Northern Division – South Lancs & Cheshire Division 2

Liverpool Collegiate 29

Oswestry 7

The Eagles run of poor form continued as they were beaten on the road by high-flying Collegiate at Liverpool Cricket Club on Saturday.

Oswestry went toe-to-toe with their hosts for the first 20 minutes but eventually buckled when when from a line-out, they broke through to score a converted try to make it 7-0.

Both sides exchanged kicks after the re-start from the try before Oswestry conceded a penalty after enormous pressure from the home side's forwards and it was converted to make it 10-0.

Oswestry heads didn't drop as they continued to fight hard for a way back into the clash with Luca Owen-Youens almost getting on the end of his own kick but the ball ran out over Liverpool's back line.

But Liverpool scored from the scrum that followed the 22 drop out as their pacey backs produced overlapping runs to score a converted try to make it 17-0 at half-time.

Coach Kevin Whitehead spoke to his players trying to give advice to them to combat the Liverpool tactics and to take the errors out of the Oswestry game.

After half time Oswestry were now playing downhill and received the Liverpool kick-off. Finton Grogan took the ball and returned it making touch to the edge of the Liverpool 22.

The Liverpool number 4 who appeared to be the only catcher in the line for Liverpool caught the ball and was immediately tackled by Nick Clay and the referee awarded Oswestry a penalty.

Grogan kicked the ball into touch just 10 yards from the Liverpool try line. The heavy tackling continued and Hugh Adams received a head injury and eventually had to leave the field when he received a second knock moments later.

Liverpool's physicality paid off when they made it 22-0 with an unconverted try after they moved the ball quickly from a scrum, proving to be too fast for Oswestry to score.

The Eagles continued to fight with much reward and while they put pressure on the home side, too many penalties were given away, helping to give Liverpool relief and they eventually grabbed their fourth try, sealing a bonus point too.

The home number four, who had been a star performer all day, was pushed over the line by his teammates to make it 29-0 with a conversion.

However, there was relief for Oswestry as Luca Owen-Youens – one of the more consistent performers for the Eagles _ spotted a gap to run over and Grogan converted to make it 29-7.

On Saturday, Oswestry host Oldershaw at GranvillePark for 2.15pm. The 2nd XV travel to Sandbach Thirds for the same time.