OUR OMNIGATHERUM OF HEROES ORMSKIRKIAN ODYSSEY

OUR OMNIGATHERUM OF HEROES ORMSKIRKIAN ODYSSEY

Picture this: Prince William Sound, Alaska, 5.07am. Splashes of lemon yellow light tint a sea mist the colour of antique lace, which hangs motionless in the cool early morn over an obsidian vastness of water. Nature herself seems to hold her breath. Suddenly the stillness is shattered as one, then two, then three great dorsal fins break the surface. Dolphins. Close your eyes and mentally take a photograph. Now imagine this captured moment printed as an A3 poster, an aspirational image of slate greys, sea blues and marine greens, bright and illuminated against a black background. Underneath, in a clean, light Sans Serif font the designer has typeset a single gnomic word, "Hope" or "Dawn" or "Serenity" and below that enigmatic message to mankind is a quote from a famous poem or Bible passage carefully chosen so that you can reflect, be moved by, or find inspiration from this great simple truth.

It doesn't matter what this truth is, it's got to be better than the 'collective noun for a group of rugby coaches' guff that I was going to serve you with by way of an introduction to this week's match report, which can be condensed to: "Aha!" "Misguided trousers" and "...cannot comment further at this time as the suspect is now part of an ongoing police investigation." Back to Steph at the Sports Desk.

Thanks Statto!!! Will someone please translate! Must say though, you have missed you vocation Rhys – lovely writing.

Anyhow - Remembrance Sunday – we stood round the clubs cenotaph remembering those who have given their lives for their country.
This can be hard for those of us who struggle to remember what day it is or what planet we live on!
Apparently, according to Wiki, the ritual represents a stylized night vigil where the bodies of the slain were guarded to ensure they were not despoiled or mutilated by the enemy during darkness. My thoughts were that for some of us it is too late. (Too true Steph - I'm leaving my body to science fiction - Statto)
I looked up a few quotes on “remembering” for this report – there are some great ones.

So remember, it's better to burn out than fade away.
Kurt Cobain
I call everyone 'Darling' because I can't remember their names.
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Remember upon the conduct of each depends the fate of all.
Alexander the Great
I remember the first time I had sex - I kept the receipt.
Groucho Marx

And the classic – “Remember - you can't beam through a force field. So, don't try it.”
William Shatner

Steph, it's great that you're trying to educate this lot... (yeah, good luck with that one!) While I think on, what is the present tense of "Shatner"? Statto

FIRST QUARTER
Kick off and Manchester looked like they were still remembering, though I think it was what they had for breakfast (croissants for Balders apparently!) as they were startled by Ormskirk’s initial onslaught. Once shaken (not stirred – continuing the match report theme from last week – thanks to Adele for asking whether I had featured as Pussy Galore – told my husband which practically resulted in hospitalisation as he nearly split his sides laughing so much, although he was keen to know which parent was Dr Goodhead who featured in Moonraker), they then replied with a quick first try down the wing. Over to Statto.

Hi Steph. Like Daz I've been scratching my head over Dr Goodhead, it's as big a mystery as who shot JFK, or Roswell or Ant and Dec are alive (Why?). So much so, that I've recently launched the "Looking For Goodhead" poster campaign around Stockport, supported by a website and with my mobile number as a point of contact. It's certainly generated a lot of interest, though the text messages I've received all tend to fall into one of two categories, both of which I can answer here: "No, it's free (though I may ask for donations in the future to help maintain the website) and "If I knew where, then there'd be no need for this campaign!?!" The visitors to the website, which has had over a million hits in its first week, are frankly creepy! Here's a typical comment: "Extremely disappointed, and still frustrated. Not what I was expecting at all." (Sion D. Cheadle Hulme)

Back to the game. It was an odd start. Ormskirk kicked off. Manchester attacked straight away with a great three pass combination out towards the wing,sucking the opposition in. A Manchester player showed a good pair of hands and fed the ball out to an on-rushing player to run down the touchline before cutting in at the opposition 22 yard line to score an excellently executed try. This should have heralded a flurry of fine attacking play, but Manchester seemed to switch off allowing Ormskirk to get more than a foothold back in the game. Their pressure led to a scrum which they won from their put in going over the line to deservedly equalize. Finally this was the wake up call Manchester needed. The ball was worked across the pitch in a super string of passes (theoretical physics joke there, oh why do I bother! I'll just go and 'Planck' on the floor!) reaching a dashing Manchester back to charge through the Ormskirk defence and score in the corner.

