South Lancs/Cheshire League - Division Two North
Oswestry Eagles 11,
Liverpool Collegiate 20


THE Oswestry Eagles surrendered to their first home defeat of the season as a solitary try from Craig Howell couldn’t salvage a win against Liverpool Collegiate despite the return of brother, Andy, to the Eagles’ back line.

Oswestry failed to hold firm however as Liverpool managed to cross the line three times to boost their own faltering hopes of promotion, while the Eagles remain stuck solidly in mid-table having held on to seventh place despite the defeat.
 

The Eagles’ first foray into Collegiate territory ended when they conceded the first try of the game as an intercepted pass allowed the Liverpool forward to burst through the gap and win the 60-yard race to the Oswestry try line.
 

Oswestry were soon back inside the Collegiate 22 however, winning good second-phase ball as they looked to respond, but the Collegiate defence held out and were rewarded when their outside-half added a further three points with the boot before Chris Crutchley kicked the Eagles onto the scoreboard with a penalty of their own immediately after the restart.
 

Oswestry began the second half by encamping themselves on the Liverpool line and from a scrum on the right Oswestry passed the ball along the line for Howell to score unopposed in the left corner.
 

However, Collegiate immediately reversed the pressure, scoring with a pushover try and when the Eagles were penalised for a deliberate knock-on Liverpool’s quick thinking gave them a third try from a tap penalty which was duly converted.
 

Oswestry travel to third place Dukinfield this Saturday for a 2.15pm kick-off.