1st XV
Matches
Sat 28 Sep 2019  ·  North One West
Firwood Waterloo
20
14
Vale of Lune RUFC
1st XV
Tries: M Forrest (2)Conversions: A Briggs (2)Sent Off: W Hunt
ENTERTAINING ENCOUNTER.

ENTERTAINING ENCOUNTER.

Stuart Vernon30 Sep 2019 - 06:47
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https://www.valeoflunerufc.org

The opening month has seen a bonus point collected in every game.

1 Ales Preston Online Systems
2 Harm Dokter Bay Travel
3 Owen Branford Fatlads Utd
4 Harry Fellows Carpet and Floorcare
5 Steve Tagg CM Ferguson Decorating
6 Tom Cvijanovic SJB Tiling Ltd
7 Jack Ayrton Allan Entwistle
8 James Robinson George Dickson
9 Billy Swarbrick Penhale Society
10 Alex Briggs Fine and Country
11 Nathan Manning Matthews Benjamin
12 Andy Powers (Capt) Ron Higgin
13 Will Hunt AJB Electrical
14 Jordan Fern Baines Plumbing & Heating
15 Michael Forrest FGH Security
16 Joe Stevens
17 Joe Wallbank
18 Matt Field

Match Sponsor:
Ball Sponsor:
Team Mascot:
Referee: Jimmy Taggart

To many people in the rugby community The Memorial Ground situated on St Anthony’s Road Blundellsands remains the spiritual home of Waterloo RFC but since October 2012 the naming rights were awarded to Firwood Building Supplies, a local company, and so a new moniker was added to the roster of clubs but a proud history still remains at a club which sports writer, Chris Harte, described as “a wonderful club to visit. The friendliness is catching and the atmosphere of the place is a reminder of those innocent days of yesteryear.”
Of course the name Waterloo is synonymous with a railway station, Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington, Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn and Anni-Frid who as ABBA not only lifted the roof of the Brighton Dome but also triumphed at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with a vote catching number that began:
“My my
At Waterloo Napoleon did surrender
Oh yeah”
As always a fixture against Firwood Waterloo is almost certain to invoke references to ABBA’s hits and the latest encounter fell into “The Winner Takes It All” category with both clubs having won two of their three opening North One West fixtures, but it had not gone unnoticed that this was the Vale of Lune’s first venture, in a league fixture, away from their “old familiar rooms” at The Lane.
Vale of Lune last faced Firwood Waterloo in October 2017 when they squelched their way to a 15-13 victory in near monsoon conditions at Blundellsands. And while Vale were wrestling with those pesky Jabberwocky’s of the North Premier last season, Firwood Waterloo ended their North One West campaign in eighth place.
While Vale’s travelling supporters tried to unravel the starting line up the hosts launched a series of attacks that had the Vale scrambling deep in their own half by gradually they managed to grab the controls and battled their way towards the Pavilion. However, in the tenth minute the party ended dramatically for centre Will Hunt because following a coming together with a Firwood Waterloo player, he along with his opponent, was shown a red card and of course with the code under constant scrutiny it was only to be expected because that is “The Name of the Game.”
Thankfully common sense prevailed, which was a credit to both sets of players, as was Will Hunt’s apology to referee Jimmy Taggart at half time. The intensity remained high throughout but the threat of further skulduggery diminished in a contest between two evenly matched sides as is reflected in the final score line.
Vale probed for an opening with forwards Harry Fellows, James Robinson, Jack Ayrton, centre Andy Powers and the scampering Billy Swarbrick in the number nine jersey testing their opponents defensive networks.
In a game that flashed from end to end the Souper Trouper beam eventually picked out Firwood Waterloo for the opening score. From a line out on the left, in the lee of the stand, the ball was transferred quickly along the back division and as the gaps appeared centre Joe Bowmer accelerated over for his try which full back Darragh O’Brien converted with a hefty thump from wide out in the fourteenth minute.
The Vale quickly put behind them this set back by immediately going onto the front foot, there was to be no crying as they launched a sweeping attack that brought full back Michael Forrest into the limelight to stretch Firwood Waterloo but winger Nathan Manning’s foot just slipped over the touch line.
All the shots were being fired by the Vale, a surging forward drive trapped Firwood Waterloo and when the ball was swung wide Michael Forrest whizzed into the line for a try converted by stand-off Alex Briggs in the twentieth minute.
There was no time for the Vale to pat themselves on the shoulders because Firwood Waterloo returned to the high ground. James Robinson pulled off a try saving tackle and too huge groans from the home supporters the ball was coughed up when a certain try looked on the cards.
Vale were also guilty of dropping the ball inside their opponents twenty two and half full of contrast and colour ended with Darragh O’ Brien kicking a late penalty goal.
A three point deficit was well within Vale’s range and they began the second half in a bullish mood, driving Firwood Waterloo back deep into their own half but the pressure could not be maintained and in the forty seventh minute the hosts increased their lead. Number eight Will Meades set off on a bullocking run that scattered some Vale defenders or had others clinging onto his shirt like limpets. Eventually the charge was halted but the ball was moved to the left where winger Jacob Allen touched down wide out for an unconverted try.
Once again the Vale lifted their skirts and the collective message from the players was very much along the lines of “Take a chance on me.” Billy Swarbrick went scooting off; replacement Joe Stevens had a trundle as the Vale swarmed menacingly in around Firwood Waterloo’s twenty two.
The score came courtesy of a piece of sheer, audacious brilliance from Michael Forrest when he danced though, dispensing the odd dummy, first off one foot and them the other, before gliding close to the posts for a glittering try converted by Alex Briggs in the fifty third minute.
As the game moved into the last quarter the outcome was far from certain as the both sides realised the importance of the next score, you could hardly put a cigarette paper between them, not only was the tightrope taught but nerves were well stretched and twanging.
Some comfort was afforded for Firwood Waterloo in the sixty fifth minute when they ran in an unconverted try. The match winning move began deep in their own half when they opted to run the ball against a Vale defence that looked lopsided and as the momentum increased the Vale were slow to muster their resources; Darragh O’Brien finished off the move by touching down in the right hand corner.
Time was still on Vale’s side, they still had plenty of aces to play, the destiny was very much in their own hands but despite all the pressure that was piled on them Firwood Waterloo remained calm to claim their third victory of the season while the Vale had to content themselves with a losing bonus point but, “Mama Mia,” it had been high spirited engagement that could have gone either way and not surprised anyone.
As the Vale loaded up their coach the sun was setting at Waterloo, the Gormley statues continued their lonely vigil at the nearby Crosby Sands, the trains shuttled in and out of Liverpool, Hyacinth Bucket was drawing the curtains, conkers were rattling to the ground but unlike many of the away fixtures last season the mood was less sombre on the short journey back to HQ.

