The Impact North West Leagues.
The Rainford Electrical Division 3 North
Bolton RUFc 2nd XV 17 pts v 24 pts Vale of Lune 3rd XV
The Vale Selection :-
15. Dave Minikin
14. Liam Stirzaker
13. Jason Short
12. Dom Hart
11. Jack Capstick
10. Olly Cousins ©
9. Ollie Wilson Sherrington
8. Alfie Brown
7. Connor Cook
6. Freddie Bartle
5. Shaun Stewart
4. Si Middlehurst
3. Kyron Sharples
2. Rob O’ Brien
1. Eric Woodburn
Shaun Stewart: *Match report*

Scorecard:
- Tries: Olly Cousins, Jason Short, Liam Batty
- ⁠Conversions: Mini 3/3
- ⁠Pens: Mini 1/1
- ⁠DG: Olly 0/1

It was finally here. The day we’d all been waiting for- our first game of the season. Suffering a 42-21 reverse here last season- Bolton were buoyed by their first team’s, ahem, support- the Amigos sought revenge.

Starters Eric Woodhouse and Alfie Brown, and impact players Andy Hill and Liam Batty were all, I think, making their competitive debuts for the Vale of Lune 3s today, while I believe Shane Weed and Jason Short were among long awaited returns.

Si Middlehurst had been coaxed into the engine room, so we had a newish-looking back row; Connor Cook and Freddie Bartle on the flanks either side of Alfie. They were keen to stake their places.

In the early stages, we were very up for it defensively, but our hands, practicing passing and catching so frequently in training, seemed to have abandoned us.

The kick off was Bolton’s, and we lost the ball immediately on the ten metre line after miscommunication between our locks, so a scrum for Bolton was given.

We won the ball back after a good tackle from Mini, only for Captain Cousins to have his turn knocking it on. Bolton with a second scrum, now in our 22.

We steal it back again, thanks to Ollie WS. Olly C catches this time, and kicks it out for Bolton’s line out just out of our 22.

Si Middi stole it here, but Liam Stirzaker leaves the ball on the floor and it’s a third Bolton scrum already, in our 22 again.

We’re defending well, but watching, it was like we didn’t want the ball- we’ve knocked on every time we’ve had it in hand!

We swiftly steal it back anyway, and Mini gets us back out of our 22, for Bolton’s second line out.

Bolton win this line out, but pressure pushes them back to the halfway line. They’re forced to kick it for a lineout to Vale.

We take it, and a break from Alfie takes us all into their half. *Now* we were keeping hold of the ball, and into their 22.

Shorty offloaded to Olly, who passes to Liam, who was bundled into touch just short, and Bolton kick it away- the ensuing lineout is the Amigo’s, just outside the Bolton 22.

We won it again, but Olly can’t take Ollie’s pass. It’s knocked on so Bolton have their fourth scrum nearer the middle of the field; we’re only maybe 10 minutes in!

Bolton kick it, Mini takes, but the hosts get the ball back and they’re back in our half again.

Bolton are unlucky not to score, the referee taking it back for a forward pass, our scrum in our 22.

Olly gets it back but can only kick it out for a Bolton lineout in our 22, and from there they try a crossfield kick, but Liam Stirzaker collects it well in our in-goal area.

Olly kicks the goal-line drop out, and Bolton struggle to regather, Olly chasing his own kick and forcing them out of our 22. Dom Hart wins the turnover and we’re back in their half again, 15 minutes gone.

Our lineout continues to function well. There’re some good hands between Olly, Shorty and eventually Dom, with the latter eventually forced into touch.

The ensuing lineout from Bolton is shit, but they keep the ball. Shouts of “SHAUN, LEFF” from Mini are heard, and Bolton are forced to kick, we win our lineout.

We’re forced into our 22, so Olly has to kick through; Liam Stirzaker slows their attack down before Jack Capstick and Rob O’Brien stop them. They’re making very slow progress towards our 22.

Shaun smacks them back, then Connor Cook wins the ball, and he and Kyron take us upfield. We win a penalty at the break down and Olly kicks us into their half for another line out.

We lose a lineout for the first time (unlucky Connor), and they break into our half before Eric stops them, then Shaun makes another tackle that takes them back behind the gain line; not wanting to be outdone, this is quickly followed up by a similar tackle from Dom, but we’re eventually penalised at the breakdown ourselves (this, I believe, was the referee’s first disagreement with Connor Cook), and Bolton kick for a lineout past the 10 metre line. We get a hand in their lineout, but knock it on (unlucky again, Connor).

