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Sat 09 Sep 2023 ·  Regional 1 North West
1st XVMacclesfield
Tries: G Burrows, H Long , J Annetts, D HarveyConversions: J Annetts (3)Penalties: J Annetts (2)Yellow Carded: H Long
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First Home Game Lost to Macclesfield
Andrew Broadbent10 Sep 2023 - 18:02
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A competitive game where the away team were the eventual winners.
For the first home game of the season Wirral were playing Macclesfield who we will be playing in the Cheshire Cup as a double header in the reverse fixture in December. Firstly apologies for those who bought programmes to find that the relevant comments for this game had been lost in the system and comments were made regarding a game played in the last season.
The game was played on the hottest day of the year (in September!), with Wirral making two changes from the team that played at Rossendale; GEORGE BURROWS replacing his cousin CHRIS on the wing. CHRIS DERMODY made his first team debut on the subs bench in place of MARK EDWARDS, who was completing his move of possessions to the area.
Wirral played towards the main road in the first half and from the start attacked the Macclesfield defence from deep in their 20m area with a good run by JAMES ANNETTS, this led to a Wirral scrum deep in the Macclesfield half, from the resultant scrum TOM AKEHURST went blind enabling GEORGE BURROWS to score in the corner, this was duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS from the touchline, 7-0 (8mins). A few minutes later Wirral were back attacking the Macclesfield line and some pressure on the away line led to HAYDEN LONG crossing over in the corner for the second try, the conversion was missed, 12-0 (12 mins).
On 15 mins an attack by Macclesfield. was first halted which led to a 5m line out from which Macclesfield scored with a push over try by captain, Berry which was converted from wide out by Oliver, 12-7. Over the next 10 minutes both sides scored penalties through ANNETTS and Oliver to bring the score to 15-10. Macclesfield were now applying the pressure when quick ball down the line allowed Matt Harrison to score in the corner, again Oliver kicked well to put Macclesfield in the lead for the first time at 15-17 (30 mins). Again both sides exchanged penalties to leave the score at 18-20 at the half time break although Wirral did apply pressure in the minutes before the break but could not push home our advantage an another score.
After the break Macclesfield had a chance to score but the pass to the winger was deemed forward, however on the 44th minute, Macclesfield took the lead when Barbarsina scored after having been tackled, duly converted again, 18-27. On 49 mins matters moved against Wirral when a player was sin binned and in his 10 minutes away Macclesfield sealed the game with a further try from Harrison, duly converted to push the score out to 18-34. Unfortunately I did not see the next Macclesfield try as I was ball collecting from the adjacent field, and also missed the JAMES ANNETTS try which he duly converted to reduce the arrears to 25-41. A penalty miss from Macclesfield then enabled Wirral to get back into the game and were rewarded with a try bonus point after a good move enabled DAN HARVEY to score in the left corner, again well converted by JAMES ANNETTS 32-41
Wirral were now looking to run the ball from all positions but in the dying minutes in their own 20m area they passed out wide only for the Macclesfield fly half Attis to intercept and score easily under the posts. The match then finishing with Macclesfield remaining unbeaten but looked far from unbeatable.
From Wirral’s point of view we have played 2 of the top teams and scored try bonus points and now look to the rest of the season to build on the progress made, as next week we are away at league newcomers, Leek.
Richard McNeil
The game was played on the hottest day of the year (in September!), with Wirral making two changes from the team that played at Rossendale; GEORGE BURROWS replacing his cousin CHRIS on the wing. CHRIS DERMODY made his first team debut on the subs bench in place of MARK EDWARDS, who was completing his move of possessions to the area.
Wirral played towards the main road in the first half and from the start attacked the Macclesfield defence from deep in their 20m area with a good run by JAMES ANNETTS, this led to a Wirral scrum deep in the Macclesfield half, from the resultant scrum TOM AKEHURST went blind enabling GEORGE BURROWS to score in the corner, this was duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS from the touchline, 7-0 (8mins). A few minutes later Wirral were back attacking the Macclesfield line and some pressure on the away line led to HAYDEN LONG crossing over in the corner for the second try, the conversion was missed, 12-0 (12 mins).
On 15 mins an attack by Macclesfield. was first halted which led to a 5m line out from which Macclesfield scored with a push over try by captain, Berry which was converted from wide out by Oliver, 12-7. Over the next 10 minutes both sides scored penalties through ANNETTS and Oliver to bring the score to 15-10. Macclesfield were now applying the pressure when quick ball down the line allowed Matt Harrison to score in the corner, again Oliver kicked well to put Macclesfield in the lead for the first time at 15-17 (30 mins). Again both sides exchanged penalties to leave the score at 18-20 at the half time break although Wirral did apply pressure in the minutes before the break but could not push home our advantage an another score.
After the break Macclesfield had a chance to score but the pass to the winger was deemed forward, however on the 44th minute, Macclesfield took the lead when Barbarsina scored after having been tackled, duly converted again, 18-27. On 49 mins matters moved against Wirral when a player was sin binned and in his 10 minutes away Macclesfield sealed the game with a further try from Harrison, duly converted to push the score out to 18-34. Unfortunately I did not see the next Macclesfield try as I was ball collecting from the adjacent field, and also missed the JAMES ANNETTS try which he duly converted to reduce the arrears to 25-41. A penalty miss from Macclesfield then enabled Wirral to get back into the game and were rewarded with a try bonus point after a good move enabled DAN HARVEY to score in the left corner, again well converted by JAMES ANNETTS 32-41
Wirral were now looking to run the ball from all positions but in the dying minutes in their own 20m area they passed out wide only for the Macclesfield fly half Attis to intercept and score easily under the posts. The match then finishing with Macclesfield remaining unbeaten but looked far from unbeatable.
From Wirral’s point of view we have played 2 of the top teams and scored try bonus points and now look to the rest of the season to build on the progress made, as next week we are away at league newcomers, Leek.
Richard McNeil
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