Match details

Match date

Sat 28 Sep 2019

Kickoff

15:00

Meet time

11:45

Instructions

Coach leaves 12.00

Competition

North One West

League position

6
Firwood Waterloo
7
Vale of Lune
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Club and Player Sponsor - Bay Travel
Club Sponsor - Walling UK
Club Sponsor - Harrison Drury Solicitors
Club Sponsor - Dave Kendall
Club Sponsor - ACE Skips
Club Sponsor - MARDON
Club Sponsor - South Lakes Windows
Club Sponsor - MJ Catterall
Club Sponsor - Approved Inspectors Ltd
Club Sponsor - Pink Skips/Quay Concrete
Club Sponsor - Bay Fire
Club Sponsor - Handlesbanken
Club Sponsor - Radcliffe and Bibby
Club Sponsor - Yesss Electrical
Club Sponsor - Oakmere Homes
Club Sponsor - Graham Group
Club Sponsor - Alex Willis Funeral Home
Club Sponsor - Cumberland Building Society
Club Sponsor - Wallings
Club Sponsor - Travellers Choice
Club Sponsor - Lancastrian Estates
Club Sponsor - Patty's Farm Barn
Player Sponsor - SJB Tiling
Club Sponsor - Burton & Fisher
Club Sponsor - Maine Amusements
Player Sponsor - Allan Entwistle
I'st team Shirt Sponsor - Lloyds South Lakes
Season 22/23  , 23/24 Ball Sponsor - Blend Accountants