as the youngsters continue to learn. [Good to see vitamin-G back for a game!]