The home team tried to unsettle the travelling squad, ushering them into a changing room still covered with a layer of wet blue paint. The players didn’t let this set back get in their way as the early phases led to a Bowdon penalty about 15m out, a quick tap and go with Bob Nicholson running the ball over. Conversion made by Andreas Louw 7-0.
Bowdon fumbled the restart and the home side responded with a score of their own. 7-5. After recent results have gone against them, Bowdon heads could have dropped. However, the team unity came to the fore and a flurry of tries came one from A.Louw and one from Fiji Fred left the scores 17-5. Winnington Park tried to rally, kicking the ball clear, however the wind caught the ball and it was gathered by centre Stephen Rowlands who spread the ball out with full back Daniel Gregory offloading 10m from the try line but agonisingly out of the reach of winger Josh Griffiths. A further display of the scintillating pace of A.Louw saw Bowdon lead stretch to 22-5 at the half but it could have been better had he not dropped the ball over the try line after breaking the gain line and running 90+ metres to the try line.
From the restart the home side marched 80m up the pitch with pick and go moves before scoring under the posts. Bowdon didn’t let this set back get on top of them. Scoring further tries through centres S.Rowlands and Mark Davies and a dreadful attempted conversion missed in front of the posts from D.Gregory. Bowdon continuing with their game plan of quick, exciting play took a quick penalty and prop Alex Bellingham crossed the try line at speed. The third try of the season for the big man.[Is that a jug he owes?] It wasn’t done there though, there was another chance for A.Louw to miss out on his hat trick, dropping a beautifully weighted chip over. While on the other wing, Josh Griffiths ended his scoring drought running in the corner finishing off a move started by Simon Warner.
All in all a good day at the office for the 3rd XV.
Final score 69-17.