Eighteen points separated UCLan and Liverpool John Moore University today, as their Rugby League Men’s 1st teams did battle.
Despite taking an 8-0 advantage into the interval, UCLan were outclassed by the John Moore side, with a number of fine moves and counter attacking rugby slicing through the UCLan defence.
Central Lancashire started the brighter of the teams, showing real intent from the offset. In the opening twenty minutes, Liverpool failed to get a foothold on the game, and UCLan found themselves in a number of promising positions.
Despite UCLan playing a league above themselves after promotion last season, it was Liverpool, who seemed out of place, subject to a master class in strong defence and fast passing, the only thing letting them down was the final ball.
The first real opportunity of the game fell to UCLan who had far superior possession. After a sloppy knock on by Liverpool’s full back, UCLan strung together a number of delightful passes teasing the opposition back line; a forward pass ended all hopes abruptly, however.
Liverpool were struggling by this point and had only managed to venture into the UCLan half once, chasing the ball from kick-off.
An inspired piece of play by Paul Lowrey almost brought the first try of the game, as he dropped his shoulder bamboozling the Liverpool stand-off, sending Matthew Lees over the line for what everyone, except the referee, thought was the first try of the game. Just seconds after the disallowed try, Lowrey finally got his reward, as he kicked a penalty home, after a knock on.
This gave UCLan a new breath of confidence and after some more excellent build up play, the first try was scored. The ball was kicked high into the sky, for Dean Jolly to collect and slam to the ground for a much deserved try; with Paul Lowrey converting the kick.
Some good battling from Liam Gilchrist almost gave UCLan a second try right on the stroke of halftime.
Liverpool came out a different team, putting UCLan onto the back foot; and after a spell of good pressure and efficient use of the ball, had points on the board. Greg Mannion scored a well worked try and then kicked home successfully to give his team six points.
Another Mannion try followed shortly after as Liverpool took the game to UCLan, as some more good work on the right side paid dividends and the prop went down right between the sticks unopposed for his second try of the day, and followed it with an easy goal kick.
UCLan’s Jonathan Peel was dominating in the middle of the field and the game seemed to change dramatically upon his removal.
A third try without reply sealed the win for Liverpool, as the UCLan defence was exposed. Antony Warburton scored the try for the visitors, and the game seemed pretty much a foregone conclusion.
Despite playing the final twenty minutes one man down due to a blood bin injury, Liverpool cruised to victory, with Mannion scoring one more try to add to his earlier two, converting the kick. He also scored a penalty kick in the dying minutes to complete the turnaround in comfortable fashion.
UCLan Captain Tom Atherton was naturally disappointed, but paid tribute to the lads: “We worked really hard in the first half, but in the second we just needed to keep going. The lads did well, and it’s a learning curve for all of us,” he said.
The game finished UCLan 8, LJMU 26.
The next challenge for the UCLan team is an away trip to Newcastle on Wednesday 22nd October.