Toc-BP ‘one-man’ team get back to winning ways against Orrell

A home fixture and a strong squad saw the combined Toc H-Broughton Park Under 13s host Orrell RUFC last weekend in the fourth round of the Lancashire RFU Waterfall Tournament. After the previous weekends’ derailment (or was that decapitation?) at Ruskin Park, and despite a late rally in both spirt and application towards the end of that game, it was time to get the show on the road, hit the ground running, get back on track, etc., etc., and get back to playing our usual high standard of rugby.

The Orrell team were strong from the kick-off and Toc-BP had to be quick and smart in defence to avoid an early score against them as Orrell initially push deep into the Toc-BP half. After the first few hectic minutes Toc-BP were award a scrum on their own 10m line and from here the ball was moved from right to left though the hands to find Georgie in the outside centre position, who seized the space on the outside and with his trademark arcing run followed the left-hand touch line home for a try. On ten minutes the team scored a carbon copy of the first try, just this time the scrum was won in our own 22, before the ball was passed to Georgie to finish the good work.

In response to this great start the opposition may have been heard to taunt that Toc-BP were only a one-man team. Well, if a strong scrum that wins the ball and set of backs that passes said ball along the line and creates space and time for a fast player to exploit on the outside is a one-man team, I’m sure we can live with that all season! This one-man team continued to apply pressure all over the park and with the forwards mounting sustained attacks on the Orrell try line. From a centre field position on the 5m line winger Rob cut a great line back in on the angle to scythe through the heavy traffic of forwards and score the third try after 17 minutes. At halftime the score of 15-0 may have flattered the home side a touch, as Orrell were a study and capable outfit, but the home side had been more clinical in taking their opportunities.

The second half continued much as the first. Throughout the half Orrell had good periods of possession and territory but good team defence from Toc-BP, in particular from Sam R at full back and from a number of forwards including Ted, Leon and CJ, kept them a bay. After 5 minutes a quickly taken free kick gave Sam R a score on his return to the team. Two minutes later a free kick on the right-hand side was moved smartly through the hands to again find Georgie in the centres, who ran a strong line up through the middle of the park. The close support that had done well to keep up with him were not needed as despite a couple of tacklers still hanging off him a strong leg drive took him over the line for his hat-trick.

Orrell then replied with a try of their own before Ben, playing this week at scrum half, made his second lovely break of the game from his own half with a ‘show and go’ to the drifting defence before straightening up and cutting through the Orrell line with pace. Only some quick scramble defence from Orrell stopped Ben from scoring as he was finally tackled just 5m from the try line. The final try of the day was finished by Georgie after good work by others in the one-man team to win the ball.

All in all a great performance and bounce back from defeat at Ruskin Park the previous week with a 6 try to 1 win (30-5). The individual improvement in play from all players over the weeks is excellent! To take this on to the next level for when we take on some of the stronger teams in the area we just need to continue working on our team and unit play with good focus at training and attendance where possible. Many candidates for the Nutella-fest that is the Man of Steel award but this week went to Ben for some outstanding linking of forwards and backs from the scrum half position and a couple of exceptional breaks, and to Ted for an even higher level of robust tackling and strong ball carrying than usual! Well done guys!