AK come out on top in the Derby

In the first ever league encounter between the two clubs it was our near neighbours who walked away with the spoils. Or should that be limped away after a hard fought & entertaining encounter at Clay Lane. The largest crowd of the season saw Bo’ come off second best to a well drilled AK side. The game was preceded by the future of both teams playing, as the Under 7’s and 8’s showed off their own skills in the touch rugby derby.

With a strong wind blowing across the pitch the home side kicked off and immediately Kersal were on the attack. The first 5 minutes was all Kersal in attack - but the home defence held firm with big tackles going in all over the field. After a penalty was given away 20 metres out the Visitors decided to go for the 3 points only for the kicker to fluff the attempt and come up short, it's fair to say the Kersal goal kicker had a bit of a day to forget with the boot as he missed 4 from 6 straight forward attempts. From the 22 drop out Bo were on the attack and took play into the Kersal half, a transgression in midfield gave the home team their own pop at the posts from 40 metres outs. Swets split the uprights and put Bowdon in front. Kersal came back and 6 minutes later they scored between the posts after a lineout and maul drove the home forwards backwards.

Although Bowdon had their moments in attack, with breaks from Will Simmonds, Paul Mosley and as always Swets, it was in defence that the spectators really saw Bowdon’s spirit come though. Several times in the first half Bo’ were pinned in the 22, and close to their own try line, but AK couldn’t break through the last line of defence. Some thunderous tackles came in from a number of Bowdon players stopping the big AK forward runners and on a few occasions smashed them back where they came from.

With 6 minutes to go a bit of pat-a-cake resulted in Tim Nicholson and his opposite number from Kersal having an early break. In fact the last 10 minutes or so of the half descended in to a bit of tit for tat as there were more skirmishes with player trading pleasantries with each other. In the final seconds of the half Danny Marshall also saw yellow, although there could have been more from both sides!

The second half kicked off with the wind blowing less fiercely.. As before, AK were on the Attack from the start – but Bowdon were defending like demons, knocking te big runners backwards, a few missed tackles - but the cover defence normally making sure any breaks were covered.

Six minutes in and it was Sam Pacey’s turn to have a 10 minute break - possibly ‘taking one for the team’ for an offside at the ruck. As he trudged off the look of innocence on his face told the ref had got the wrong man this time! With Bowdon now 2 men down (Tim having re-joined the field) failed to keep Kersal out as they scored an unconverted try 2 minutes into Sam’s binning.

Kersal were now throwing everything into attack to try and keep up their winning ways. Everything they came forward with, they were met by a resolute Bowdon defence. On the few occasions they did break free they were caught by the cover defence. The home side did occasionally break free themselves only to get caught by the scrambling AK defence.

Bowdon’s tackling stats were immense - the largest number counted, with a number of players in double figures - with many more impossible to see who put in the tackle as the AK players were normally hit by 2 or 3 Bo’ players at once. In fact it was another midfield tackle from Craig Mason that led to Bo’s fourth yellow of the day, this one deemed to have no use of the arms by the ref. Again AK capitalized on the man advantage, scoring their 3rd try of the day with 6 minutes to go. The last few minutes saw Kersal chuck everything - including the kitchen sink at the home defence, trying to get their bonus point. To a man Bo stuck to the task and kept them out.

As the Ref blew for full time all around Clay Lane were agreed it was a cracker of a game. From a home perspective a much improved performance from every Bowdon player as individuals - but more importantly as a team! Hopefully an omen of things to come. Man of the Match award could have gone to anyone in Bowdon colours - or in fact everyone but Danny Marshall got the nod! Next week sees the Ist XV on Cheshire Bowl duty with a semi-final away to the Southern Nomads on the Isle of Man to defend their cup tht they won back in April. The next league game in on the 15th Away to Liverpool St Helens.