Sedgley scored first, Stefan Pritchard from close-range, converted from the touchline by Thomas Leader; Caldy hit back immediately with a try from a tap-penalty. Number 8 Jonathan Dauncey put SP back in the lead, scoring from the base of a 5-metre scrum, but Caldy levelled the scores with a try on the brink of half-time.

Caldy pressed for the first ten minutes of the second half, the only period of the game in which either team managed any semblance of ball retention, but Sedgley finally broke out and went on to dominate the rest of the match. With a bit more steadiness the match would have been won. Too many handling errors and turnovers, resolute Caldy defence, and the second half remained scoreless.

An untidy, mistake-strewn match, but an exciting one.

The Junior Colts made the short journey to Bury and won 24-13. No details received. Next Sunday, Nov 11, our boys entertain league leaders Warrington.

The Junior teams were all supposed to be in Lancashire Challenge action but only two of the four scheduled games were played.

Our U16s travelled to Ormskirk more in hope than in expectation. With more or less a full squad available, Park were determined to use their stronger forwards to dominate the game.

They started off well, good tackling keeping Ormskirk at bay. Sedgley had the better of the scrums and won some good ball in the line-outs, despite their opponents’ height advantage, but it was the home side’s speedy winger who rounded our defence to score the opening try.

Alex Reilly reduced the arrears to 5-3 with a penalty goal but gradually Ormskirk’s better forward technique and superior basic skills began to give them control. Sedgley could not contain their pacy backs and the points mounted quickly, the team’s heaviest defeat for three years.

The game officially ended at 33-3 under competition rules. Great performances by captain Andy Dauncey, who led the side well, and by Richard Newman and Lewis McKay.

It now looks as though Sedgley, along with Manchester and Preston Grasshoppers, will be competing to finish second and to play Ormskirk again in the Final. Ormskirk are hoping to become the first team in the history of the Lancashire competition to win four in a row, from under 13 through to under 16. Don’t bet against them!
 
The under 15 game at Blackpool was not played. I heard that it was the home side who cancelled but have no further details. This is the second cancellation our boys have suffered out of three matches in this competition, which is not satisfactory.

Our U14s travelled to Tarleton and won 19-0.

A competitive game was won through solid defence and decisive finishing by Sedgley. Tarleton had plenty of early possession but, following a continuation of last week’s excellent tackling as a team, a well-worked try was finished by Jack Faulkner and converted by James Wharmby.

An even battle up front continued, though Tarleton used a kicking game which did not bring them success. In a period of possession by Sedgley quick-thinking Mike Ferguson took a quick tap and forced himself over the try line. The final try started from a scrum on Sedgley’s 5-metre line; good passing along the backline resulted in Faulkner running along the wing to score a superb try under the posts, Wharmby again converting.

All 20 players in the squad contributed to the win and it was good to see the work the players are putting into training beginning to pay off.

The scheduled under 13 Challenge game was not played, Warrington having dropped out of the competition. But at least our lads did get a game of rugby, a friendly fixture at Rossendale. Our team again excelled, winning 56-14 and impressing some good judges who watched. A good last few weeks for this side.

SP Colts & Juniors  League & Cup Results & Fixtures 2007/08

Halbro Colts League
http://colts-rugby.org.uk/halbro for full fixtures, results, tables.

Senior Colts (under 19)  Division One
02/09  Altrincham Kersal (H) L  3- 9
09/09  Preston G’hoppers (A) D 17-17
23/09  Glossop           (H) L 14-26
30/09  Leigh             (H) W 36-12
07/10  Sandbach          (A) L  3-38
14/10  Kendal            (H) W 19- 3
28/10  Eccles            (A) postponed
04/11  Caldy             (H) D 14-14
11/11  Chester           (A)
09/12  Kendal            (A)
16/12  Sandbach          (H)

Junior Colts (under 17) Division Three North
02/09  Blackpool         (A) L 24-68
09/09  Bolton            (A) L  5-10
16/09  Clitheroe         (A) W 67- 0
23/09  Fylde             (H) W 33-27
07/10  Kirkby Lonsdale   (H) postponed 
14/10  Eccles            (A) L 19-29
21/10  Fleetwood         (H) L 12-19
04/11  Bury              (A) W 24-13
11/11  Warrington        (H)
18/11  Fleetwood         (A)
02/12  Eccles            (H)
09/12  Kirkby Lonsdale   (A)

Lancashire Junior Challenge
http://clubs.rfu.com/Clubs/portals/lancashire/JuniorChallenge0708.aspx

Under 16
16/09  Liverpool Coll   (H) W 38-19
07/10  Bolton           (H) W 33- 3
04/11  Ormskirk         (A) L  3-33*

Under 15
16/09  Broughton Park   (A) postponed
07/10  Bury             (H) L  6-12
04/11  Blackpool        (A) postponed?

Under 14
16/09  Fleetwood        (H) W 33- 5
04/11  Tarleton         (A) W 19- 0
18/11  Southport        (A)

Under 13
16/09  Widnes           (H) L  0-30*
07/10  Vale of Lune     (A) L  5-24
04/11  Warrington       (H) cancelled by Warrington
18/11  Fleetwood        (A)

* denotes ‘reported score’ – under competition rules the score difference must not exceed 30.