Whatever you do Don’t Count the Penalties!

Bowdon kept both their promotion and league champions hopes alive with a hard fought victory over one of their promotions rivals. With promotion firmly in their own hands and with a little bit of luck the league title too Bowdon only have 2 league games left and the Cheshire Bowl final before a well deserved off season.

This was always going to be a hard fought encounter, similar to the earlier game at Clay Lane the weeks preparations looked good with the training sessions going well - or at least that’s what the Twitter feed said! From the first kick both teams showed their intent. Early skirmishes were fast paced with no team getting the upper hand, the game being played mostly between the two 10 meter lines. On 10 minutes Bowdon were awarded a penalty just inside the Ormskirk half, but straight in front of the posts. With a hefty hoof Mike Swetman put the visitors ahead.

Bo’ extended their lead seven minutes later. From a lineout on the Ormskirk 10 meter line a quick through to the front was taken by Gallagher, the ball was mover to the backs at pace with both Swetman and Hechter making good ground before the ball travelled to Phil Gare who ran in from the 22, bouncing the full back on his way to score out wide on the right for an unconverted try.

Ormskirk replied 5 minutes later with a penalty after Bowdon were penalised at the scrum. This spurred Bowdon on and on 28 minutes from a lineout midway inside the Ormskirk 22 the Clay Lane pack powered towards the try line, they looked like an unstoppable force once they got the maul moving forward. Harry Booth was the last man up carrying the ball, after the maul smashed past the white wash before collapsing. Swetman added the conversion for a 3 : 15 lead.

Again Ormskirk came back scoring an unconverted try out wide on the Bowdon right. This would be the last points scored in a pulsating first half.

The second half would prove to be similar to the first with both teams looking for the win that would keep their seasons hopes still intact. On 55 minutes a promising Bowdon attack looked to have been snuffed out when the ‘kirk full back picked up the ball in his own in goal area and look to punt the ball to safety. But his kick to touch was sliced straight up in the air, only to fall in to the hands Thiu Barnard who managed to put the ball down in play before he and the ball skidded into touch. Again Swetman added the Conversion.

On sixty minutes Ormskirk kept the game alive again scoring out wide to reduce the points difference by 5 points. Five minutes latter Swetman scored all seven points, going over after quick ball created a gap on the home sides 22, with ball in hand he barged past several would be tacklers bulldozing his way over the try line to score beside the uprights. This gave Bowdon a well deserved 16 point lead. Also it was the visitors 4th try ensuring the bonus point.

In the last 10 minutes in discipline within the Bowdon ranks led to numerous of penalties against them. This allowed Ormskirk to pressurise the Bowdon line, eventually scoring a converted try with 5 minutes to go, just after Barnard was shown yellow by the ref. With the score getting closer the 14 men left on the park needed to dig deep. Further indiscipline, but excellent defence had Bowdon pinned on their own try line. With the Clock counting down Luke Brown was also shown a yellow - possibly taking one for the team with the still increasing penalty count. From the penalty Ormskirk at last crashed over the line , but this proved to be the last play of the game - much to the relief of all those with allegiances to Bowdon, if there had been a further couple of minutes to play the team celebrating the final whistle would probably been in green and blue!

The result means that Bowdon’s dreams are alive but Ormskirk, with only one game left, miss out on promotion this season.

Next week see Bo’ Travel to the Isle of Man to face Ramsey who are fighting for league survival.