Southport Rugby Ladies celebrate hard-fought win over Chester as Mens First XV lose to West Park

Mens 1st team match report

Southport ventured to West Park with a changed team but were quietly confident that they could perform well.  As there was no match at Waterloo Road a good number of Southport supporters were in attendance.

West Park kicked off with the aid of a slight breeze and the match started fairly slowly with no team dominating possession or territory.  Luke Fusco managed to steal a line out and despite both teams making mistakes and losing possession Southport made some good surges in and around the mauls and eventually James “Forrest” Bailey, was able to score a good try out wide and Southport were on the board 0 – 5.  Southport scrummaging was excellent and they dominated the home team but were not rewarded with any penalties and West Park seemed to have the measure of Southport in the line outs.  West Park backs were moving the ball well and eventually they managed to score an unconverted try in the corner and it was 5 all.  Southport were then awarded a penalty and Jake Mann kicked truly and Southport were back in front 5 – 8.  The away team were playing well and looked dangerous however a jinking run, cutting against the grain by West Parks no 7 led to a good try just before half time with the home team leading 12 – 8 at the turn.

Southport looked as if they had the measure of the home team despite West Parks good passing by their backs and a penalty put Southport 1 point adrift however the game then changed significantly with West Park managing to score 3 unanswered converted tries through the good ball handling of their backs.  Southport were not going to give up without a fight and scored a penalty try and another through the good work of their forwards with Callum Monaghan credited with the try and it looked like Southport still had a chance being only 10 points down with sufficient time.  West Park however steadied and scored another converted try and the managed finished 40 – 23.

Southport showed good phases of play but could not finish their good work by scoring points and in the end it was the Home team’s backs who won the day.

The 3rd team were away to Port Sunlight and had a great win 22 – 47.  There are no senior matches this coming weekend although the veterans have an away match.

Ladies 1st team match report 

The first away game of the season saw Southport Ladies make the short trip to Chester on Sunday against a team the ladies haven’t faced since the 2014/2015 season. With both sides fielding very different teams from the last time, both were ready to face the unknown.

Southport got the game underway and from the off the Divas defence held firm while Southport tried to find a way to penetrate the wall of bodies and try to rumble their way into the Divas 22. With play switching constantly through knock ons and tackles to touch, both teams were unable to break the deadlock. Some strong carries by flanker Meath and 2nd row Dale, deservedly awarded player of the match, Southport managed to continue to make ground in the Divas half but stellar defence kept them at bay and when Divas caused the knock on and won the scrum, they showed some slick moves to get the ball out wide and made their way towards the try line. With full back McKirdy covering, the ball was held up and the goal line drop out awarded. After 35 minutes of switches in play it was Divas who broke the deadlock scoring the first try of the game. From the restart Southport responded – Divas were tackled into touch, Southport took a clean lineout and with excellent hands from the backs, McArdle dotted down just wide of the posts providing the easy conversion for Gaskin. Score 5-7. With the rest of the half played out with switches in play, strong tackles and hard running by both teams, the half time whistle came as a welcome break.

Divas got the second half underway and after winning their own ball, knocked it on in the Southport 22 and a good clearance kick pegged Divas back upto halfway. With Divas applying the pressure, Southport held firm but when a penalty was awarded to Divas inside the 22 and right in front of the posts, the option to kick for goal was too much to resist. Score 8-7. A penalty awarded to Southport shortly after the restart saw it taken quickly but a knock on gave Divas the scrum. Both teams showing great strength in the scrums but Southport edged this one, and when the ball found flanker turned winger Lane, she made a darting run to score a neat try which was easily converted by Gaskin. Score 8-14 Southport were penalised for bringing down the maul that formed from the restart and Divas were back in the driving seat. When they were awarded a penalty on Southport’s 22, the kick found touch. With the lineout deemed not straight Southport put Divas on the back foot and when the backs threw the ball out to Centre McArdle, she showed some serious wheels to run in her 2nd try of the game. Unfortunately the conversion angle just too wide for Gaskin. Score 8-19 From the restart Divas showed some purposeful play and applied the pressure to Southport and even with strong defence, Divas managed to run in their 2nd try with a good conversion. With only minutes left on the clock, Southport kept Divas at bay one final time taking the final score to 15-19

After the game, Southport men’s 1st team regular ‘Toots’ had this to say about the Ladies: ‘The team who played rugby in the right areas won! The defence from both teams was strong. Well done Ladies!’ Fellow supporter Matty Cook added ‘The backs were superb and the forwards dug deep but the Quavers and the Guiness was the real headline! Excellent work Ladies’ Ladies captain Laura Walton confirmed the supporters praise by commending her team “What a game from the ladies from the whistle. A tough game against a well drilled Chester side, putting us under constant pressure especially in the rucks. The girls worked hard as a team right until the final whistle to secure that win.

We look forward to welcoming Vagabonds to Waterloo Road next Saturday

 Colts match report

 Southport Senior Colts travelled to Manchester to face Sedgley Tigers Senior Colts in another top of the table clash on Sunday afternoon on a lovely Autumn day.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Southport had a number of chances but a few times the last pass went astray. With the half ticking down, Southport finally crossed the line when Lewis Fusco broke through and scored at the side of the posts, Jamie Brown with the conversion. Sedgley’s pack were dominant in all areas of the game and a fine break saw them score on the stroke of half time. HT 5-7.

Southport had a stiff breeze in their faces in the 2nd half and the large pitch was always going to be a battle to conquer. Jaime Brown had a fine game with his place kicks and some great defence from James Bartlett, Zac and Ed Sinclair kept Sedgley at bay. However, with 10 minutes to go, the possession from Sedgley finally paid dividends and their big prop plunged over near the posts and the successful conversion made it 12-7 to Sedgley.

But Southport never gave up and battered the line in the final moments and birthday boy, Joe McAdam scored near the posts to level the scores. The conversion hit the post and bounced out and the scores remained the same for a hard fought draw.

3, won 3, drew 1and top of the league as we welcome Heaton Moor next Sunday.

Man of the match Joe McAdam

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