Rugby Union

Lytham 7-15 Garstang

The game was played in near perfect conditions on Fylde’s first team pitch in front of a healthy crowd, swollen by a strong contingent of loyal Garstang supporters.

The game started off at a frenetic pace with both sides turning over ball, sometimes using borderline tactics.  Once the initial frenzy settled down Garstang got some sort of control and after some penetrating runs from Luke Ford, Rob Parkinson and Ben Greenwood they were within site of the line. 

The ball was recycled when the Garstang team were nearly over the line but sloppy control led to the chance being wasted.

However, from the resultant line out, won by Lee Acton, Garstang drove the ball towards the line.  It was taken back in by Ben Greenwood before being released out wide.  Slick hands by Luke Ford and Nick Kenyon got the ball to Ben Whittingham who ran over in the corner.  Matt Duckworth took the conversion but it slid wide (0-5).

Lytham came roaring back at Garstang and some scintillating running in midfield was giving the Garstang team some difficulty.  However, some outstanding defence, particularly from Rob Parkinson and the centre pairing of Nick Kenyon and Allan Whitaker, kept them at bay.

With 25 minutes gone ill discipline by Garstang saw them concede a penalty under the posts.  Paul Brown, who was having a commanding game, got a stern talking to by the referee before Lytham elected to go for goal.  The kick sailed over the top of the left hand post and was initially awarded by the touch judges, but the referee over-ruled so the score remained at 5-0 to the visitors.

With half time looming Garstang were starting to get frustrated with the referee’s interpretation of the laws at the ruck area, and this eventually boiled over.  With a Lytham man lying all over the ball Rob Parkinson attempted to remove him using his feet.  The referee said that he was stamping and not rucking and sent him to the sin bin for 10 minutes.
Being down to 10 men galvanised Garstang and they came roaring back at Lytham.  They got a penalty which they kicked for the corner, from the resultant line out they drove to the try line and went over.  The referee deemed that the ball had not been grounded and awarded Garstang a scrum five metres out.  From the scrum Lytham infringed and Garstang got a penalty, again they went for the scrum and again Lytham infringed.  At this point the referee said that half time was up so Garstang elected to kick for goal, unfortunately the kick went just wide. At half time Garstang replaced the excellent Luke Ford with Keith Yates.

The second half kicked off and Garstang looked as if they were still having a rest.  Lytham came at them in waves and put serious pressure on the Garstang try line.  Garstang eventually cleared their lines but they lost the ball in midfield.  Lytham made an incisive break and their talented fly half went over under the posts.  The conversion was successful (7-5).

By now Garstang had Rob Parkinson back on the pitch and Jimmy Richardson replaced James Ferguson, who had been as dynamic as ever.

With the changes Garstang started to lose their line out dominance and Lytham were able to pressure in this area.  However at the scrummage and breakdown they were dominant and they were able to translate this into territorial advantage with Matt Duckworth making some big kicks down field.

From this advantage Garstang forced another penalty under the posts which Matt Duckworth comfortably slotted over  to regain the lead.

Garstang came straight back from the kick off with Jimmy Richardson making a run through the midfield.  The ball was recycled and passed to Mark Gorst who nearly went over in the corner.  From the following scrum Garstang drove and Rob Parkinson picked up and dived over the line to place the ball down.  Incredibly the referee disallowed the try claiming that he had been held up.  This incensed Rob Parkinson and on the next scrum justice was done as he drove over to score a near replica try, this time there was no doubt it was a score.  Matt Duckworth confidently slotted the extras to open up an eight point gap.

With ten minutes remaining Max Everest was withdrawn and replaced by Gareth Pullen.
The final minutes of the game were frantic and Lytham posed threats every time they had the ball, but the Garstang defence had all the answers and they were able to hold out and secure a hard fought win.

It was a great game between two sides who, if they play to that standard consistently, should both be challenging for promotion to North Lancs One next season.