If you’re travelling down the Formby by pass, take a moment to look at the field next to Tesco and you’re bound to see the 15 Metre high black and white rugby posts with the Formby flag flying on each post. This is our Towns’ community rugby club, which has grown in 30 months from 3 six year old children into a thriving club with nearly 250 members.
The club runs a tots rugby team, Under 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 & 16.
We are holding a year 7, 8, 9 girls tournament with a view of providing facilities for a girls Under 15 side which caters for Year 8, 9, 10 and have joined forces with Waterloo to form a cluster team.
The Rugby Football Union is supporting children with special needs to play rugby and the Vikings are looking forward to advertising Sunday afternoon sessions initially once a month, so watch this space.
FORMBY VIKINGS RUFC v WATERLOO 4ths.
Having already played and won one local derby against Southport 3rds in a pre-season warm up game the local derby clash was all set for Saturday’s league game. Waterloo with one game in hand were forth in the league while the Vikings were 10th. Unfortunately the Vikings were missing key squad members due to injury and family commitments, however saw the return of their fly-half Dave MORTON following knee surgery during the summer.
The game was played away, a short hop down the Bypass at Hall Road playing fields. The Vikings kicked off and quickly re-cycled the ball which put Waterloo under severe pressure for five minutes on their own 22 and the Vikings were awarded a scrum on the fifteen yard line. No 8 Jason KEATING picked up the ball from the base of the scrum and charged forward committing the defence fly-half and back-row 10 yards from the line. Dave Hemlsly the Vikings scrum half quickly re-cycled the ball. Popped it to Dave Morton who went over under the posts and the Vikings took the lead with Dave HEMSLEY converting for 7 points..
This seemed to rattle the Waterloo pack into a sense of urgency and almost immediately from the kick off, the Vikings took the ball into contact and were turned over and some straight powerful running saw Waterloo score under the posts, however this was not converted. The game was then pretty even with handling errors on both sides which meant both teams were denied further opportunities for twenty minutes. Waterloo broke this cycle by a winning a line out and quickly spinning to their outside center who crashed through committing three Viking backs and causing an overlap and scoring in the corner, taking the lead 10 – 7.
The Vikings then from the kick off caught the waterloo catching player and bundled him towards touch but quick thinking by the Waterloo forward saw him release the ball into a Vikings hand as they went into touch so they secured the Line-out on their own 22.
A messy win by Waterloo saw the ball slapped to the floor and No8 Jason KEATING took full advantage and stormed through the line, collecting the ball and going over in the corner.
FORMBY VIKINGS U14 v PRENTON RUFC U15’s.
Sunday afternoon saw a fantastic game of rugby between the above development sides. Both teams are newly formed with players of various abilities and rugby experience.
In the first twenty minutes the visitors were relentless and the Vikings were just running through the motions and suddenly 15 points down. This seemed to embarrass the team into physicality and from the kick off re-cycled the ball and the forwards kept driving forward, securing ruck after ruck before Alex HUGHES the team captain ran forward, popped the ball to the Formby prop ‘Rhino’ who scored Formby’s first try.
The game then even out and the final score was 34 – 17 in Prenton’s favour, however a year older and stronger Formby illustrated their potential.
