Their list of former players include Dick Greenwood, Ben Kay, Will Greenwood, Andy Titterell, Nicola Mazzucato, Watcyn Thomas, Kyran Bracken, Austin Healey & Paul Grayson and only serves to highlight the clubs pedigree and so it is of no surprise that today’s game was by no means a walk in the park.
The format of the match was a change to what we have previously been use to this season.
Today’s game was divided into ten minute quarters, rather than two twenty minute halves.
Also the try conversion kicks were omitted which was a pity since this has become a feature of recent games that the boys (and parents) have really enjoyed.

Squad from: Callum, Chris, Dan, Ellis, Finlay, Fintan, Harrison, Jack, Leo, Mathew, Oli, Ryan & Sonny.

Coaches: John, Sean & Rob

Waterloo RUFC v Liverpool Collegiate RUFC
The match kicked off with an icy wind blowing in off the Irish Sea. However the Warriors soon warmed to the occasion and began to show an early dominance of the proceedings.
Callum was showing early signs of his powerful running, our scrums were strong and generally throughout the quarter we had Waterloo on the back-foot.
This dominant display of pressure soon paid off when Fintan went over the line to secure our first try.
It wasn’t long before his partner in crime Jack was over for our second try, securing a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.

First Quarter: Waterloo 0 Liverpool Collegiate RUFC 10 (Scorer: Fintan, Jack)

Ryan replaced Mathew on the pitch at the start of the second quarter. However, the Warriors were dealt a blow early on when our talisman Callum, with a tide of crimson flowing from his nasal orifice, had to leave the field of play with a suspected broken nose.
Cue the return of Mathew as Callum headed off to Alder Hey A&E to get checked out.
The Warriors continued to press and Fintan done exceptionally well to charge down a kick in the opponents half near their 22 metre line and we were unlucky not to capitalise.
After this the tide began to turn and waterloo started to press and put Collegiate under a period of sustained pressure.
During this period it was all hands on deck as the boys defended resolutely but eventually Waterloo made their pressure tell scoring a try right at the end of the quarter.

Second Quarter: Waterloo RUFC 5 Liverpool Collegiate RUFC 10

The previous quarter had seen some persistent pressure from Waterloo and it was impossible not to draw comparisons between the sizes of the forwards on both sides.
The loss of Callum, the largest forward within the Warriors ranks, and taking into account the absence of Finbarr due to illness served to fester a worry, on the line, that Waterloo would force their way back into the match.
This “fear” was only compounded when Leo went to ground clutching his face as the heel of an opposition boot struck his mouth.
With no further substitutes to call upon, the relief amongst the supporters was evident, when Leo signalled his intention to battle on regardless.
Minutes later Leo, who could have so easily left the field of play previously, relieved the pressure and extended our lead with a fine try.
However, the pressure was ratcheted up a few more notches, as Waterloo stormed back to score another try reducing the margin back to 5 points.
It was at this point that Leo gave us all another scare as he was left prone for a second time during this quarter.
Nevertheless and in true Warrior style he got to his feet brushed him-self down and continued to fight for the cause.
I have to say that the first quarter, at this point, seemed a very distant memory.
The boys where now fighting for survival in this match, where previously they had been the dominant force.
So it was with both a joy and a relief to see Jack Lewtas cross the line for his second try of the match regaining our 10 point lead in the process.

Third Quarter: Waterloo RUFC 10 Liverpool Collegiate RUFC 20 (Scorers: Leo, Jack)

The start of the final quarter saw Waterloo apply some early pressure which duly resulted with them scoring a try and reduce the deficit to five points yet again.
This led to an uneasy feeling amongst the spectators that the unthinkable could happen, in that, Waterloo could possibly fashion a result from this match.
Fortunately, the negative thought processes of the Collegiate following, failed to infiltrate the players mindset and they continued to battle and scrap for every square foot of the pitch with a dogged determination not to lose an inch to the opposition.
Victory was sealed, with the wind well and truly sucked out of the Waterloo sails, when two subsequent try’s capped a fine team performance and further added to the season point’s totals of Fintan L and Jack.

Full Time: Waterloo RUFC 15 Liverpool Collegiate 30 (Scorers: Fintan, Jack)

Today’s match was a real hard fought affair and a proper team effort. The squad was down to the bare bones and everyone had to put a shift in to ensure victory.
The shortage of forwards saw Oli & Ellis form a second row behind Mathew, Sonny and Ryan in the scrums.
On paper and after the visual assessment of the opposition scrum pack weight, this combination to all intents and purposes, appeared lightweight to say the least.
However, small in stature these boys maybe but today they showed the strength and determination of giants.
Of particular notice is the recent form of Mathew, who it must be said loves a tackle.
It is worth pointing out that Mathew is one of the most recent additions to the squad but he appears to be finding his feet just lately and is increasingly becoming an integral member of the team.
Chris, Dan, Harrison and Finlay all played a huge role with cross field and probing forward runs and none of them shy of a tackle or two for the cause.
All in all today’s match, the final fixture of 2013, saw a stellar performance from all of the boys who thoroughly deserved their victory.
It was such an emphatic team performance that by the end no individual could be singled out as the days star man.
Therefore the man of the match award, chosen by the parents, was given collectively to the whole team.
The reception with which this award was received by the boys showed not only that the right decision had been made but also emphasised the team spirit and camaraderie evident amongst this band of young Warriors. The day was capped off with the boys enjoying their well deserved Christmas party on a high, where they proceeded to shoot each other with laser guns, before receiving gifts in the form of new club training tracksuits and chocolate.

Happy Christmas boys
Let’s have more of the same in 2014

Ste (Sonny’s Dad)