It was Twitchy Bum Time Down at the Clay!

The first home game of 2015 saw West Park visit Clay Lane in what turned out to be a highly entertaining game. Both teams will rue missed chances for taking the spoils but a draw was perhaps the right result in a hard but fair contest.

With barely 30 seconds on the clock Bowdon may have opened the scoring after a penalty was awarded out on the left. Swets just pulling penalty attempt. The Home side did take the Lead on 5 minutes when Park were penalised for off side just outside their 22, Swets making no mistake with this kick. A couple of minutes later this was cancelled out by a similar indiscretion by the home side.

The first 10 minutes of the game set the scene for the next 70! The home forwards were rampant both at the lineout and in the scrum, giving Park problems all day. Bowdon would methodically march up the field, with Park breaking quickly making good yards with their breaks balancing the yardage made. On 13 minutes Park took the scoring an unconverted try. A series of rucks 10 meters from the Bo’ try line were being met with good defence. After several phases a quick kick through let the Park winger in to score wide on their left.

Ten minutes later Bowdon reduced the deficit to two points when Swets again kicked a penalty this time it was straight in front of the posts just inside the Park 22. Four minutes later an expletive ridden outburst from the Park Full back turned a would be Bowdon scrum into a kickable Penalty as the ref took no nonsense, a feature of his game. Swets stepping up to put Bowdon in front by a point. Several times during the game the ref called both captains over for a chat - mostly to try and get both sets of players to stop trying to do his job for him!

Although there was no more scoring in the first half both teams had good chances. For Bowdon Dafydd Jones had a couple of cracking crash ball charges making good yardage into Park territory, as did Luke Brown.

Half Time Bowdon 9 : 8 West Park

The second half kicked off with both teams seeing a possibility of a win, Bowdon to avenge there early season defeat in St Helens, West Park to complete a double. First blood in the half went to Park, some sloppy defence let Park in to score a try out wide on their left. The Bowdon response was immediate. From a Line out Bowdon won the Ball at the front. The ball was quickly moved to Paul Mosley at Fly half. He went on a mazy run through the middle of the Park defence before keeping the ball alive by passing to Neil Bright who bounced the full back before running in between the posts. Kicking duties were now Pauls Mosley’s, deputising for Swets who had been replaced at half time by Kenji King. Paul Just making the extras with Park almost charging down the conversion!
Through the half there were several Good breaks from several Bowdon Players, noticeably Tom Gomulko, Christopher Oldham and Kenji King, unfortunately none leading to score, but all raising the heart rate of the Bo’ Support!

The final points of the game came after a high tackle from Neil Collinge lead to a penalty for the away side and a 10 minute break for Neil, the Park full back bringing the scores level. The Last 15 minutes it was backs against the wall for most of it for Bowdon. Tackling was fierce but the defence stood firm. With a minute to go Bowdon gave away a penalty just inside their half wide on their Left. Park Quickly took the penalty and moved the ball wide, making good yardage. The attack was eventually halted after a knock-on on the Bo’ 5 meter line. The ref then brought the ball back - for another penalty - after The home side were adjudged not to have retreated the full 10 meters for the original penalty. This penalty was now a good 15 meters further forward and 10 meters further infield, just within kicking distance for the Park Full Back. With the play of the game the ball was pulled to the right of the posts. The ref blowing for Full time as the ball was touched down for a drop out.

Full Time Bowdon 16 : 16 West Park St Helens

Overall the right result for a very entertaining game. For Bowdon several players could have picked up the Man of the Match award, special mention must go to Captain for the day Chris Hares, Chris Oldham, Paul Mosley and Dafydd Jones who all played exceptionally well, but the award went to Tom Gomulko for leading by example in both attack and defence! The Next 2 matches for the firsts are a trip to Hoylake next weekend followed by a home game against Glossop, both seen as must win games to keep the season on track!