Blackbrook 16 - 0 Clock Face
Sunday 6th September
Well, here we are again. As the glorious summer starts to fade (I'm joking :-) ) and the autumn wind and rain returns our minds start to turn to the junior rugby season again. Following a competitive and successful 2008-2009 season, Clock Face Under 13’s were put into the Premier division. In this age group results are everything!!
To prepare Clock played 2 friendlies against lower division opposition and won both matches giving confidence to the players, coaches and parents alike that the team wouldn’t be slow out of the blocks when the ‘real’ matches began. And, what a game to start the season…. Blackbrook away!!
Blackbrook to Clock Face are the Wigan to Saints, the Leeds to Bradford or the Aussies to Great Britain!! They are our nemesis as we are to them. And, after many years of hurt to the hands of our rivals on the edge of Yickerland maybe this game would swing the fortunes of the tie to the south side of St.Helens.
Conversation between the Clock fans was a little mooted prior to the match. Maybe, it was nerves, maybe it was the struggle to drink the minging coffee served up at the Blackbrook club. But, they would still be vocal in the support of their heroes in blue and yellow come kick off.
The atmosphere reached fever pitch as the two teams lined up for the start. Blackbrook won the toss and chose to play downhill. At 10.30am Brook kicked off.
The kick off was deep and found touch beyond the Clock winger giving Brook a scrum within the Clock 20 metre. However, Clock were to show their metal in defence and forced a knock on much to the relief of the watching faithful.
Clock ran the ball from their 20metres making good yards through the forwards. On the 3rd tackle the ball was reefed by the Brook defence. Ben gained good yards with the kick to touch from the resulting penalty putting Clock onto the attack within the Brook 40metre area. Clock drove forward and put a crossfield kick up on the last tackle that was dealt with superbly by the Brook fullback.
The ref blew for a high tackle against Clock on the 3rd. However, the penalty kick failed to find touch and Gezza was able to run the ball away up to the Clock 40metre line. Ricky, Kutzy and Hatto made good yards driving the ball up and a scoot by Lloydy had Clock just metres from the Brook line. Clock went for a powerplay on the last tackle but, the final pass went loose. Brook picked the ball up and raced downfield. A valiant chase by Luke was unfortunately to no avail and Brook scored a try 10 in from the posts. The kick was a formality and gave Brook a 6-0 lead against the run of play.
Clock continued to dominate the game following the restart. The defensive line speed was quick and aggressive. Jack put in 2 notable big hits. In attack the lads made good yards on each set of six. But, Brook defended Clock’s last tackle plays with aplomb.
Towards the end of the first half Clock were on the defensive with Brook attacking within the Clock 20metres. Clock defended superbly for 5 tackles but, were deemed to have touched the ball when Brook had lofted a long pass to the winger. Clock had to defend another set of 6 again on their own line. Hard work in defence kept the Brook attack at bay which floundered with a knock on following the 5th tackle. Clock were able to drive the ball away just as the hooter sounded for half time.
The fans at half time were fairly optimistic given our dominant first half display and that we were now playing downhill for the second half.
Clock kicked off for the second half that Brook were unable to take thereby giving Clock an attack within the Brook 20metres. On the 2nd tackle Brook were penalised for reefing the ball out giving Clock 6 more tackles on the Brook line. However, a stout defensive effort by Brook kept the Clock attack out. A crossfield kick on the last tackle was again taken well and run out by the Brook fullback.
Brook played out their set and kicked deep on the 6th tackle. Clock ran the ball back but, knocked-on on the 3rd tackle giving Brook the feed at the scrum on the half way line. A Brook attack ensued and what looked like a knock-on to the fans on the touchline wasn’t seen by the ref. In the following play the Brook Loose Forward stepped through a gap and scored under the posts. The conversion was a formality. 12 - 0 to Brook.
Again, Brook knocked on from the restart giving Clock good field position to launch an attack. However, the Brook defence held firm over the Clock 6 tackles and covered the kick well.
The decision by Brook to bring 7 substitutes was paying dividends as their interchanges allowed them to maintain their stamina whereas, Clock began to tire.
Brook were making good yards from their sets of 6 and ¾ into the 2nd half loaded up to left wing to create an overlap 30 metres from the Clock line. Putting the ball through hands, they went in at the corner to score their final try of the match. It was a difficult conversion that fell short of the posts. 16-0 to Brook.
Clock continued to plug away at the Brook defence with the bruised and battered Ricky continuing to take the ball up. However, the final hooter sounded. Final score 16-0 to Brook.
Clock can take a lot from this game. We were the better team for long spells in the game and will certainly give them a game in the rematch in October.
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