South Lancashire/Cheshire League Two
Wallasey 1sts 0, Oswestry 1sts 8
AFTER last week’s effort against league leaders Sefton, Oswestry travelled to Wallasey full of confidence that they could break their losing streak with a side that had the perfect match of youth and experience.
On a wet pitch Oswestry soon had the Wallasey defence pinned down, resulting in a penalty being awarded in front of the post. Chris Crutchley stepped up to slot it over for three points.
With the Oswestry backs now on fire it looked as if Wallasey could be out of the game by half time. Unfortunately, Oswestry did not capitalise on their possession and a period of non-productive rugby by both sides saw the game becoming a stalemate.
The pace lifted again when Dale Johnston-Downs entered the game with Oswestry running the Wallasey defence once more and Andy Smith in the thick of it making good yardage only to be stopped just short of the line.
Oswestry started the second half as they finished the first, with Dan Williams controlling the breakdown and Luca Owen-Yueons again using his boot to pin back the Wallasey defence.
Jamie Luckett and Johnston-Downs chased every ball as Wallasey reverted to kicking away most of their possession allowing the back three of Crutchley and the Hughes brothers to run the ball back at them.
Wallasey defended well as Oswestry pressed for a try and were it not for fumbles the visitors could have been well in front when a good counter break by the Wallasey wing opened up the game, forcing a try-saving tackle by Phil Dury.
Oswestry were spurred into action by nearly falling behind and stepped up the tempo with Gareth Hughes going over the line to score an unconverted try.
A late spur from Wallasey saw Oswestry defending like demons for the last ten minutes of the game, led by man of the match Dan Williams to round off a good performance.