Their ten sneaks through Olly and Jason but can’t get far, and try another chip kick. This one goes into touch, but Liam and Dom would’ve tied it up.

There’s a brief break in this back and forth game as the water comes on and Vale get their heads together- we’re only 20 minutes in and despite it being scoreless, the encounter is breathless!

Jack, having a solid game so far, has a shoulder complaint, and makes way for Liam Batty.

Play restarts, we win our lineout, and Alfie takes us forward. Both teams make mistakes, each losing the ball multiple times, before Ollie is eventually penalised. Lineout to Bolton in our 22.

They win this one, but this time the ref whistles our way at the ruck.

Kyron makes way for Shane Weed (his work means he needs a breather), and Mini kicks us just outside of their half.

We win the lineout, ball to Olly, Shorty, Dom, and then Connor sneaks a few meters, but the referee penalises him (by this point I wonder if he has a grudge) for not releasing the ball when tackled.

Bolton lineout again, just into our half, and from that they try another chip kick, but this one goes too far so Vale have a scrum. Alfie’s tackled at the base of it but we keep hold of the ball.

Some wonderful backline moves get us to their 22, but Shorty and Olly don’t use the numbers left (Dom and Liam begging for it!) and Olly’s pass to Liam Batty on the right is deemed forward. How didn’t we score there?

Scrum on their 22, they kick it out immediately, and it’s a lineout just inside their half, which we win.

Alfie gets the ball into their half but we’re too loose and it’s won back. Accidental offside means there’s a scrum for Bolton just inside our half.

We play some good stuff in the rest of the first half, really growing into the game, but it’s ultimately scoreless at half time.

Mini just misses out on a 50-22, and runs it back into their half nicely after another one of their kicks are too inaccurate. Liam Batty ties up a Bolton attack for us to win the ball back.

Eric and Liam (I’ve not noted which one, sorry) win the ball back, and Rob gets another great carrying.

The last notable action of the half is (you know what’s coming) the referee getting his cards out.

Bolton steal a lineout, and Sir gives a penalty against us, then pushes us back ten metres for arguing, and another ten again, for gobbiness. He loses his patience and Shaun Stewart- VICE-CAPTAIN SHAUN STEWART!!- is yellow carded. What kind of example is this from our vice-captain? We have four young children, two of them his own, attending this match; Mr Stewart needs to do better in future!

“Unacceptable language,” sir says.

“Unacceptable refereeing,” says Shaun. Shame, because Shaun had been playing well up to this point and his defensive efforts had not gone unnoticed.

Anyway, we steal their lineout in our 22, and Mini kicks it out for half time- 0-0!

But Vale have looked the better team for some time now, and the Amigos know they can do better in the second half.

Eric, Middi, and Freddie come off at HT, Kyron back on, Andy Hill on, and Jack now recovered enough to return, respectively. Liam Batty comes into the forwards.

Our kick off now, and they knock on as well, so we have the ball. We do well to keep hold of the ball here, even after the ball is haphazardly given out to Shorty and he can’t make a difficult offload. Ollie, to Olly, to Kyron who makes some yards. Olly runs it a bit, getting a few yards in, then Ky again, then a short ball from Olly to Shorty. Then Rob takes it in, then Shorty (still unwilling to pass!) again.

Ref allows play on for obvious example of playing the nine.

Then we get some space and Olly Cousins is in the pocket. Can he break the deadlock? He’s in the perfect place for it, though it is a bit far out. He strikes the ball, it soars, it…falls just short and wide, oof.

Shame the drop goal was short but it was a great effort, and it ends up getting us in a good spot as well, because from the 22 metre drop out, Bolton kick it straight to touch, so it’s our scrum.

After a messy scrum, Kyron takes the ball through. We see a brilliant offload for Liam Batty, who passes the ball for Olly to run in under the post easily; Olly Cousins breaks the deadlock after all! Great try, lads.

Mini converts easily under the sticks, we lead 0-7.

Andy takes their kick off from between his legs, and Alfie is forced back at the next carry.

Olly passes to Shorty, who passes (!!!) out to Dom, and he passes to Liam to take it down the line. We win a penalty at the ruck, and we have a lineout on their 10 metre line.

Ollie is bundled up but we keep the ball, Alfie goes by himself but, again, we keep the ball. Ollie breaks and offloads but the pass out to Liam Batty is knocked on. We were playing advantage, however, and Mini decides a penalty is worth having.

