For many years the cliché “it’s a game of two halves” has been spouted by many a TV football pundit. The Newcastle V Arsenal 4-4 in 2011 and the Tottenham V Man Utd 5-3 win for Utd when spurs were leading 3-0 at half time and Alex Ferguson famously said at half time “next goal wins”, springs to mind. That saying is maybe supposed to mean, we were awful in the first half but brilliant in the second or vice versa. In this game it was most definitely a game of two halves, one for executing the game plan and one for some great defence. I’m not actually obsessed with winning yet, I am however obsessed with everyone doing their jobs and doing what they have to do at that particular moment in the game, the results will take care of themselves, but if you don’t perform in those moments and do your job, then for me you can forget about winning, especially in rugby, its all about winning moments in the game. Today everyone did their jobs, in attack in the first half and defence in the second.

Well, we hadn’t started very well in the last 2 games so why should we change eh, as we kicked off and the ball was knocked on by us after just 1 minute, nothing was seemingly going to change. Southport, as we had spoken about before the game were always going to go wide as much as possible. From that scrum they did just that and the very quick and agile number 11 danced passed our defence that for some reason decided not to slide, something we had worked on many times. So, with 6 minutes gone we were 7-0 down. Then everything we had been doing in training for months suddenly the lads put into action. A good run from Marcus O’Donohoe 10 minutes in sent us deep into the Southport half, Hamish Rendall who always takes us forward, busted through two tackles and Kev Rothwell who had already supported Hamish in his run, took the ball on and smashed over for a well earned try after his hard work, totally deserved. The conversion was missed but we were looking good even though we were 5-7 down. All the hard work everyone has put in to training since I’ve coached Chorley, all came off in the next try. For months we have worked on things, in the next 35 minutes it was there for us all to see, especially with this next try.

We had talked and worked on isolating certain players, moving certain parts of the opposition around to where we want them and then attacking certain parts of the field (I’m not telling you everything, someone may be listening). Ellery Hodson had Connor parsons steam on to a ball which was then passed out by the ever influential, Sam Norris. Matt Lago then took us forward, Hamish Rendall again move us forward exactly how we had trained, then on cue Dom Anderson made the run that sets us off, quick ball was given to Sam who span the ball to Hodson, Rik Wareing gave a great pass wide to Ryan Berry , who drew his man to then send in Jake Peake who finished brilliantly, beating the desperately defending fullback, a great team try that nearly had me running on the pitch celebrating, instead I just hugged Simon Crangle. Again, the conversion was missed, 10-7. Minutes later and after Southport applying good pressure, Ellery Hodson got the ball after great work from Logan Singleton and Matt Lago, Ellery put in a huge kick which sent the fullback running towards his own posts. A good chase from Ryan Berry, Geoff Fielden and Ellery himself, pushed the fullback near to his own 10 metre line. Just as they managed to look like they could clear their lines, Kev Rothwell did a great job of jackling the ball and won us a penalty. though we came away with nothing from it, we had done again what we talk about in training, transferring pressure, it had worked nearly perfectly. Southport were now in the ascendency and were applying pressure, two consecutive penalties took them, 30 metres from our line. Matt Lago, who again never stopped working, threw himself into a ruck and brilliantly jackled the ball. That was passed out to Ellery Hodson, Rik Wareing again put in a great pass to Ryan Berry, who beat two defenders, was tackled by the full back. Jake Peake got into to recycle the ball yet again and the cavalry arrived to take us forward, with Kev Rothwell, who was having a great game, took a pick and go that sent him crashing over, to make it 15-7. With ten to go and us now under pressure with the ball, we thankfully won a penalty and Ellery again put in a good kick to send us to the halfway line. From the lineout and a crash ball from Logan Singleton and Kev Rothwell, Rik Wareing was again involved and he span it wide to Sean Livingstone who stepped the defender and put in a great pass to Marcus O’Donohoe, who crashed onto the ball and just managed to reach over for another good team try to the left of the uprights, Rik Wareing converted to make it 22-7. Minutes later the half time whistle went and the message was clear, win your moments, intensity in defence and composed in attack.

From the kick off Southport applied pressure, Matt Lago again won us a penalty but touch was missed with the kick and Southport were 25 metres from our line. Southport made a good break up the middle with a great run from the centre who was playing really well, he fed the 11 again and they scored, with the conversion successful it was now 22-14 and only 5 minutes had gone in the second half. It was now all Southport and when we did get the ball, we just couldn’t keep it or made the wrong decisions, which was the complete opposite of the first half. Southport again pressed forward looking to exploit any weakness in our defence but they just couldn’t break us down. Just as they looked to finally break our defence with the number 11 again making a good run, the number 12 looked to be gliding into the corner, Marcus O’Donohoe, Dion Matson and Matt Lago sprinted across in desperation and all 3 of them bull dozed him into touch, brilliant defence showing how we are willing to put everything on the line to defend our line, we celebrated it like a try.

We were now totally unable to function in attack, when we did get the ball, we totally made the wrong decisions and seemed a very different team from the first half. In the first 25 minutes of the second half, we managed once, to enter the Southport half. From a lineout on the half way line, Southport stole our throw and looked to pound the forwards straight up the middle. Our defence though as I said does not lay down for anyone, great tackles from Matt Lago, Logan Singleton, Hamish Rendell and Ellery Hodson stemmed the attack.

Rik Wareing and Sam Norris made two big hits from consecutive rucks and Southport seemed to tiring, were as we seemed to be actually enjoying tackling. With 10 minutes left Southport again looked to threaten and as the ball was span wide through the backs, Ellery Hodson anticipated the long pass and took a chance to intercept, he managed to just get a hand to it, juggled it but just managed to keep possession. Ellery sprinted from our 25 meter line and looked to go the full length of the field, but the winger sprinted across and Ellery was caught 30 metres from the Southport try line. The referee from that ruck decided to give Southport a penalty, this was a shame as it was a great effort from Ellery and only the second time, we had entered the Southport half. With seconds to go and the referee calling last play from a Southport scrum and the scores at 22-14, Southport took a chance and went blind and our defence for the first time looked tired and stretched and they scored 10 metres from the touch line. The conversion was missed and the referee blew up for what was definitely a game of two halves that showed what we are working on works. I would rather have not watched us defend for 35 minutes though. But the lads were absolutely brilliant, nobody gave up and they put everything (as usual) in to keeping Southport out.

Matt Lago was immense in attack and especially defence, that actually showed by Southport naming him their man of the match. Logan Singleton again had a strong game and is improving all the time. Rik Wareing made some textbook passes and Ellery Hodson and Sam Norris had very strong games.

Hamish Rendall was his usual powerhouse self and Kev Rothwell, who scored two tries, was a constant annoyance to Southport and had one of his best games of the season.

The man of the match though, chosen by supporters, players, coaches and the match day team was Kev Rothwell. He led when we were playing well in the first half and was always organising and put in some great runs and tackles. In the second half he put in an inspired performance with his leadership and his defensive intensity.

Thank you everyone for coming, it was a big crowd and you definitely pushed the lads on.

Craney