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Douglas overpower Ormskirk in opener
CRACKING START: Douglass Mike Hebden launches another attack through the Ormskirk defence at Port-e-Chee on Saturday
DOUGLAS dispatched newly-relegated Ormskirk comfortably in the opening match of the South Lancashire and Cheshire Division Two season at Port-e-Chee on Saturday, grabbing a bonus point for good measure.
Ormskirk actually took the lead four minutes into the game when Douglas’s new signing, Glyn Hooson-Owen, flopped onto a ruck.
Alex Lambie stroked the resulting penalty over the Douglas bar for a 3-0 lead, but from then on it was one-way traffic in the opposite direction.
Douglas opened their account in the 12th minute. A succession of penalties inside the Ormskirk half gave them great field position inside the 22. The crash ball was on and Hooson-Owen’s bulk charged at the line.
The defence shuffled inwards and left space outside for Bryn Snellgrove’s distinctly smaller frame to squeeze home and make it 5-3.
The visitors’ defence held firm almost to half-time, but two minutes before the break the dam burst. Douglas, defending inside their own 22, turned over possession and three Snellgove punts later they were deep in Ormskirk territory.
Snellgrove crashed in short of the line and when the quick ball came it was shipped down the blindside where Scott Goodall finished it off.
From the restart, Douglas established good field position. They secured line out ball and with the backs coming onto the ball at full pace, Ryan Maddox sliced through the defence to make it 15-3 at the interval.
Seven minutes into the second half Douglas secured their try bonus point, from a set-piece score.
The pack secured quick clean scrum ball and, when scrum-half Mark Shortland set his backs free, Mike Hebden blasted through the middle to make it 20-3.
A visibly dispirited Ormskirk failed to kick the ball the required 10 metres from the restart. Douglas elected to play it as it fell and, after Mark McGee harassed the defence, the ball broke free and Niall Lilley was the beneficiary, going over for a try to make the game all but safe.
On the half-hour mark, Ormskirk hit back with what was essentially a consolation try.
Prop, Ryan Purcell, swooped on a loose ball and after brushing off two tackles he fed left wing Joe Hodson who went in under the posts. Lambie converted to make it 27-10.
It was Douglas though who had the final word. Hooson-Owen crashed into the heart of the Ormskirk defence and when the ball was shipped wide, number eight Niall Killey was on hand to bag his second of the day. Skipper Goodall converted to leave the final score 34-10.
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Weather for Isle of Man
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 22 mph
Wind direction: North west
