Sure-sponsored Vagabonds signed off the 2011-12 season on a high with an assured 36-11 victory over promotion hopefuls Oswestry at Ballafletcher on Saturday.
In the final game of the season the visitors needed a win to leapfrog Crewe and Nantwich into second place in South Lancashire/Cheshire Division Two, and secure promotion.
But Vagabonds owed Oswestry no favours, looking to make amends for a heavy defeat away in Shropshire earlier in the season, and this being captain Leigh Kennaugh’s final game as skipper, there was everything to play for.
Early on it was Oswestry with possession and territory, although Vagas defended the try line with intent. Penalties let them down though and the visitors took a 6-0 lead. After 20 minutes Vagabonds found a bit of rhythm and some fluid offload play led to flanker Ross Pulman gliding over for the opening try. Kennaugh slotted the touchline conversion to give Vagabonds the lead.
Wing Sam Liver gathered his own chip to score Vagas’ second and centre Ryan Windell had a try disallowed for crossing to leave the game 12-6 at half time.
Vagabonds started brightest in the second half, wing Steven Gawne was on the end of stand-off Jonny Beckley’s chip to make it 17-6, though the gap was lessened after some ferocious try-line defence couldn’t stop the big Oswestry loose-head from crashing over in the corner.
The last 20 minutes was all Vagabonds however. With the backline moving the ball around well, and human tanks like man of the match Kevin Birchall popping up to make yards, the Oswestry defence began to creak.
First Windell pirouetted away from his man to score; pick and go’s from the pack gave Kennaugh and Beckley the space to link up to send the Welshman under the posts and player-coach Franzy Germishuys crossed for the final try. Two conversions from Kennaugh left it 36-11 when the final whistle blew, and they were partying in the streets of Crewe and Nantwich.
The players wish to thank captain Kennaugh, coaches Franzy and Chris Vorster and club patriarch Chris Taggart for their hard work at training and on match days, and ensuring Vagas first full season at their new Ballafletcher home was an enjoyable one.