Mud Glorious Mud

Early exchanges of the game had Bowdon in the driving seat, moving the ball at pace whilst implementing their fairly rustic game plan with more precision than in earlier weeks. Winnington Park were defending manfully as Bowdon dominated possession, territory and ideas. With D.J.Brown making strong charging runs supported well by the back row of Hensby, Baldwin and Landmann. Scrum half Blackwell was able to use good ball to open the game to stand off Armstrong. Gathering in some wayward ball pushing and probing Armstrong created space for the Bowdon centres to threaten. Ten minutes in and pressure down the left blind side breached the Park lines of defence and Bowdon drove over for hooker Rice to score. [5-0] Continuing to drive at the heart of the opposition the home side pack attacked well creating opportunities for wing Gare to forage looking for space, perhaps a little too often inside. However on the 20-minute mark as Bowdon gulped down the fresh autumnal air and as the pace and clinging mud dragged at the legs Bowdon began to kick the ball away. This change in tactic, far from bringing the rest they yearned for simply brought Park into the game. With more possession the visitors eagerly moved the ball through their backline pulling Bowdon across the Somme like terrain causing problems down the Bowdon right. Following the departure from the game with injury of young Kitchiner changes were made in the front row leaving Gallagher to prop at tight head. A penalty for Park led to a series of scrums and rucks as they pounded the home side try line finally going over on 36 minutes. [5-5] Bowdon responded well from the kick off but were making too many handling errors in the mud. This was not a day for “ticky – tacky Barcaesque” midfield rugby. Park defending solidly attempted to break when they could, using the high kick in a vain attempt to entice errors from the immaculate Poots at fullback. This tactic should have been removed from the Park offensive plan quickly but wasn’t. Poots continued to show a cool calm head throughout the game as the barrage continued, gathering the ball with skill and running through and around the oncoming blue shirts with some ease on the increasingly turgid surface. Both squads were competing well and the game was a compelling watch, despite a few too many stoppages. As the half time whistle approached Bowdon took the lead when centre Stephane scored following a bullish run, again down the left hand side, to touch down to the delight of his fans in the elite executive boxes of the HCC. [10-5]

Refreshment was taken and the game plan discussed.

Meanwhile the Peter Pan’s and Sage of Bowdon amongst the watching crowd reflected wistfully of “ ye goode olde days at the clay “. - Mud akin to viscous chocolate porridge – the indistinguishable slime covered shirts – steam rising in the golden sunlight from within the warm and comforting embrace of the scrum – legs heavy like lead - that familiar sickly sucking sound as boots left terra ferma in the line out – proper rugby -

The whistle sounded and the moment, but not the memories, was gone!

Bowdon continued the second period in much the same manner as the first. Commanding territory and possession in the loose through D.J. Brown and the impressive Landmann at eight man. Armsrong, who put Bowdon further in front on 12 minutes with a penalty, distributed the ball well and centre Setta played with more confidence than in previous games. Lineouts were average and in the set scrum Gallagher toiled manfully at tight head but upon the fourth time of passing Felix Buamgartner going in the opposite direction enough was enough!

Park worked hard, even harder when they went down to 14 men through a sin bin, but struggled to create enough opportunities to score and really were starved of possession playing the game far to deep in their own half.

At the close of play Bowdon lead 13 – 5 depriving the visitors of a bonus point.

Man of the match fullback David Poots.

The day was rounded off as the results came in from the other teams – wins for the 2nds / 3rds and 4ths meant smiles all around.

Next week Bowdon 1st travel to West Park St.Helens and they can expect a tough test of the progress made to date.