Oswestry First XV 17

Orrell First XV 22

Oswestry Firsts welcomed Orrell to Granville Park, the visitors full of confidence as one of the remaining undefeated sides this season.

The weather made it a difficult afternoon for both sides with the conditions meaning the pitch was cut up easily.

Oswestry were hoping to kick-start their season by bringing in a number of players making their debut for the first team this season James Booth, Tom Worthington, Jake Hunt, Rosco Jacobs and Michael Mhute.

A competitive start saw both sides kicking well and making ground back and forth.

The game was very tight as both teams could not make the breakthrough but after 13 minutes of play Iwan Ellis ran onto a ball kicking it further and closer to the Orrell try line.

After running over 35 yards, Ellis was able to out-sprint the visitors’ full back to dive over and touch the ball down to score a wonderful solo effort.

James Roberts stood up and made a good conversion from a difficult angle to make the score 7 points to 0.

Orrell from the restart were quick to go back up the pitch but the Oswestry defence was very strong.

The visitors kept coming forward but were pushed back by a well-organised defence that displayed some great tackling.

After a good performance in the opening 25 minutes, Jacobs had to retire with a leg injury and was replaced by Ed Evans.

Orrell got their first try nine minutes later after some very physical play.

They were rewarded for their efforts, scoring a try in the corner after a good piece of play taking them over the try-line.

They were unable to convert the try, meaning Oswestry stayed in the lead with the score at 7-5.

Just before the restart Oswestry suffered another blow with Ellis leaving the field with a shoulder injury.

He was replaced by Deian Lloyd Hughes.

Good teamwork between the pack and backs got Oswestry back up the pitch ever closer to the Orrell line.

This pressure Oswestry inflicted on the visitors paid off with a penalty in a kickable position.

Roberts directed his kick over the posts to extend his team’s lead to 10-5, giving Oswestry the lead going into the break.

The Eagles took to the field for the second half hoping to continue in a similar vein of form and had a chance to add to their score early on when they were awarded a penalty.

This time they were unable to put the ball between the posts and were left to rue their missed opportunity when Orwell grabbed their second try just moments later.

They were unable to convert their try so the scores were level with the sides at 10-10.

Jack Charmley retired with a back injury and was replaced by Adam Beattie.

Orrell kept pushing good tackling from Beattie, Mike Davies, Booth and Fabrizio Gaito managed to keep the Orrell men out.

After 15 minutes Worthington also retired with a back problem and was replaced by Michael Keaveny.

The referee gave Orrell a penalty after 23 minutes not before giving Lloyd Hughes a yellow card for an infringement.

The visitors were quick to capitalise on the advantage and score a try which they were able to convert, making the score 10-17.

Orrell continued to press and just before the end of the 10 minutes of sin bin for Lloyd Hughes they scored another try in the corner, extending their lead to 10 to 22.

Once up to full strength with Lloyd Hughes back on the field, Oswestry were able to go back on the attack.

The referee awarded Oswestry a penalty try which brought the score back to 17 points to 22.

Oswestry tried to get back up the pitch to score as they were just one try behind, but they were unable to break through a resilient back line and the score stayed at 22-17 to the visitors.

A spokesperson for the team said: “We can take heart in our performance today.

“We were up against a very well drilled team who are having a good season.”

Oswestry return to action on Saturday, October 27 when they face an away trip to Marple.