The Bowdon Machine Finally Fires into Life!

The short trip to Didsbury again proved to be very fruitful for Bowdon as they finally put in a performance that has been bubbling since the start of the season, but so far eluded the team.

The first 10 minutes or so of this game seemed to suggest this was going to be a hard close fought game. In fact the home side took the lead on 6 minutes when Dan Brown was penalised in front of the posts. The Medics 10 putting over the penalty to take a 3-0 lead. Bowdon had a quick chance to draw level, a Chris Calvert Drop goal going close. Just after the quarter hour mark Bowdon finally put points on the board. Man of the match Mitch McGrath took the ball on half way and decided it was now time to run through half the Medics team before scoring between the posts, giving Swets an easy conversion. 7-0. The foundation for this try, and several others was a resurgent pack. The match was marked by quick ruck ball giving Bowdon the chance to suck in the opposition as they built up the phases before releasing the ball wide to the backs. Both Chris Hares and Chris Calvert deserve special mention for marshaling the side from the half back positions.

Four minutes later driving breaks from Swets, Mitch then Phil Gare took the Ball deep into the Medics 22. A couple of quick rucks and Chris Oldham got the ball in hand with space to cross the try line for his first senior try! Swets again adding the conversion to give Bowdon an eleven point lead, 14-3. Bowdons third try of the half was arguably the best of the bunch. Bo' attacked up the left flank with Phil Gare having a smashing run knocking over a couple of the opposition. A couple of quick rucks crabbed the ball right on the Medics 5 meter line. After a couple more quick rucks the ball was released to the backs and slick handling from them saw Jack Bennett going over out wide on the right for the first of his hatrick of trys for the afternoon. 19-3.

The bonus point was secured with 5 minutes left in the half. The forwards turned over a ruck in their own half in the middle of the park. The ball was sprayed wide to the backs where Mitch made ground, as he was tackled he passed back inside to Swets and he ran in from halfway, beating the winger and fullback to score out wide on the right again. 24-3. Bo’s first half scoring came to an end with the final play of the half. Stealing a Medics lineout at the back, the ball was quickly moved wide, allowing Jack Bennett to show a clean pair of heels and round his opposite number & sprint in between the posts. Swets completing the half’s scoring with his third successful conversion of the day. Bowdon going into the break with a 31-3 lead.

The halftime team talk was a relatively simple one - Keep doing what we are doing!

Three minutes into the second half and it was business as usual. With Mitch again bursting through the defence to score between the posts. Conversion nailed, 38-3. All day with ball in hand Mitch would smash through several would-be tacklers before breaking free or taking several players to bring him down, a fantastic performance.

On fifty minutes it was Neil Bright’s turn to get on the score sheet. From a Bowdon scrum mid way in the Medics half, the forwards took the ball and pulled in the defence with a couple of quick rucks. The ball was then spun wide with Brighty popping up out wide on the left to take the ball and burst over the line. Conversion missed, 43-3. Five minutes later and it was Jack Bennett completing his hatrick. Swets took a quick penalty and burst into the Medics defence, a couple of quick rucks then the ball spun wide for Jack to score out wide. Conversion missed, 48-3

The last 15 minutes saw the home side have their best period of play, with them scoring with 10 minutes to go - good play allowed them to feed the ball out wide on their right for their right wing to score a well converted try. The final points of the game were for Bowdon. A break from Swets from his own 10 metre line saw him speed down the pitch, only the fullback to beat he dummied and went past with ease, as he came to the try line, Mitch appeared on his inside calling for the ball to complete his hatrick. Unselfishly Swets popped the ball inside. This gave the defence the chance to regroup and stop him before he could score. He passed to Phil Gare who scored between the posts. Swets drop kicking his 5th conversion to complete Bowdon’s 55 point haul.

For those watching it was the performance Bowdon had been promising in fits and starts all season. The forwards were dominant, both in the scrum and at the breakdown. For once this season the lineout worked well with Brighty bossing the front. With ball in hand all the backs looked dangerous, all making good yards and bursting through tackles. Chris Hares & Chris Calvert pulled the strings from the halfbacks superbly, whilst the running of both wings, Phil Gare & Jack Bennett was of the highest class. Swets & Mitch made inroads with every carry. All 18 players stepped up and showed that we can play as a team, but Mitch stood out, talking the talk before the game but more importantly doing the business where it counts, on the pitch. In fact, fantastic results from the 3’s and the Development XV saw a clean sweep for Bowdon! #AllOneClub #WeAreBowdon! Next week see’s the firsts are at home to Northwich, with the Development XV also at home facing Congleton 2’s.