It’s like watching professionals just in slow motion

With, again, 10 changes from the previous week, a few late cry off’s and call ups to the 1’s it was with a definite feeling of trepidation that a bare 16 man squad set off on the long journey to Waterloo.

In hindsight it must have been my subliminal mind warning me I was about to run out of petrol! An act that was played out just short of the service station off the M6! (Thanks to Tom Shorten and Adam McLoughlin as they pushed the car the final 30 yards!) A unique method of warm up that I’m not sure we’ll stick too despite them both scoring later in the afternoon.

When we did eventually arrive we were greeted by the squad anxiously looking on at the Firwood Waterloo 1st team pitch as 40+ players warmed up with no other pitch in sight. The relief was palpable as they were told we were playing at another location 3 minutes drive away!

Finally changed and warmed up the game kicked off and from the start it was clear that Bowdon were in no mood to muck about. Line-out, scrum, and ruck were clinical and once the backs adjusted to working off crash ball Shorten the opportunities started to appear.

To be honest I only remember 1 try in the first half. It involved hitting a gap on the end of a beautiful pass from Stevie Harrison playing 10, a double side step (could be argued it was pure indecision) and 30 yard sprint to beat the full back. Magic! The surrealness of the comfort with which Bowdon were playing was emphasised when Gaz Thomas cut a fantastic line for his 1st ever try for the 2nds despite accumulating 300+ points to date. Luke Rowbotham and Stevie H also scored 1st half to make the result almost safe after 40mins despite the now customary easy try give away to keep Waterloo interested in fact this week we made it a BOGOF as we let them in for a 2nd.

The second half continued in much the same vein without the early season offers.

A continuous supply of good quick ruck ball allowed scrum half Dennis and Fly half Stevie H to get the back line moving.

With the phases flowing Tom Shorten got the just rewards for all his effort with 2 quality scores. The try of the day though went to Glenn Innes who picked up a loose restart ball, beat two opposition to get in behind the Waterloo defence and then held his head and gassed it to the line with everyone in his wake.

Scoring was completed by Man of the Match, Neil Bright, having a blinder at 8, and Adam McLoughlin scoring despite carrying an injured leg.

At the end of the game Bowdon were playing with a number of walking wounded but with big smiles on their faces as they had finally delivered the performance they had been threatening for the last two weeks.

Notable Quotes -
“It’s like watching professionals just in slow motion” – Chris Oldham
“So that’s what backs do” – Tom Cressey ex 3rd Team skip
"Has anoyone seen that bird over there!" - Anon

1 Chris Oldham
2 John Linkman - 1 Try
3 Tom Cressey
4 Ben Morris
5 Paul Witts
6 Luke Rowbothom - 1 Try
7 Glenn Innes - 1 Try
8 Neil Bright - 1 Try
9 James Dennis
10 Stephen Harrison - 1 Try
11 Adam White
12 Tom Shorten - 2 Tries
13 Declan Danaher
14 Alan Bisseker
15 Gareth Thomas

16 Adam McLoughlin - 1 Try