Saturday saw a new look Bowdon 1st XV make the short trip to local rivals Dukinfield for their first competitive match of the season. The travelling supporters, who had stopped for lunch en route and were therefore in good voice, were hoping to see some of the good rugby from Bowdon, especially as their two previous pre-season outings saw them run higher level opponents close in some entertaining games at Clay Lane.
With a blustery wind blowing down the pitch Bowdon played with the winds at their backs for the first half. From the kick off it was the home team who put together the more cohesive rugby with their forwards recycling ball and pressing into the Bowdon half. From the Touchline it looked like Bowdon didn’t want the ball - barley touch it in the first 10 minutes. Dukinfield spent most of that time encamped in the Bowdon 22 - and half the time on the 5 meter line. Bowdon’s defence stood resolute, Dukinfield going close to score but not crossing the try line.
Once Bowdon did get hands on the ball their intention on playing fast exciting rugby was there to be seen. On 13 minutes with Centre Michael Swetman breaking several tackles he off loaded to Wheat who ran for the first of his 2 tries, Jack Rees adding the conversion for a 7 nil lead. It was a similar story on 22 minutes with full back Ali scoring near the posts to extend the Bowdon lead - again Rees adding the 2 extra points. Further tries were added before the half time break from Wheat and Swetman. With a further conversion bringing the score to 26-0.
From the side line the most impressive aspect of Bowdon’s game was the defence. Apart from the first 10 minutes Dukinfield had been pinned back in their own half and any thoughts of them breaking out were soon snuffed out with some great tackling, with Miksys and Marciulionis putting in impressive performances.
The second half opened with Bowdon attacking Dukinfield through the centres, Swetman breaking tackles all day and making good ground with every carry. On 43 mins’ he went over for his second try, again converted. This brought on several changes with the coach mixing things up in the pack. Still Bowdon had too much for Dukinfield with a further try being added by Nicholson, Rees adding the final conversion bringing the final score to Dukinfield 0 : Bowdon 40
Although there were no further points added, more clinical finishing and some composure in the final third would have added many more points - Something for Bowdon to work on for the forthcoming league campaign. A big positive was the Defence with great tackling from all the players keeping Dukinfield from scoring on their own pitch.
Bowdon: Ali, Edmonson, Wheat, Swetman, Wells, Rees, Blackwell, Davis, Gould, Kitchener, Gallagher, Marciulionis, Hencher, Nicholson, Miksys. Replacements: Stephen, Mosley, Convey, Brown, Oldham.