South Lancs & Cheshire Division 1
Ormskirk 42 Sale F.C. 24
Sale lost to Ormskirk for the first time in six meetings due mainly to a poor second half performance after being well in the match at half time.
It was end to end stuff in the first half as the lead changed hands six times. Ormskirk opened the scoring on three minutes with a penalty before Sale responded with a try from Andrew Baston, converted by Mike Raikes. Sale had the chance of further points but a long range penalty went agonisingly wide before a couple of needless penalties brought the hosts into the Sale “22”, and despite a shocking pass Ormskirk had the favoured bounce of the ball to touch down for a try.
Both sides traded penalties before Sale again regained the lead when a short pass from Raikes put Baston through for a second try and with Raikes adding the extras it looked as though Sale would take a six point lead into the break. This was not to be as good work by the home side saw them touch down, and add the conversion with a minute remaining to gain a one point lead at half time.
Sale started the second half positively but when looking like touching down for a third time somehow lost possession at the critical moment and the chance of a score was gone. Ormskirk scored ten points in a two minute spell with a penalty and a converted try to put them eleven points clear, and the side grew in confidence with the pack rampaging as a unit, making life difficult indeed for Sale. They extended their lead just after the hour with quick ball down the line for the winger to outstrip the Sale cover and run round under the posts for another converted try.
With ten minutes remaining Sale at last got further points when Tom Maguire touched down from short range and Raikes put in an excellent conversion from wide out. However, any chance of a late rally was snuffed out almost immediately as a clearance kick was charged down and Ormskirk completed the scoring with their third seven-pointer of the game.
This was a salutary lesson for Sale, not helped by players playing out of position, and travelling with only one replacement. This cannot continue.
Neil Thallon