Southport Rugby Club lead impeccable tribute to Queen Elizabeth II during busy weekend of sport

1st XV match report

Southport Rugby Club visited Liverpool St Helens LSH, a rugby club with more history than Southport’s 150 years.  

The ground looked a picture and the crowd were eagerly awaiting free flowing attractive rugby. Southport’s team was largely unchanged with Ewan Thompson returning from his iron man exploits in place of the evergreen club captain Gareth Lang who was rested and the youthful George Brain in for Cam Williams.

Southport kicked off and neither team were dominant either in possession or territory until LSH made a nice break from their own 22 and after a few phases were able to cut through the Southport’s defence and score out wide with the conversion giving the home team a 7 nil lead.  A penalty to LSH on 30 minutes increased their lead but Southport responded well and after pounding the LSH try line eventually Cal Monagahon was successful and opened the scoring and following the convertion the visitors were back in the game 10 -7.  

The restart led to Southport’s best moment of the first half with some strong running by James Cook and although the ball was knocked from his grasp backwards Cal Monaghan was able to gather the ball just outside his 22 and managed a length of the field run beating a couple of opponents to boot to score a great individual try.  

With the successful conversion Southport led 10 – 14 and Southport were gaining in confidence. Just prior to halftime LSH won a line out on their own 22 and from the throw-in were able to sneak down the blind side and score an unconverted try.  At half time the game stood in the balance with LSH ahead 15 -14.

Southport started strongly in the second half and were unlucky not to take the lead when a penalty bounced off the uprights. Thereafter LSH exerted their authority as they blew the game apart scoring 5 unanswered tries.  

Undeterred Southport battled gamely and an excellent individual consolation try was scored by Adam Wood.  Final score LSH 51 -21 winners.  

James “Forrest” Bailey was Southport’s stand-out performer although Cal Monaghans 2 tries were worthy of a mention.  

 2nd team report

Southport Rugby Club Second Team MOTM, sponsored by Cafe Bar Nista is Elliot Amadi

The second team, although defeated by a strong Preston Grasshopper 3rd team acquitted themselves well and entertained the home crowd with some excellent rugby. 

Bar Nista man of the match was Elliot Amadi who had another excellent game.

 Colts report

Southport senior colts continued their new season away versus a joint junior and senior Macclesfield Colts in glorious sunshine.  Southport started at great pace with Luca Rossi Hartford diving over after 5 minutes as Southport broke the deadlock.  

The away team continued to press the Macclesfield line with that man Luca again sliding over for his second try.  Jake Lawton filling in at number 10, kicked a wonderful 50 – 22 to put Southport on the attack and after a slick backs move Troy Beck went in for Southports 3rd try with Luke Atkinson striking the crossbar with the attempted conversion.

Macclesfield started getting a foothold in the game and scored a try to reduce the deficit, but Port weren’t finished and Joe McAdam scored a try after great line out work from Bartlett disrupted the Macclesfield line out for a 5 – 20 half time score.

Southport made several substitutions at the break, but this didn’t affect the team and that man Luca scored again for his third.  Ollie Brentford, making his debut, slotted the conversion.  Great defence from Fusca, Day, Johnson and Sinclair stopped the hosts from scoring again with the away team’s discipline outstanding.  With time ticking away, Ollie Brentford showed a real turn of pace to blitz the defence and score under the posts, he then bagged the conversion.  With the game won Macclesfield scored a late try to leave the fulltime score 10 – 34 and another win on the road for the colts.  Man of the match was Luca Rossi Hartford.    

Southport Rugby Club 2022/23 fixtures

This weekend

Local rivals Tarleton are the visitors to Waterloo this Saturday (17th September 2022) with Athena the match sponsors with a 3pm kick off.  

The 2nd team are away at Ormskirk 2nds and 3rds are at home to Sefton 3rds.  The Colts play their first home match on Sunday against Crewe & Nantwich with the kick off due at 2pm. 

Please do come down to Southport Rugby Club and enjoy the great atmosphere and excellent rugby for what promises to be a tough local derby.

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