Tarleton win a close one against Ormskirk

Although Tarleton had a few absences due to injury and unavailability they fielded a strong squad of 18 players for the local derby against Ormskirk First XV.

Ormskirk had been climbing their way up the table and were approaching this match with confidence following a few good results and performances but it was Tarleton who started the better of the two teams.

From a line-out just inside the Kirk half the ball was moved forward with good offloads in the tackle keeping the momentum up and a pop pass to Ben Cromack saw him shrug off three attempted tackles to score an opening try under the posts. The extras were added by Aidan Miller and Tarleton were 7 points to the good after 7 minutes of play.

The next 20 minutes of the game saw Tarleton camped in Ormskirk's 22 but even with all this possession a mixture of good defensive work by Ormskirk, kicking possession away and poor decision making meant that there were no rewards for this pressure.

After soaking up all this pressure Ormskirk then had a 10 minute spell in Tarleton's 22 and it was Tarleton's turn to show their defensive skills. Ormskirk almost went over but a try saving tackle took the ball out of an Ormskirk player’s hands as he dived for the line. Tarleton had been offside just before this so the ref took the play back to the penalty which Ormskirk converted to bring the score to 7-3, which was how it remained at half time.

The second half started scrappily and it was Tarleton who were on the back foot as Ormskirk applied some good pressure. Tarleton tried to run the ball out of their own 22 too many times and from one of these attempts the ball went astray and an Ormskirk player pounced on it to score an opportunist try and give Ormskirk an 8-7 lead with 20 minutes left on the clock.

Tarleton came back straight away and a clearance kick from Ormskirks’ 22 was taken at pace by Matt Forrest who crashed through the Ormskirk line and off-loaded the ball from a despairing tackle to the supporting Tom Eckersley who went in under the post. Miller again added the extras and Tarleton were back in front at 14 -8.

Ormskirk continued to play attacking rugby and more pressure in the Tarleton 22 saw Ormskirk with a line-out 5 metres out from the Tarleton line. This was taken well and a catch and drive saw Ormskirk suck in the Tarleton defence before shifting the ball wide to create a score under the posts to regain the lead. The conversion was good and Ormskirk now led 15-14.

With not long left to play Tarleton again came back at Ormskirk and an offside decision against the Ormskirk defence gave Miller a pressure penalty to regain the lead: he slotted this with no signs of nerves and Tarleton were back in front 17-15 with only 5 minutes left on the clock.

Ormskirk still didn’t give up and after pressurising the Tarleton defence again Tarleton were again pinged for being off side and Ormskirk had a penalty to the left of the uprights that could win them the match. Unfortunately, for Ormskirk the ball sailed inches passed the right hand upright and Tarleton had won.

Tarleton were not at their best and did not take advantage of the amount of possession that they had whereas Ormskirk played an expansive game of rugby and although starved of the ball managed to come away with points when they found themselves in Tarleton's 22.

Either side could have won this and Ormskirk were unlucky not to take the points on the day.

The seconds had an emphatic victory against Burnley seconds and need to keep up this effort if they are to cement a top 4 finish this season.

The Firsts have a week off next Saturday and the seconds will be looking to take the points against Leigh 3rds. at home  next week.