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Ricky (virtually) scores again as Fleet notch their 1st Win!

Ricky (virtually) scores again as Fleet notch their 1st Win!

Vaughan Evans31 Jan 2021 - 20:39

The second week of the ADM’s Virtual Rugby League with scores for each team based on points from past January fixtures.

Apologies to Garstang for a very Fleetwood centric report that stretches anyone’s credibility.
Just over 25 years ago Garstang RUFC was formed and a few Fleetwood stalwarts were among those founder members. Old Viagran himself, Bobby Johnson, Mike McGowan who eventually found his best position at Garstang, bartender, and Graham Wilding who was always handy fixing damaged teeth were all on hand to welcome former team mates who were following the green and golds.
It was also good to see Garstang’s Head Coach Ainsley Pye on the touchline minus the normal 6 rolls of tape holding his knees and ankles together. Ainsley had a long and distinguished career at Fleetwood before moving on to assist Garstang in their move up the leagues.
Typical January weather meant a howling gale blowing diagonally across the pitch with heavy squally rain making the pitch very boggy. A 3pm high tide meant that a careful watch on the height of the river was also required as Garstang know to their cost.
Garstang won the toss and chose to play with the elements. Both packs were well matched and the close quarter battle was one where no quarter was asked or given. Garstang used the wind to gain territory and Fleetwood were penned in their half for long periods of the game. Captain Mike Kelly led his pack well and against the run of play Fleetwood took the lead through James Lilley following a trademark pick and go through a maul 15 metres out. The conversion was missed. Garstang dusted themselves down and started to take a stranglehold on the game. Their 10 used the wind effectively to pin Fleetwood onto their own line and twice in a few minutes scored from short range out wide to take a 10-5 lead. As the half time whistle was due a great break by the dangerous Fleetwood backs was snuffed out by an interception by the Garstang winger who scored under the posts for a converted try to give the home side a 17-5 half time lead.

Coach Dan Orwin gave the Fleetwood team an Alex Ferguson “hair drier” team talk. This seemed to work as they improved dramatically in the second half. Tactically Fleetwood’s half backs turned the screw with some judicious box kicking from scrum half James Doherty and long raking kicks for position from Tom Evans meant that Fleetwood took a stranglehold on the game. The pack began to dominate and after pressure on the Garstang line George Orry and then Mike Kelly forced their way over the line. Tom Evans converted the Kelly try with an excellent kick into the wind. 17 all with 15 minutes to go.
The last 15 minutes saw Fleetwood camped on the Garstang line but resolute defence kept them at bay. Garstang were heroically putting their bodies on the line denying Fleetwood both the win and a bonus point. A great move by Fleetwood that saw the ball go through numerous phases was eventually finished off by Ricky Newton as Garstang eventually ran out of defenders. As the referee was going to blow for full time as soon as the kick was taken Tom Evans sportingly allowed Ricky to take the conversion from under the posts. This was because Ricky had been telling the team how good a kicker he is. From 15 metres out in front of the posts he managed to hit the crossbar and the ball bounced back at him!
The Fleetwood team and supporters celebrated their bonus point win but Garstang can feel aggrieved to have only come out of the game with a losing bonus point.

Bobby Johnson lead the after match sing song and beer drinking races with Mike McGowan trying very hard to keep up, pulling pints as fast as he can.

We look forward to the reverse fixture in a few weeks time when we expect another tough game.

Virtual match report by Steve Doherty

Further reading