Port Sunlight 7 - 24 Mavericks

Port Sunlight 7 – 24 Anselmians Mavericks 15.12.12

A mild winter’s afternoon greeted the Mavericks as they made the short journey to Port Sunlight’s ground. The heavy weather did not show on the pitch, which allowed free following rugby from both side’s, however the Mav’s were the ones to capitalise.
Some new faces greeted the Mavericks, 6 first team players from Port Sunlight.
This was going to be a tough day at the office, but the Mavericks were going to stick to their task.
Missing ex-skipper & current skipper to a chest infection & Xmas shopping trip respectively, the Mavericks re-grouped, & under newly appointed skipper Gordon Rogers, rose to the challenge.
Before kick-off Gordon’s words were simple –‘We’ve met these guys twice this season, the third time they are going to be hurting. We are a changed squad, but we have a chance to put a treble over them. We have to play as 15, if we do we will win. We have young backs, so if the forwards give us the platform, we can win this game’.
So it was that Anselmians Mavericks took to the field as a bare 15.
From the kick off, the Mav’s took control, securing ball for the backs to run some great line.
Some grinding work from the forwards, & beautiful move from the backs, left time for Andy Smith to chip a sweet ball over a defensive line for Del Alderson (have I spelled it right this week?) to gather & run in a try from 10 yards, after only 10 minutes. 5-0 to the Mavericks.
More of the same followed from the Mavericks, with Port Sunlight dropping countless opportunities.
After 20 minutes, a ruck on Sunlights 22, gifted Luke Williams the opportunity to run at their defence. A hand-off, and missed tackle meant he could run in under the posts, conversion scored 12 – 0.
Unfortunately, Dom Woolley suffered an injury, and spectator ‘Stocky’ pulled on the Anselmians stripes to keep the game flowing and competitive.
More pressure from the forwards, both at scrum & line-out meant more turn-over ball. More pressure from the Mav’s resulted in Phil McGunigall going over to score. Half time scoreline 0 – 17 to the visitors.
Half-time talk was for more of the same. The young Mavericks were performing superbly. Both Jacks were outstanding at scrum half & wing. Luke Williams was all over the place.
Second half was more subdued, with both sides making mistakes & turning over ball. Both sides tried to use the ball, with little effect. Nothing eventful really happened until 70 minutes into the game.
A ruck, 10 yards from Sunlights line, resulted in yet another infringement. Some severe rucking was not greeted kindly by a Sunlight player. Everything kicked off. Punches thrown, threats made etc etc.
Willo & a Sunlight player were yellow carded, end of game for them!
The game then went from one end of the pitch, & penalty after penalty to the other, with Sunlight eventually converting a try from a penalty 5 yards out. 7 – 17 would have been acceptable , but the Mavericks had other ideas.
From the re-start, the Mavericks turned over ball 7 used it to good effect to get a penalty 5 yards out. The only call to make was ‘Stocky’s ball’, & he duly side stepped & jinked his way over the line, the conversion resulting in a final scoreline of 7 – 24 to the Mavericks.
A great game, & great performances from the young Mavericks yet again.
Some stonking tackles – if you think you can run over our young Mavericks, think again!!

As a note, it is unfortunate that some elements of the football culture are creeping into the noble game of rugby. What has happened to the culture of ‘what happens on the field, stays on the field’, and after a game we can all shake hands & have a pint.
Unfortunately, the afternoon was marred by 1 individual from Port Sunlight (you will know who you are). In the sin-binning session you continued to have a go at a young Maverick, and refused to shake his hand after the game. The ethos of rugby is totally lost to you.
This goes against the great & loved rivalry that Anselmians & Port Sunlight have had over many, many years, & we hope that it will not be repeated.
Other than that, thanks to Port Sunlight for another great competitive game.
Good luck for the rest of the season.