Rugby Union: Waterloo 23, Manchester 19

Sep 17 2007 by Ian Hargraves, Liverpool Daily Post

A NEW-LOOK Waterloo team, including only a handful of last season’s members, got their new campaign off to a useful start on Saturday, surviving a late comeback to win by four points.

Initially, they looked much the better team, playing with imagination and pace to establish a 17-point lead, but then seemed to lose their way.

The visitors came back into the contest with a vengeance, starting to win more of the ball and frequently catching the home side off balance.

On two occasions, a penalty brought them within a single point, and it took a fine break by flanker Matt Bradley to ease Waterloo home. He was illegally prevented from scoring a last-minute try but did earn a penalty. Alex Davies converted and that enabled Waterloo to claim the victory they just about deserved.

Waterloo looked very useful early on, winning good ball, and producing several imaginative movements.

Their defence remained pretty solid, but the backs tried a bit too much, with their forwards seemingly not too sure just what was wanted.

However, there did look to be plenty of potential and when new coach Chris O’Callaghan has had the chance to iron things out, they could become a useful team.

Things certainly went well early on. After 13 minutes a lovely break by former Sedgeley centre Jason Duffy enabled winger Dan Loader to score a try that Davies converted. Davies followed up with a straightforward penalty and then converted another try, scored with a sudden break by flanker Bradley.

Manchester winger Gareth Wynne replied with two fine penalties before the interval, and then converted a try between the posts by powerful lock Paul Ralph to bring his side within four points of Waterloo midway through the second half.

The visitors were looking much stronger, partly because Waterloo seemed to have forgotten their previous formula, and another Wynne goal brought them within a single point.

Davies did restore the four point lead, before Wynne hit back yet again from long range. With time running out, excellent flanker Bradley broke away for what should have been a try, but referee Richard Parker-Sedgmore awarded a penalty instead, that Davies happily improved.

Waterloo Ladies completed a club double by winning their first match of the season by 19-7, away to Lakenham Hewitt, a club based close to Norwich in Norfolk.

Winger Jodie Silver scored the opening try in the first half, which was converted by Caroline Royle, and two more came in the second from sub Leni Smith, playing in the centre, and Lisa Williamson, a back rower who ran more than 50 yards, and saw it also converted.

Waterloo host Leeds team, Leo’s, next Sunday.