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WINNERS ... the Littleborough under 16s team which beat Ormskirk in a final at Manchester Rugby Union Club last weekend
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Boro lads outdo Ormskirk to win prestigious final
12/ 4/2008
LITTLEBOROUGH under 16s emerged victorious from their Blacksticks Blue Vase final against Ormskirk, at Manchester Rugby Union Club last Saturday.
The game kicked off in wintry conditions, with Littleborough playing into a strong wind.
They started brightly and soon put Ormskirk under pressure with strong running from second row forwards Thomas and Rigge.
This early pressure began to tell, as Ormskirk could only kick possession away with the help of a strong wind at their backs when they did get the ball. This gave the Littleborough backs time to counter attack and they made good yards through fullback Coates and wingers Chaplin and Culshaw.
One of these brakes resulted in a ruck just inside the Ormskirk 22. Littleborough secured the ball quickly, and a break from scum-half Joiner resulted in a try just to the left-hand side of the posts.
Ross Coates added the conversion against a very strong wind.
From the restart Littleborough were penalised, and this gave Ormskirk the chance to get on the scoreboard.
Littleborough, despite the conditions, tried to play open rugby, flankers Ripley and Taylor and centres Campbell and Cushen combining well to create an excellent chance for Joiner. Unfortunately he had the ball knocked out of his hand just before he could ground it over the line.
This slice of luck seemed to wake up the opposition and they put together a good passage of play which culminated in an unconverted try by their forwards.
Littleborough went on attack again, but a couple of dropped balls and wrong options meant they were 8-7 down at half time.
The early part of the second half produced the best piece of individual skill in the match.
Ormskirk kicked off, Littleborough failed to deal with it, and an Ormskirk player ran through to pick up the ball. But he couldn't hold onto it and it was snapped up by Joiner who then set off on a mazy run to beat half the opposition and score between the posts. Coates converted.
Littleborough then seemed to think the game was won, and Ormskirk, sensing this, put them under tremendous pressure.
Littleborough had to defend inside their own 22 for 15 minutes. It was a Herculean effort, especially by the forwards Barnes, Whittaker, Irving, Rigge, Ripley, Thomas, Murphy and Taylor who put their bodies on the line.
The turning point came when Littleborough turned the ball over at a ruck. Murphy kicked the ball downfield and the chasing players made the tackle deep inside the Ormskirk half. Littleborough got their hands on the ball and scored another try only to have it disallowed for a forward pass.
LITTLEBOROUGH under 12s produced a determined display of rugby to overcome a powerful Preston side at Rakewood.
The visitors started quickly and crossed Boro's line early on after a powerful move by their pack.
Boro upped their game after the restart and attacked the Preston line.
Jack Harrisson and Jack Whittles pressured the Preston halfbacks, and from this Boro opened their scoring through Tianan Tattersall.
Boro kept ahead thanks to stout defence and some inspired play.
Melissa Dodman counter attacked superbly from fullback to keep Preston pinned in their own 22.
Further tries from Jack Whittles, Jack Simpson, Connor Tetlow and Todd Whittle scured a well deserved 49-24 win.
Jack Whittles, who made his debut in the pack, was named player of the match for a superb all-round display.
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12/04/2008 at 16:58