The cancellation of Culcheth U13 Blacks Midweek fixture with Isolation taking its toll on the planned opposition. Ashton Bears were up for a mid-week friendly in the sunshine at Shaw Street.

Following their exciting league fixture on the 6th of June, Ashton running out 44-36 winners it promised to be another blockbuster.

Culcheth opted to kick off on the sun-drenched Shaw Street pitch. However, it seemed that The Blacks were still in the starting blocks. The deep kick off should have been a good start to territory however it led to Ashton taking the ball on the full and stepping their way through some lacklustre defence to race 60m, opening the scoring after only 50 seconds. The Bears successfully converting and putting themselves 6-0 to the good.

This seemed to fire up Culcheth who became more dogged in defence. It was easily their best display without ball in hand so far this season and they were equally as committed and inventive when in attack. What was evident was the progress and bringing to into the game some of the training approach and plays, all being deployed effectively. The ‘Pepper’ set added plenty of spice and yardage, it was with that set play that formed the basis of their first points on the board. On the 4th tackle Oli followed the pepper set and raced into acting half, took a scoot our wide and his pace left plenty in his wake, finishing off a fine move from 40m out neatly into the corner. Oscar narrowly putting the conversion wide.

Again, Culcheth dominating the middle of the park with excellent runs from Jack and Callum putting the Blacks on the front foot, Alfie chimed in from the wing and took the ball wide right meant the Eagles were only 10m from the try-line. A quick play of the ball 15m in from touch saw Archie Bowman who was sharing the hooking duties with Cam Smith take a short sided run, diving into the corner for another 4 points. Oscar on his weaker side, cooly slotting the extras over from out wide, meaning Culcheth were now 10-6 to the good.

Culcheth were now really on top, from the resulting kick off James collected the ball and rampaged his way from the 20m line up to the 40m before being halted by a great ball and all tackle by Ashtons No 13. This time a quick scoot from Will, who evaded a number of tacklers set Culcheth up nicely on the 3rd just inside The Bears half. Some slick hands from Sean Benson, who was combative all game moved the ball left to Oscar who in turn who pushed the ball further wide left onto a bursting Oli Franks. Oli looked set to grab his second of the match, but a moment of madness from an Ashton Player who offered nothing other than a blatant leg swipe went unnoticed. It was a moment that would change the next 15 mins. The lack of penalty and an action that clearly rattled the Culcheth boys meant pressure was off. The frustration was evident, the boys had lapses of concentration and coughing up some easy yardage. The result was The Bears scoring two tries in quick succession to swing the tie just before half time at 14-10.

The second half started exactly as the first, with The Eagles kicking straight to Ashtons dangerous number 13, again showed superb upper body strength to bust through a couple of tackles and race away to put some real distance between the two sides, the conversion meaning The Bears were now looking in a commanding position at 20-10.
It could easily have resulted in The Bears turning the screw, but with their backs up against it and words ringing in their ears from the coaching staff about ‘keeping their head in the game’ the Eagles became an impregnable object. The result was a game changing attitude to defending their territory and attacking at pace – the plan that had seen them dominate for most of the first half.

Ryan Walker, Naz Khan, Jack Dolan, Callum Orrell, James Austin, Edward Thorpe, Nathan ‘Pezza’ Perrin all muscled up to protect the pitch and continued to ‘pepper’ the middle which proved to be part of a winning formula. The key was to continue to tire out The Bears strongest weapons in attack and defence in the middle of the park.
With Alfie, Elliot, Oli, DJ and Finley on debut there was a threat of tries on both sides of the pitch.

The pressure continued to mount on The Bears. Again good yardage from the pack provided the platform for the elusive Cam Smith to scoot from dummy half and score out on the right hand side of the pitch in doing so carrying 2 defenders with him. Oscar calm under pressure slotted the extras from wide right. The score had now narrowed to 4 points at 20-16 in Bears Favour. The momentum shift developed a real palpable feeling that the comeback was on.

If ever there was a time to introduce yourself to your team mates and in the most perfect of ways, Finley Harrison found it. Deep in their own half, Cam and Oscar worked the pack through 2 solid drives into the middle of the pitch. Callum grabbed another 10m with a quick dart from dummy half just before a moment of rugby magic. The Blacks were 40m from their own line and with 3 tackles still in the locker opted for what will be described as an act of brilliance, albeit a momentarily giving the coaches a heart attack. Sean took a pass from Oscar and put foot to ball, launching a real ‘Hail-Mary wide right and deep and in doing so turned the full-back around, it looked to be safe for The Bears. The Full-back had a 25m start on the chasing Eagles – but that was quickly eroded by some blistering pace from debutante Finley who despite having a Qtr. of a pitch to make up, outpaced the Full-Back, gathering the ball and racing clear with 15m to go to plonk the ball down under the sticks – a try worthy of a Sky Sports replay he had announced himself in the best way possible, pulling The Eagles level with The Bears at 20-All with the conversion to come.
Oscar stepped up and despite it being bang in front was very aware of its importance – he didn’t let the boys down and slotted it over to put Culcheth 22-20 to the good.

With 4 mins left, it was hold onto your seat as both teams gave it their all to either put distance or gain the advantage. It took some superb effort from Fin, Sean, Oscar and Naz to stop a certain try in the corner with 2 mins to go as the rampaging Bears No 8 dived into the corner, grounding the ball but not before his foot was in touch.

The forwards of Jack, Naz, Ryan, James, Pezza, Ed and Callum just continued to apply pressure and exhaust the Bears strength in attack and defence.

The back-line with Will, Alfie, Oli, DJ, Elliot and Finley showed a real can-do attitude, supporting the forwards when needed but turning their afterburners on leaving every gap exposed

All the graft and flair well-orchestrated by Sean, Oscar, Cam and Archie who just kept their heads up and moved the guy around the pitch and took the ball to the line providing a real threat and asking questions for the full 50 mins.

It was The Eagles night in the end and deservedly so. U13s Blacks boss Lee Chambers: “It was a glimpse of the progress being made by this new group of players, some of which were new to the sport only a few games ago.

“I thought for large parts we were superb and I’m really pleased that the boys showed some real resilience today when it could have easily run away from us.

“Hats off and a big thanks to Ashton Bears, coming to an away game midweek is a real credit to their boys and I think they played their part in a great exhibition of rugby.”

Head Coach Man of the Match went to debutante Finley Harrison. “That’s how you have a debut. He put in a real shift, ran the ball in plenty and didn’t take a backwards step at any point. Defensively solid forming part of that team that stopped a certain try, but to see his blistering pace to race 60m and outpace the FB to score the try to bring us level, well that just oozed class.”

Assistant Coach Man of the Match went to Sean Benson. “He just kept us going all game, great game management and his awareness for the kick and chase for Finley was sensational.”

Sean is sponsored by Peets Ltd

Culcheth Eagles Blacks are kindly sponsored by Elliot Miles Ltd