There was some confusion here; Bolton had been allowed to take our kicking tee after Mini’s earlier conversion, Freddie, but once we get it back, Mini kicks the penalty for 0-10, and Shaun is allowed back on. A great period of play from us while a man down, and we even keep hold of the kicking tee this time.

We get a lineout in our half following kick off but although we win it, the referee curiously declared Olly knocked it on. I don’t know why this was suspect, but it’s what I wrote at the time! Maybe it went backwards? Anyway, the referee wasn’t a popular man with the Amigos at the moment despite our ascendancy in the game.

We’re defending well on our try line, so Bolton once again try the cross field kick, and this time, rather luckily, dot the ball down. It was 2 on 1 against Jack Capstick, who despite that was unlucky not to stop the score.

They miss the conversion so it’s 5-10.

Despite some cheating from Bolton at kick off they’re allowed to play on into our half before we steal it back.

Connor takes it in alone but support follows. Olly’s kick is charged down and Bolton are awarded a scrum after an unfortunate clash of heads, them being deemed in possession.

Bolton go right, but Jack stops them in their tracks with one of his usual brutal tackles.

Mini, for once completely innocent, is then headbutted by Bolton’s player, apparently unprovoked, and there is a large break in play. Bolton’s player leaves the pitch voluntarily, reducing Bolton to 14 for the remainder of the game, and Mini has to be stopped from going after him, blood still gushing from his nose.

We restart, Mini playing on, with Bolton reduced to 14.

Olly takes the kick early before Ref says play on, so I get my first action of the day, the ball I kick back landing on Freddie’s headie. Sorry, Fred.

We win the lineout but are forced backwards, and are deemed to have lost the ball forwards. Their scrum, our half, just.

They kick it across the field, lose the ball, then win it back again.

Despite some heroic work to get back defensively, they are awarded the try on the right.

Bolton get the conversion to make it 12-10, and the hosts lead for the first time.

We take a quick kick off, Connor chasing, and they’re forced to kick from their 22.

Liam takes the ball but instead of allowing play on, referee calls a scrum (wtf, ref?) because half of Bolton’s players are offside. Except it’s a scrum to Bolton. What the fuck is going on? We’ll never know if he’d have scored in space, unlucky Liam.

Ref gives another penalty for Kyron being offside.

Shane Weed comes off for a break and Eric returns to the pitch to make an impact.

Their kick is shit and Dom regathers. Mini’s kick is scampered after by Jack, and he and Dom bundle them into touch. We have a lineout in their 22.

We march them forwards from the maul and Alfie secures the ball. We get it wide- a good run from Shorty. The ball is recycled from Liam Batty and Shorty goes over for our second, GET THE FUCK IN.

Bolton 12-17 Vale, Mini getting the difficult and, no doubt, crucial conversion.

Middi comes on for Liam Stirzaker who’s had a great game, and Liam Batty is moved back into the backs.

We have a scrum shortly after kick off, and we’re taken into their 22 by Olly and Shorty, the latter of whom has forgotten how to pass again.

We’re penalised, but Bolton can’t make touch from the kick (Olly regathers), so Mini kicks it out.

Shaun gets us marched back another 10 after their lineout for more gobbiness, but this time avoids a card, so Bolton have a lineout in our corner.

We disrupt their lineout, forcing them well back, but sir says it went forward from our hand. FFS! Scrum to Bolton in our 22.

Alfie hobbles off, so Shane Weed returns.

They try a chip threw off the scrum, but it’s too much, goes out, and it’s our defensive scrum now.

We seem to have forgotten here we’re only five ahead, not fifty, and completely take leave of ours senses.

Mini tries running it out, but Shorty can’t gather it, Bolton kick it through, and although Jack Capstick appears to ground it first, the referee awards Bolton the try.

They miss the conversion- it’s 17 all.

We kick deep into their 22, and they fail to make touch on the return kick.

Mini runs it back, we have loads of space right. Shorty doesn’t pass, but that’s undeniably the right choice this time.

Rob carries, Ollie to Olly, to Mini, to Shane, out to Liam who runs back inside AND FUCKING SCORES YES LIAM BATTY YOU BEAUTIFUL BASTARD.

Excuse me. Lovely try Liam, well done.

Mini’s conversion sees us lead 17-24, his final action before exiting the field, nose still bloody, for Liam Stirzaker.

Bolton try a cute kick at the kick off, but their wing knocks it on and Kyron can take it forward. Sir takes it back after a messy ruck for our scrum in our half.

Ollie to Olly to Shorty into contact is the play again, but we’re making metres and eventually, Ollie Wilson-Sherrington boots the ball into touch for full time.

