Liverpool Uni – 6
NURL – 14
Off the back of a huge home win against Liverpool University earlier in the season, it seemed routine for NURL to take the points in the away fixture. However with numerous first team players missing through either injury or university commitments, only at the last minute did the mighty owls manage to fill the team sheet.
Knowledge of the importance of this game saw NURL set upon Liverpool from the first whistle like a swarm of bees, with “queen bee” Dan Caparros leading the attack. Eventually Liverpool crumbled under the pressure as stand in hooker Jimmy Phillips rounded the fullback to score in the corner.
NURL continued to dominate the first half with lumberjacks Joe Dawson and Rimmer Smith felling the Liverpool willows as they drove the ball in time and time again. It was now the turn of Gaz Herbert in attack to create a platform for the backs to strike, as has been the trend all season. This time it was the skipper Poops McGeezer who smartly gathered an offload and proceeded to trail the flailing defenders over the line.
This saw NURL start the second half with a respectable if not so emphatic 10 – 0 lead. However by this time fatigue was starting to set in as the dubious supply of fresh faced Liverpool “coat hangers” hit the NURL outfit in full force. This was not aided by the inability of the weak stomached Will Winter to take the field due to V and D brought on by a Baguette Express that had accidently been contaminated by some salad.
Despite being on the back foot initially, some hard running and brutal defence by first team debutant Sam Flowers kept the death machines lead intact. Always the predators, the Owls swooped in at a moment of vulnerability in Liverpools play to snatch a try. This time the honours went to top try scorer Harry Baxter, yet again rubbing a pie in the face of fellow winger Dave Chatterton, who despite the humiliation still managed to lick it all off.
This put Newcastle Universitys favourite sons in a position where it was their match to throw away. After conceding a Dave Parker try under the posts, NURL had to show the grit and determination that is required for teams punching it out to win the league. This was evident through the bloody and bruised face of Myles Hudson who used his head as a trip wire to prevent any potential attacks the scouse mongos mounted. Massive Ian McPherson also put in the hard-working performance, racking up 80 minutes in the second row. The regular long, late-night walks from Tiger to Dixy Chicken clearly paying dividends for his fitness.
The score remained the same to the final whistle as wave after wave of pathetic Liverpool trundles came to nothing. Special mention must go to the great efforts of Rob Andrew, Rory Williams and Ryan Fletcher who helped cover for the wounded Owls that had so valiantly put their bodies on the line in previous matches. With this being a trial run for the potential league deciding clash with the less academic but more meat headed team in Liverpool on Saturday, a win was vital to give the death machine the momentum it needs.