Match Report Orrell Vs Liverpool Collegiate
| Date: | 12/12/2009 | |
| Kick Off: | 14:30 | |
| Half Time: | Orrell 6 | Liverpool Collegiate 3 |
| Full Time: | Orrell 16 | Liverpool Collegiate 10 |
The visitors started strongly with their big powerful forwards dominating the early play and starving Orrell of any possession. In the set pieces the home side struggled throughout the match to win good line out ball but did hold their own in the scrums thanks to some hard work from prop Danny Allen.
Collegiate finally took advantage of their dominance and took the lead from a converted penalty, but this sparked an Orrell revival and after Mike Hughes equalised with a penalty the Orrell forwards finally came to the fore. Good drives from first Michael Caldwell and then Peter Sprung led to some good handling in the backs and saw Mark Hewlett tackled into touch with the try line in sight.
Hughes added a second penalty to give Orrell the half time advantage.
Collegiate again started the second half well on top but the home side's excellent defence and errors from the visitors prevented further scores. However with the second half 20 minutes old Collegiate's pressure paid off and they scored a well worked try which was converted to give them back the lead.
From the restart Orrell won a penalty which Hughes converted to reduce the deficit to one point, but it was the visitors who looked most likely to take the points as winners.
With time running out Orrell hooker Jon Pegg won good quick ball from a scrum on the half way line. This released the backs and good handling from Mark Hewlett and Jeff Gavin released young winger John Presho who sprinted away from the chasing defence and rounded the full back to score a superb try. Hughes added the conversion to give Orrell a six point lead.
The game concluded with the visitors pressing but the home side withstood their strong finish to take the victory.
Next Saturday Orrell travel to Marple for the final game before the Christmas break.
