League Leaders Overcome Wirral

Whilst the score line indicates a heavy defeat for Wirral, this was not the case during the match against the unbeaten league leaders Blackburn (Bburn) as the lighter Wirral team played well to sustain the much bigger and experienced home team.
For this match MATT RINGER cameback in for ROB PEARL, DAN HARVEY played at fly half with MARK EDWARDS playing on the wing. The subs were SAM BROADBENT, LEWIS HAYES and CHRIS DERMODY. The match was played in difficult conditions with rain falling for the full course of the game and it was very heavy rainfall on the journey home.
The game started with Bburn looking to attack immediately with their big forwards trying to blast through the Wirral defence but the defence stayed firm. The ball was lost and Wirral 40m out collected and a chip over the defence from BEN BROOKS allowed speedy MARK EDWARDS to outpace the defence to collect and score, unfortunately the conversion was missed, 0-5 (3 mins). For the next 15 minutes, Wirral tackled stoutly to keep out the Bburn attacks. On 20 mins, the home side scored their first try from a maul close to the Wirral line, duly converted by the full back, 7-5 (20 mins).
From the kick off, the ball was dropped by Bburn; this enabled Wirral to try and make progress but could not break through the home defence. On 21 minutes, Wirral made 3 changes with SAM BROADBENT, LEWIS HAYES and CHRIS DERMODY on for JACK WALSH, CONNOR MOORE and STUART GRATTON. Bburn were now getting more of the ball and making progress up field but stern tackling by Wirral was keeping the home team from adding to their score. However penalties were giving Bburn the chance to attack from the Wirral 20m area. After 30mins, another Bburn try through their backs enhanced the home sides lead, 12-5. In the period before half time, Wirral made two more changes, STUART GRATTON coming on for MATT RINGER (who had a dead leg which was affecting movement). The score at half time12-5 was great reflection on the work that Wirral had put in front of this big crowd.
The second half started with Wirral again attacking the Bburn line but could not break down the stout home defence. On 50 mins, Bburn extended their lead to 19-5. JACK WALSH replaced ADAM DON and CONNOR MURRAY on for SAM BROADBENT. Some pressure came from Wirral and were attacking the Bburn line and a number of attempts were made towards the home try line, whilst not getting over the line, it did result in a Bburn player being sin binned. Continuous pressure from Wirral unfortunately did not progress to a score, with a number of attempts falling just short.
On 65 minutes, Bburn scored their try bonus point when they mauled over from 5m out following conversion gives the home team a 26-5 lead (65 mins). Wirral then lost CHRIS DERMODY with a bad cut to his head, which will need stitching, minutes later CONNOR MURRAY had to leave the field with a shoulder dislocation, after some time on the side lines it was eventually put back into place. In the final minutes of the game, Bburn scored three more tries all converted, as Wirral played on with all these injuries and in the end finished the game with 14 players.
The score does not reflect the performance put by this team of which 5 of them are under 23, when compared to the size and experience in the Blackburn team.
Richard McNeil