Garstang 0-14 Colne & Nelson

Sat 27th Nov 2004, 02:30 PM
0 Garstang - Colne & Nelson 14

Garstang went down to a third consecutive league defeat against a Colne & Nelson team who are currently riding on the crest of a wave.

The game started badly for the home side when the kick-off failed to travel the required 10 metres  From the resultant scrummage in the middle of the park, the Colne & Nelson pack drove Garstang backwards which sent out an ominous warning to the home side.

After 15 minutes spent on the back foot Garstang started to work their way back into the game and they started to secure some decent ball.  This endeavour was rewarded when they were awarded a penalty, Paul Brown took the kick but unfortunately it struck the post and bounced to safety.

The next ten minutes of the game were very scrappy with both teams struggling to maintain the ball for a sustained period.  After 25 minutes the deadlock was broken when the visitors were awarded a penalty from wide on the right, the Colne & Nelson number nine confidently slotted the kick over to make the score 3-0.

From the restart Garstang gained possession and were able to put some sustained pressure on the Colne & Nelson team, but they just didn’t have the cutting edge to break the line.  During this period of pressure the visitors forced a Garstang mistake, from  this they raced up field and scored an excellent try after the ball went through at least six pairs of hands (8-0).

Just before half-time Colne & Nelson had a man sent to the sin bin for persistently infringing around the ruck area.  From the penalty which was awarded Paul Brown had another pot at goal but again this sailed just wide of the posts.

With the extra man advantage Garstang started the second half positively, but the game followed the pattern of the first half with Garstang being constantly thwarted by excellent Colne & Nelson defence, or by mistakes of their own making.  Despite the fact that Garstang had a man advantage it was the visitors who got the next score when they got a penalty which was successfully converted (11-0).

It would have been easy for Garstang heads to drop at this point but they went straight back to the other end of the field and almost scored a try.  The ball was quickly recycled and a deft kick over the top was nearly gathered by newcomer Stuart Mayor but unfortunately the ball was knocked out of his hands with the line beckoning.

On the hour mark Garstang made a change with Mike Gardner replacing Simon Porter, who had an excellent game in the unfamiliar position of inside centre.

Garstang realised that it was not going to be their day when, with 15 minutes remaining, Colne & Nelson were awarded a difficult penalty chance after an innocuous offence by a Garstang player.  The opposition kicker stroked the ball through the posts from a very difficult angle (14-0).

In the last 15 minutes Garstang threw caution to the wind and they were nearly rewarded when Chris ter Bekke chipped over the opposition defence, but he was unable to gather the ball with the opposition try line beckoning.

In the final 5 minutes Garstang made two replacements with John Darlington and Jim Haworth coming on for Max Everest and Stuart Mayor.

After the game Club Captain Simon Whittingham said “This was another disappointing defeat but Colne and Nelson were a well drilled, combative team who took their chances when they were presented to them so they deserved the win.  Also, thanks must go to the Garstang Blues team who were scheduled to play at Millom but had to cancel their game because the First XV had to borrow six of their players due to unavailability and injuries within the first team squad.”

The Ashworth’s Products Ltd. Man of the Match award went to Richard Orr who put in a typical 100% committed performance.

Next up for Garstang is a North Lancashire Division 2 game away against Lytham, on Saturday 4^th December, K.O. 14:30. 

Team:  Andy Redmayne, Lee Waddell, Max Everest (John Darlington, 75), Richard Orr, Lee Acton, Allan Whitaker, Chris ter Bekke, Mark Walton, Paul Brown, Andy Blackley, John Robinson, Simon Porter (Mike Gardner, 60), Phil ter Bekke, Stuart Mayor, Simon Whittingham (Captain) Replacements: Frank Purkis, John Darlington, Jim Haworth, Mike Gardner, Steven Lowe