Some days you just have to stand back and admire what you are watching and there are others when you just stand and wonder what the hell is going on, yesterday I can honestly say I didn’t have a clue what was going on.

We scored five good tries, slick hands, great lines and powerful running, Ben kicked like it was the first time he’d ever used a tee and Brookesy wasn’t any better. Now if you leave ten points out there and concede a penalty at a rate of one every 200 seconds then it’s no wonder you’re hanging on at the final whistle. The big difference in a hard fought contest yesterday was unlike in the same fixture last season everyone wanted it.

We all knew yesterday, we had nothing to play for but our own pride, Helsby were second in the division and playing the last game of their season, a win for them and other results going their way could well mean promotion. As I have said on numerous occasions before, we aren’t as bad as people seem to think.

We started slowly, didn’t clear our lines, we’ve got enough experience to know, we can’t run everything and have to play in the right areas, Helsby have a strong pack and some very good ball carriers, they’re a 1st team, they train, play to there strengths so it was no surprise when they scored a converted try on three minutes.

Wake up call and for the next twenty five minutes we were the better side, Tom Campbell scored a brace finishing off out wide for a typical wingers try for the first and showing great body strength powering over for the second. Petto playing in his favourite position helped himself to our third try. We didn’t have all the ball but we defended well, the big problem is when you keep conceding penalties, you keep gifting opportunities to your opposition and Helsby capitalised to score their second try on thirty five minutes, for last five minutes of the half we battled hard to stop them scoring again. Half time 15 - 12 up, would our missed kicks comeback to haunt us.

The second half started well, a great offload from Gilly as Tom Red hit a superb line and waltzed in to score, 20 - 12, Helsby are a decent side and for the next 20 minutes dominated the game, whilst we dominated the penalty count, we get a yellow card for Ollie, took one for the team, Helsby scored two tries and converted one of them, so with ten minutes to play we are 24 - 20 down. Now as I’ve said all season I get paid the big bucks to make the big decisions, off come Ben and Browny on go Neil Brookes and Andy Peel, five minutes left and Peely scores from the wing. 25 - 24 and the last five minutes felt like a lifetime. Concede a penalty, and another one and another one and another, win a turnover, knock it on, some great defence kept Helsby out and I’ve never been so relieved when Neil kicked the ball dead.

The Ducks yesterday, relied massively on the MAVS, Andy Barker and Graham Keen stepped up again and were great, Stocky did what Stocky does, shored up the scrum, made big hits and carried well, Neil Brookes came off the bench late on and steadied the ship. Andy Peel played his first game for the Ducks and scored the winning try, the funny thing being he was only with us because he was up visiting from Bristol, the Helsby skipper agreed to let him be our 19th man and play the last ten minutes, the last time I can remember him playing was about 16/17 years ago with me. Thanks boys once again.

Will Sass and Liam McGowan, both showed what promising futures they have, awesome both of you, Gilly was great, Ollie showed why we miss him when he’s not available.

Duck of the Day went to Paella Petterson, fresh from his jolly’s, playing in his favourite position, he was everywhere, tackled, carried, organised and scored as well. He led, the rest followed.

Diffy Duck, if you don’t catch a pass all day and the more you try the more you drop, if with the ball a yard from the tryline, no one around you except your teammate letting you know there’s no pressure and you trip over your feet, fall flat on your face and manage to knock the ball on as you try to pick it up, there can only be one winner. We all know who it is, it’s just to embarrassing to mention his name. (Browny you owe me a beer for that).

MavaDucks strike again.
Mother Duck