On a pleasant Autumns' eve at Sefton Park RFU the Mancs faced the Scousers. Walking around the precious 1st XV pitch that would soon be destroyed, MMRUFC began to warm up.

The journey had been long, and the team were quiet but with encouragement from senior players the energy built.
After changing into match shirts (sans the shorts…) ManMed charged onto the pitch, wind in their faces. Then the standoff began [*dramatic pause*]. Neither team would yield the first team-SQUEEZE with it coming down to the minutest of margins. With a blow of the whistle, the match began.

Wearing a counterfeit Liverbird on white, blue and red, LMRUFC kicked to the Mancunians.
Frank, the 7, deftly plucked the ball from the air and surged into the enemy with his team not but a step behind him.

So, the battle began with a few phases back and forth. Unfortunately for Manchester, after an electric start the volume and line speed began to arrest. The structure in defence was there but too much time and space were given to the whites while the reds had men in their faces forcing them to throw shit.

Then disaster occurred for our heroes [*dramatic pause*]. After fighting against the wind to around the halfway line, with pressure from the blitz defence mounting, the ball clattered to the floor in space.

Then, the fly-hacking commenced. With a massive chase from the boys in red, the whites just pipped them to the ball once, twice, then across the line. A mass of whites fell in the left-hand corner with a cheer. Some will say members of ManMed had an opportunity or two to drop on the ball, but this reporter could not tell.
5 – 0

After stern yet electrifying words from their team, (and a failed conversion) the reds met the whites for the reset. After silence punctured by the scream of the whistle [*dramatic pause*], the ball was in the air.

The elements were not kind to the visitors. The wind howled and carried everything in the sky towards the right corner of their tryline. The reset kick was shallower than expected and the whites capitalised, maintaining their intensity. After a few more gruelling phases, against a very stretched defence, LMRUFC found a chink in the Mancs armour. Until now, the guards had been stellar but a missed tackle in their own 22 lead to MMRUFC conceding once again, this time under the posts.
12 – 0

Time and again following the reset, ManMed were pinned back into their back right corner. Any ground made from exits was lost, with the wind guiding the ball back where it started. The scousers, whether running or kicking, were rebuffed by a newfound defiant spirit brewing among the reds and though little ground was made, no ground was lost for many phases.

The pressure began to eat at the whites, with penalties and turnovers aplenty coming to Manchester. Many promising breaks were made but as per the rest of the half, once the ball was in Liverpudlian hands, it was on their boot and in Mancs corner. Round the ruck they came, smashed back by guard after guard, right to left then back.

After 10+ phases on the 5-meter line and some big passes out wide, one final ruck formed back on the left. Defenders were there to meet the attack, but the ball made it over the line in white hands. It was lost in the melee and appeals were heard. “Held up!” Manchester cried, and the referee took his time considering [*dramatic pause*]. “Try allowed” the ref decreed, to protests from the reds. After their heroic efforts it was a disappointment to all who call Factory their home.
19 – 0

The time after the reset continued as before but with more ground gained from MMRUFC. Upon reaching the halfway line and with time running short, a ball held in the ruck gave the whites a penalty in line with the posts. Leigh Halfpenny’s English cousin took a shot at the posts, spooning it across the dead ball line. Deciding to conserve energy, the ball was booted into touch and the whistle blew for half time.
HT

In the huddle, MMRUFC recognised their failings and how they had improved over the half. Line speed in attack and defence was targeted.
Lining up to receive for the first time, ManMed were buoyed by how well they had defended in the second 20 minutes of the first half and the words of wisdom shared at half time. With the wind now seemingly at their backs, Manchester was ready to do what had been done to them.

With LMRUFC’s kick falling shallow and being caught cleanly, the half started well and within a few passes, the ball went from right to left with precision. With a few phases of back and forth in the Liverpool 22, the reds advanced into striking distance of their opponents tryline. Even after being pushed back to halfway after a while under the Liverpudlian posts, the Mancs were straight back down there. The energy and intensity of their play had more than doubled that second half. Structures in open play were far more identifiable and some stunning heads-up rugby was played. This became the theme for the half.

After 20 minutes of battling, a little slipup allowed the whites a breakaway try in the corner that wasn’t converted.
24 – 0

Despite this, (and with the wind dying down) Manchester came out of the chocks just as, if not more intense than before. A deep kick to a little lad was chased closely and the scouse advance was promptly arrested, with the ball being taken into red hands.
Thus began 10 more minutes as before. A struggle on the white tryline. The defenders gave away penalty after penalty due to the relentless pressure of the Mancunian attack. Hammered again and again, Liverpool’s defence eventually faltered and MMRUFC made it onto the scorecard with a resounding thud and a massive cheer.
24 – 5

Another reset and with 10 minutes left, play focussed around the halfway. Both sides made breaks on the outside with two notable ones coming from the boys in red. Skinning a defender and having an overlap out wide, a coinflip pass was made. Though the coin came up tails both times, with the ball sailing into touch, the attempt and effort were no doubt impressive.

With the game coming to an end, Liverpool set up on Manchester’s tryline. Hit after hit was made with the ball going laterally. When finally in the corner and with both sides blowing hard, momentum carried the ball once again over MMRUFC’s line. A mass of bodies surrounded the would-be try scorer [*dramatic pause*]. The whistle blew. No try!
Last play was then called, and the ball was put dead, ending the first NAMS game of the season.
24 – 5

It should be noted that, for the Manchester Medics, while there is undoubtedly aspects to improve not one scrum went against the head and that there were many moments of brilliance throughout the game. The backs in particular have good heads for rugby and loose play was a joy to watch. Time training (and socialising) together should see this team go on to reach great heights.

MOTM – Frank @ 7 – Nominated by the opposition for big carries throughout the game.
DOTD – Jamie @ 10 – Nominated by Ben for throwing the ball into touch twice during promising breaks.