The score: Bolton 17, Vale of Lune 24.

UP THE MIGHTY THREES!
[27/09, 16:13] Shaun Stewart: *Interviews:*

For the first time, and quite possibly the last, we’re pleased to announce _Amigos Reports_ have managed to get some interviews with key players and staff, at half time, at full time, and post match.

_“I think we just need to play it simple. I think we're making too many little mistakes. We're now down a player, thanks, dad. No, just keep it simple. We'll win it. We need to stop giving them possession. Whenever we've had possession, we've just we've made yards constantly. Whereas they're not. So yeah, we just need to keep it up, simple game.“_ -chief h2o technician and VOL linesmen Colm Stewart, at half time.

_“I thought that the momentum swung our way once that big fella got yellow carded. The referee…yeah, had a very interesting game, let's say. Yeah. Players got a result. Over the moon and well-deserved. It should have been a lot more, but there was many factors against us today, let's say, but what an effort from the boys. Absolute sterling effort from the boys.”_ -vice-captain Shaun Stewart, at full time, with his usual balanced perspective on refereeing.

Any finally, chief reporter Dave Penrice-Zied caught non-playing committee member Karan Banga for a quick interview post match:

_“Any last minute words from today's coach?”_

_“Um, yeah, up the Vale.”_

_“Up the Vale. I like it.”_

16. Andy Hill
17. Shane Weed
18. Liam Batty
Great result today at Bolton for the Vale XV.
Excuse me if I might prevaricate a little. Watching the Premier League game last night on the box, it was Northampton’s first home League game of the season. It suddenly struck me that 30 years ago Northampton’s first home game of the season was at Powder House Lane and we beat them 6 points to 3 points. A terrific effort and I’m sure many will either have played in the game or indeed watched it.

Back to today’s game, apologies for being waylaid, and what a terrific game it turned out to be today. The Vale XV had selected on paper a strong XV. Their presence in this League shows that they will play all 2nd XVs with a couple of 1st XVs so they will need all available for the season.
A solid experienced front row was selected in Kyron Sharples, Rob O’ Brien and Eric Woodburn. These three needed to show their experience and they did so !! Selected in the 2nd Row Shaun Stewart and Si Middlehurst were locking the scrum solidly and needed to do so against a strong Bolton 8.

Behind them and forming a most formidable back row Alfie Brown, was to produce a most robust game, strong and powerful, Freddie Bartle watched by Dad Phil Bartle, was to show some extra pace and Connor Cook apart from the needs in the scrum was to exhibit controlled lineout ball jumping at No. 2.

The open phases of the game produced the knowledge that this Bolton XV would be no easy side to allow any scoring against them. They were a solid well prepared XV.
A forward pass awarded to the Vale prevented an opening score from an initial attack by Bolton. From the resultant scrum Ollie Sherrington fed his flyhalf Skipper Ollie Cousins who with a darting run crossed for the opening try of the game, inevitably converted by M.O.M. Minni Minnikin.
On 50 minutes Dave Minnikin converted a penalty giving the Vale XV a 10 point cushion. They were looking good and playing some good controlled rugby. The two Ollys were working well at half back, Ollie Sherrington does possess a controlled, lengthy pass.

The Bolton XV were not going to lie down and after some broken play and some loose tackling they crossed for a try followed by a further converted try taking the score to 12 – 10 to the home side.

Outside the halfbacks Jason Short and Dom Hart in the centre positions were to offer strong defensive games but equally were breaking tackles easily to set up useful attacking rugby. On the wings Liam Stirzaker a diminuitive player was showing pace and not shirking any necessary tackles. On the opposite wing Jack Capstick was to produce a sound game competent in both attack and defence.

Down 12 points to 10 it was left to Jason Short to cross for a try after some speedy threeqarter movement from the Vale line. Inevitably Minni converted – Did he miss a kick all game ?? – The score now 17 points to 12 points to the Vale side.Koran Banga was going to use his replacements wisely and Andy Hill – what a physique – Shane Weed and Liam Batty took their place on the field.

The scores were level at 17 points across the board and time was running down. Who would break the stalemate ??

Referee Alan Blackburn indicated 5 minutes to go. All the speccies were on edge until Liam Batty, having taken his place from the bench, saw a gap and took it running and weaving at great pace through the Bolton defence.
Dave Minnikin converted to close the game down.

Now to move on Fleetwood 2nds next weekend followed by De La Salle on the 10th October. Mouth watering !!!!

Fred Swarbrick…

Fred Swarbrick

Chairman

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