'PORT IN A STORM

Mike Smith reports as Broughton Park blow Southport away on the day with a powerful and mature performance to be admired.

Southport suffered their first league defeat at Waterloo Rd for more than twelve months last Saturday at the hands of second placed Broughton Park. The home side strove all afternoon however ultimately the well organised visitors proved too strong and were worthy winners.

Broughton Park took the lead early on with a break down the left wing drawing the Southport defence wide, before good support saw the Park blindside flanker in space and across the line. A second try soon followed, after a fly hack through was backed up in support, with Broughton winning the foot chase to the try line. And Southport’s task was made harder on 15 minutes when scrum half Dan Whalen was yellow carded for pulling a player back. Broughton immediately capitalised when from an attacking scrum on the right they fed the ball wide, finding the left winger as the extra man free to score in the corner.

Despite being a player down, Southport then began to play some attacking rugby and threatened, with runs from Dylan Norbury and Tom Hill, and Danny Banks looking to break the line. However, Broughton were well drilled at the rucks in defence and fanned out to neutralise any attacking threat. And with the ball in hands, Broughton dictated both territory and possession, and added a fourth try after some slick hands were finished off by the Park full back, well converted from the touchline. Half time: Southport 0 Broughton Park 26.

Southport began the second half with more purpose, but despite some good possession in the Broughton Park 22, the home side were never able to cross the whitewash and ignite hopes of a comeback, with the away defence holding stout. And to crush any prospects, Broughton Park score two more tries, the first a scrappy try, the second well finished in the corner. To their credit, Southport continued the fight to the last, playing their best rugby of the afternoon, and were duly rewarded with a consolation try in the final play of the match, after a great break by a determined Gareth Lang provided an opportunity for the tireless Colin Fearns to crash over the line and ground the ball.

So, Southport were second best in this contest, outplayed by a well-structured Broughton Park outfit. With some challenging matches ahead in the coming weeks, Southport must now regroup, reflect on their performance and rekindle their drive forward. Final score: Southport 7 Broughton Park 38.

The Thirds also came way empty handed 'over the wall' but put up a resololute fight in narrowly losing 0-12 to Penrith 2s. Otherwise it was happy days as the Seconds retained top spot with a fantastic 22-17 victory at Sedgley Park 3s. On Sunday the Ladies chalked up another score in winning 48-0 win at Workington, bettered by one point by the u17 Colts winning their fifth game in a row this time 54-5 at Sandbach. but even this was put in the shade by the u18 Girls who won 78-0 against Manchester/Ellesmere Port. Well done al!