Ormskirk RUFC destroyed visitors Vagabonds at Green Lane on Saturday

Apr 2 2009 by Our Correspondent, Ormskirk Advertiser

ORMSKIRK stormed to a 74-17 victory over Vagabonds at Green Lane on Saturday.

Four tries from Andy Wroe, two for Luke Parker and 19 points from John Armstrong, including a try and seven conversions, handed the Isle of Man side their worst defeat of the season.

The home side ran in 12 tries in what became a one sided affair although the game was in the balance with the score 33-14 at half time. Skipper Cliff Kirby, John Curley, Andy Wilson, Ray Doolan and Paul Rowley also crossed the line.

Ormskirk got off to a flying start scoring three tries in the first ten minutes. With Armstrong throwing the ball out wide to pull Vagabonds' big pack around the park, wingers Wroe and Parker saw a lot of the ball.

The two wingers both scored twice in the first half although Vagabonds responded to being 33-0 down with two tries of their own. An impressive break from full-back Simon Heggs set up Michael Oates for the second of the scores.

But the away side's spirited resistance ended in the second half as the match became a procession of Ormskirk tries. Doolan was a constant threat through the middle, creating space for the men outside him by drawing several tacklers each time he touched the ball.

The highlight of the half came in a length of the pitch move which ended with Paul Rowley crashing his way over in the corner. The prop captured his first try of the season by jinking his way past one defender after receiving a wide pass from Armstrong.

Wroe completed his second successive hat-trick with some impressive support play. Doolan made a break through the middle and passed to Cliff Kirby in support, the skipper then drew the full-back and gave the ball to Wroe who had a 40 metre sprint to the line.

In the final ten minutes, Wroe scored his fourth and replacement wing Pete Wright also came close to scoring his first of the season.

The win moves Ormskirk into joint fifth place in South Lancs Cheshire One, level on points with Bowden, who are Kirk's final league opponents in three weeks time.

The 2nd XV lost to Rossendale 25-16 despite a Ben McCarthy try. The 3rd XV lost 35-8 to Southports 2nd's but the 4th XV recorded an excellent 48-27 win over Wigan 3rd's. Alex Martland with tries and Jack Calvery and Jake Hodson with two tries were the main contributors.

The 1st and 2nd XV have no league fixture this weekend.