Winnington Win as Bo’ continue to Mis-fire!

With a couple of players returning from injury confidence was high for a better performance than the last couple of weeks, the only obstacle was the team lying above us in the League! Winnington Park were coming back from a loos the previous week to their near neighbours Northwich. This had all the ingredients for a good game.

Bowdon received the kickoff with a stiff breeze blowing into their faces. After a couple of rucks the ball was kicked up the park into touch. Like last week the kick was not chased up. This lead to the home side taking a quick line out and attacking Bowdon. Two breaks latter and the ball was in the hands of the No. 10 who scored between the posts giving Park a 7 point lead and just over a minute on the clock!

Bo’ were on the back foot. Things got worse with a quarter of an hour gone. A Bowdon line out just inside the Home half was well taken at the front, the ball was quickly passed out to the backs. As the ball left Swets hands looking to fire the centres, all on the side line could see the opposition inside centre haring down the middle of the park. With Jonny Thomas out of position for Bo’s pending attack as the ball was intercepted the centre had a free gallop to the posts from the halfway line. Bowdon now 14 points down!

As with last week Bowdon were in the main not firing on all cylinders - in fact at times they were barely firing on 1 or 2! There were some moments of brilliance and some good individual performances but still the spark is missing! Mitch McGrath was once again shining with both tackling and with ball in hand. Tom Gomulko back from injury was also in good form making up for the games he has missed through injury. It must also be said that mistakes were being made by all in Bowdon colours.

Just before the half hour Bowdon found themselves further behind as they were punished, giving away a penalty in kicking range. Winnington Park extended the lead to 24 points with 2 minutes to go in the half. From a Bowdon line out Martin Gallagher caught the ball and passed the ball, this was taken by a marauding Park forward who drove forward, being caught on the 5 meter line. A quick ruck and their flanker crossed the whitewash for another converted try.

The interval saw some soul searching as well as some blue language, with all from Bowdon looking for a better performance in the second half. Four minutes in and the home side were reduced to 14 as one of their props was red carded for a head butt, seen by the ref. Bowdon started to play a bit better and they made their extra forward pay off three minutes later. From a promising Bo’ attack the home panicked and kicked for touch. From the lineout Martin Gallagher again took the ball, Bowdon then drove over the line, grabbing infield as they moved forward. Dan Brown was the last man up with ball in hand. The extra two points were kicked by Swets, reducing the arrears to seventeen points.

Although a man up for most of the second half Bowdon were not making the most of this. For most of the game the lineout was not working especially the ball to the front of the line out - with Bowdon losing more than they retained on their own through in.

It took Bowdon a further 23 minutes to put more points on the board. From a quick penalty Chris hares took the ball on, making good yardage. The ball then passed to Mitch McGrath to make another trademark bulldozing run, eventually being brought down. From the resulting ruck the ball was chipped over the Park defence, allowing Johnny Thomas to run through and pick up the ball and score between the posts. This gave Swets another conversion reducing the home advantage to 10 points.

From the side lines optimism was high – the home side looked as though they were tiring - the man advantage for Bowdon looked like it was now telling. Alas for the away side the final score gave Park the bonus point. With the last play of the game a quick penalty on the ’22, the ball came to the Park No 7 who drove for the line; poor tackling had him half caught 5 meters out. Where he quickly got up and crossed the line to score, for an unconverted try.

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Bowdon now have another tough away fixture on the Wirral to Anselmians who are coming back after a defeat on the Isle of Man. Let’s hope the spark needed to fire the Clay Lane first can be found there!