Overall thoughts for on our performance this period were that we were not switched on at the start despite the early try but gradually got better and generally peppered their defence with some great attacking play. We got the ball out wide several times, though if we'd managed to do it more we might have troubled their touchline a few more times. That said the emerging link up play between the forwards and backs that we've seen evolving over the past few matches was excellent. The boys stayed focused after Ormskirk equalized and answered the problems the opposition posed by playing some good rugby.
Stats for this quarter are as follows: We had no lineouts whilst Ormskirk had one, which they won. We had one scrum, which we won, whilst Ormskirk were awarded two winning both. We had one penalty and the visitors were given two. Manchester kicked the ball once and Ormskirk kicked twice. Stats showed that in this first period the ball got out to the wing three times and there was only one breakdown.

Manchester 2 Ormskirk 1

SECOND QUARTER
Messy quarter. Manchester found it tough to break through Ormskirk's resolute defence. We thought we'd gone over midway through the period, but the cheers from the touchline were premature. The boys finally managed to score a scrambled try after a period of sustained pressure close to the opposition tryline.

Overall thoughts for on our performance this period were that the forwards produced some outstanding plays in this period particularly the pick up and go moves.
Stats for this quarter are rather thin on the ground: We had no lineouts whilst Ormskirk had one, which they lost. We had one scrum, which we won, whilst Ormskirk lost their solitary one. Neither side did anything wrong so neither side were awarded a penalty. There were also a dearth of kicks for either side. Stats showed that in this first period the ball got out to the wing once and there was only one breakdown.

Manchester 1 Ormskirk 0

THIRD QUARTER
Scoreless, despite all the play being in the Ormskirk half. The visitors defence was tough to break down and some determined work in the scrum saw them win twice against the head.

Overall thoughts for on our performance this period showed that there is still a fair way to go with regards to the passing.
Stats for this quarter make fairly grim reading: We had one lineout which we lost but Ormskirk lost both of their two. We had three scrums only winning one, whilst Ormskirk won both theirs. Neither side were awarded a penalty and only Ormskirk kicked the ball once. Stats showed that in this first period the ball got out to the wing three times and there were two breakdowns.

Manchester 0 Ormskirk 0

FOURTH QUARTER
Manchester were roused once more and a great rolling maul out of the home side's half, travelling fully half the length of the pitch before setting up a series of passes from one side of the pitch to the other produced the first try of this quarter. There then followed a period of sustained pressure which saw Manchester create some lovely pass and crash moves to try and get through the Ormskirk defence, before the visitors broke free and equalized. Manchester counter attacked straight away and through some good combined work between runners and support players managed to scramble the ball over the try line a final time.

Arguably (along with the second) the best quarter of the match. The boys were once again focused on winning, hungry to score, backed up the runners quickly and played, in my view, at times, total rugby. Our pack were particularly strong in this quarter.
Stats for this quarter were perkier: No lineouts. We had onee scrums which we won and also three out of four of the visitors. Ormskirk were awarded a penalty and they also kicked the ball twice. Stats showed that in this first period the ball got out to the wing three times with only one breakdown.
FINAL SCORE
Manchester 5 Ormskirk 2

In summary:
Ormskirk throughout kept up the effort and made Manchester work for their win. Manchester maintained great discipline when decisions went against them (I was one of the parents who was a bit frustrated by the decisions and vocal about this and for that I apologise and take on board the fact that as parents we also need to be disciplined. I blame it on the HRT! Y the way, it’s Steph here, not Statto just in case you thought he was on HRT).
Anyhow the boys on the pitch from Manchester and Ormskirk maintained good discipline and kept the pressure on each other with Manchester making good use of the ball when they got it.
Feedback from the coaches was positive pointing out that all the team had worked hard in the game in both the forwards and the backs. The boys also reflected enthusiastically and constructively on their game in the post game debrief being able to generate themselves, when asked by the coaches, things they had done well and things they can improve on which bodes well for them improving their ability to reflect on their own performances and adjust their game accordingly.

A special mention to two of our players, Aaron and Alex D who both volunteered to play for a quarter each Ormskirk. This they did with maturity and gave no quarter to Manchester. Great work fellas!
Well done boys for a good result in a tough game. Thanks to Ormskirk for their positive attitude throughout and a good game.