Under 13's away at Aspull

A last minute fixture change meant the Under 13’s travelled to Aspull to face a combined Aspull/Orrell team at the Woodshaw Park Ground in Aspull.
Due to recent departures in playing personnel and even more positional changes, which Bury was to turn up was a cause for concern. However this concern was misplaced as everybody ‘stepped up to the plate’ to produce a superb all round team display against spirited opposition.
To accommodate the newly merged Aspull/Orrell team and to avoid any local discrepancies, it was agreed that for the first half they would wear the colours of Aspull and in the second half they would wear the colours of Orrell. Accordingly this report is split into two parts –
Game 1 - Aspull 0 – Bury 26
Bury laid down the gauntlet straight after receiving the ball from the Aspull kick off with an aggressive return from the forwards straight into the heart of the Aspull defence. Aspull stood up well to the challenge however it would only be a matter of time until their defences were breached. Giovanni ‘Tank’ Tucci broke the deadlock with a typical barnstorming run to touch down in the corner following some excellent forward play led by Jacob and Jordan.
Bury continued to force the pace, putting the Aspull line under continued pressure through a combination of excellent passing and aggressive forward play. Hit of the match goes to Skippy for his tackle on the Aspull tight head,(I think it was No 3), but remember Skippy that spear tackles are not allowed.
Further tries from Skippy,(2) both converted, and Tom Gomez,(a typical mazy run at pace that had the Aspull defence in knots), not converted, ensured the first half belonged to Bury.
Game 2 - Orrell 5 – Bury 14
The teams changed ends and Aspull became Orrell,(the Aspull blue now becoming Orrell black and gold – twice the laundry bill but you can’t put a price on diplomacy).
The second half saw Bury put under more pressure from an Orrell side boosted by some fresh legs, however it was Bury who were to score first with Euan showing a clean pair of heels to the Orrell defence. Try converted.
For large parts of the half the game was evenly matched with some excellent rugby on show from both sides. The next score went to Bury when Skippy went over for his hat trick of tries and with the subsequent conversion, the lads had a deserved 14 point lead.
Orrell scored a deserved try with the last play of the game,(unconverted), to give the score a more balanced reflection of what had gone before.
All round this was an excellent display from the lads, many who were playing in positions new to them and long may it continue.
I would also like to take this opportunity to commend the lads from Aspull and Orrell who were playing together for the first time. Not once did I hear a dissenting voice, heads dropping or trying to put the blame on anybody for a mistake. There is certainly plenty to work with and I look forward to the return game in March.
Forwards MoM – Jordan Taylor
Backs MoM – Thomas Rowe

WELL DONE LADS