South Lancs & Cheshire Division 2

Oswestry 68-0 Vagabonds IOM

Oswestry thrashed their Isle of Man visitors on Saturday in a game played during unusual circumstances of 11 against 10 with Vagabonds struck down by food poisoning.

It meant that the game was only 20 minutes each way in tricky conditions following the heavy rain that fell in previous days.

Oswestry kicked off the game and Guy Roberts was quick onto the Vagabonds player who caught the ball forcing the ball to go loose. The ball got to Luca Owen Youens who was making his return after injury and with his pace managed to score his first try. Finton Grogan converted to make it 7-0.

The Eagles extended their lead after Nick Clay caught the ball from the Vagabonds restart passing it to Grogan, with the ball eventually finding a Vagabonds; however, Tom Henry Jones who was able to use his strength and speed to rip the ball off the player and run in a good try, which Grogan converted for 14-0.

Luca Owen Youens scored again after using his pace and strength to drive into the visitors' half and score his second try under the posts as Grogan converted for 21-0.

Grogan stepped up with his pace after a kick behind the Vagabonds line to score and he converted his own try to make it 28-0 before Jordan Tsang scored his first try for the season, which Grogan again converted for 35-0.

Nikola Nikolov came off with an injury to be replaced by Fabrizio Gaito. From the restart Scott Smith got the ball from the half way line and showed his pace to run all the way to score a try. Grogan continued to kick successfully moving the score to 42-0.

After a series of stops and starts, including Jones coming off while a Vagabond player was treated, Luca Owen Youens scored his third try of the afternoon, with Grogan converting for 49-0.

Dan Smart came on to replace Connor Blair and the Vagabonds player returned to play with Jones returning to the game. From the restart Smart took the ball going on a run passing the ball to Luca Owen Youens to score and Grogan converted for 56-0.

Luca Owen Youens left the game to make room for Louis Mackenzie.

Vagabonds did not give up but the strong Oswestry pack were able to get turn over ball and Gaitio was able to clear the ball to touch close to the halfway line. From the subsequent line out a scrum was awarded to Oswestry, Jones finished a good manoeuvre to score his second try of the afternoon. Unfortunately, Grogan was unable to keep his record with the boot and the score went to 61-0.

Vagabonds continued to try and get into the Oswestry half but the defence proved too strong and Oswestry were quick to return to the visitors half and from over 20 yards out Liam Williams was able to run in a try. Grogan finished a fine afternoon with the boot to score his final conversion bringing the score to 68-0.

Oswestry put in a good performance and remain in 10th place just behind Congleton, who they face next week. Man of the match was Nick Clay.