HI Guys,

rugby date 6/2/10 home against Ormskirk 4th's score 23 - 0

2010 is finally on the right track with a stunning display of rugby, the resolute defence and sumptuous attacking work paying off with a well deserved first home win of the year. After some pretty intensive warm up work from new third team coach, Steve. We took to the field relishing the game at hand. When we played Ormskirk away we fielded 14 players whilst their bench seemed to go on forever. We came away from that game with a loss and a feeling of regret, however we managed to put that behind us and focus on the task. with a pretty beefy pack and some new additions to the line up, Blackburn 3rds looked like they meant business. Winning the toss I chose to play down the slop with the waining sun behind us, instructing the boys that we needed to make the advantage count. Ormskirk kicked off and where soon under the cosh from some thunderous forward work, learning from the previous games and the training ground. The pack drove deep into opposition territory, with Henning at 9 and Eddy at 10 combining well and distributing the ball wonderfully to the back line. Ormskirk found themselves committing cynical penalties to stop the onslaught. Paying the ultimate price with a early yellow card. We pushed on with a kick from Henning giving us good reward for the hard work done. From the restart it was all one way traffic with us dominating in the line and scrums, the pressure had to tell with a well worked try in the corner for Marc Grimes playing at full back. A deft chip from Eddy putting the fly er over in the corner, with Henning converting.
Once again Blackburn took the inactive from the restart, and where soon storming forward into opposition territory. When Ormskirk did have possession any likely attack was quickly snuffed out with some bone crushing tackles been made. Blackburn where rampant and soon tight head prop Stuart Rouse broke from the base of a ruck to cross the white wash unopposed. A knock to the head for loose head prop Andy Gray meant a early bath and a cap for new boy Asad, ( known to us now as acid ) who took his place in the front row and did a very good job. I look forward to seeing more of this youngster. More of the same medicine dished out by the buoyed Blackburn saw Henning going over and snatching another well worked score.
At the turn round I reminded everyone that the job was only half done and we had to go on and win from the great start we had given ourselves. It was going to be difficult and Ormskirk didn't look like lying down to defeat. They everything at us but some staunch defensive tackling kept the visitors at bay. Ollie playing in the center with Dave O'Sullivan doing some superb work. With 4 subs on the bench we were able to make changes as we needed, with the big guns up front tiring the game seemed to stagnate in the middle of the park for a while. Neither team able to break down the other, but once again good pressure from the forwards was rewarded with a penalty, after Ormskirk infringed again. Henning slotting the only points of the half. A last desperate attack from the visitors saw Blackburn stretched for the first time but some awesome tackling and counter rucking, along with some sloppy passing and handling from Ormskirk kept the visitors out, and a clean sheet for us. A very good hard game coming to the end after a infringement from Ormskirk gave us the opportunity to put the ball out and the referee to blow for time. We managed to play a hard game and keep our discipline, make scoring opportunities and take them. All in all a very good all round performance from everyone, and a good step toward next weeks game away against Carnforth 2's. Currently 8th in the league played 17 won 5 lost 12 they are 8 points clear of us, but as we have only played 13 games to date this is a good chance to leap up the table. I would like all players to try and attend training on Thursday evening with Steve. Its very good of Steve to offer up his time and we should make the most of it, I can see the benefits paying off already. So lets keep working hard and get a good session in ready for next Saturday. Also can you let myself know availability for this weekend as soon as possible.

Yours proudly Carlos (captain).