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Sat 14 Oct 2023 · Regional 1 North West
1st XVManchester
Tries: D Harvey, M Edwards (3), H Long Conversions: D Harvey, B Brooks, J Annetts (3)Yellow Carded: S Broadbent
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Long Celebrates 100th Appearance With A Try
Andrew Broadbent15 Oct 2023 - 14:21
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Wirral celebrate a win despite shipping 12 points to Manchester in the final moments of the game.
Following the match last week against Northwich in the Cheshire Cup, Wirral made a number of changes to their squad for their match against 4th placed MANCHESTER. HAYDEN LONG celebrated his 100th cap but more surprising since I have been keeping statistics, DANIEL HARVEY has overtaken ROB PEARL with appearances- 316 well done Dan.
In the first half Wirral played towards the main road and the strong wind. From the start of the game Wirral were in the MANCHESTER half and with TOM AKEHURSR taking a quick penalty was able to get the ball out to DAN HARVEY who scored in the corner and then converted his own try against the elements, 7-0 (3 minutes). MANCHESTER then used the wind to put pressure on Wirral but the home side dropped balls and gave pressure advantage to MANCHESTER, who did not help themselves with a kick for a 5m line out was kicked dead. Pressure was contained in mid field and if Wirral could get good ball they could make inroads down the field.
On 33m MANCHESTER had a 5m line out and with their heavier pack were able to push their way over the line for No8 Charlie Greene to score, the conversion was missed, 7-5 (33 mins). From the kick off this was caught deep by RHYS JAMES who broke through for 40m before off loading to JAMES ANNETTS and finally out to MARK EDWARDS for a score in the corner, this was converted by BEN BROOKS, 14-5 (37 mins). One minute later, MANCHESTER on the ball some 30m out passed to the full back, somehow or other he managed to get through a number of tackles to score wide out, converted by Ben Jones, to leave the score at half time, 14-12.
The second half started with Wirral knowing they have to use the wind to give them field advantage and within 6 minutes, had increased their lead with forward pressure on the MANCHESTER line resulted in HAYDEN LONG pressing over under the posts, the try was converted by JAMES ANNETTS, 21-12 (46 mins). LEWIS HAYES came on for ADAM DON. To increase their lead Wirral took a penalty from 35m out but it went wide of the posts, 50 mins. On 56 mins, the MANCHESTER captain fly half was sin binned.
Wirral were applying pressure but could have added to their total if they ruled out some obvious errors. On 60 mins pressure from Wirral on the away 20m area resulted in a quick ball coming out from the maul and a long pass from JAMES ANNETTS enabled MARK EDWARDS to scamper over in the right corner, again well converted from the touchline by JAMES ANNETTS, 28-12- this was the try bonus point.
On 63 minutes, SAM BROADBENT came on for STUART GRATTON, followed by CHRIS DERMODY for CHRIS BURROWS (who had played well in his 2nd game for the Seniors having not played over the past few seasons). A couple of minutes later, JAMES ANNETTS converted a penalty to increase the Wirral lead to 31-12.
On 72 minutes, MANCHESTER made progress downfield and full back, Robson Jones crossed out wide, 31-17.
ADAM DON came on for JACK WALSH and this was followed by a yellow card against SAM BROADBENT. With the last play of the game, MANCHESTER annoyingly scored their 4th try (bonus point) and the conversion gave MANCHESTER a losing bonus point. After the conversion the referee called time.
It was disappointing that WIRRAL gave 12 points away in the last 5 minutes on a day with more precision Wirral could have scored more points- this gave MANCHESTER 2 points today. If they could tidy up those points they may well prove helpful in next week’s game away at Anselmians.
In the first half Wirral played towards the main road and the strong wind. From the start of the game Wirral were in the MANCHESTER half and with TOM AKEHURSR taking a quick penalty was able to get the ball out to DAN HARVEY who scored in the corner and then converted his own try against the elements, 7-0 (3 minutes). MANCHESTER then used the wind to put pressure on Wirral but the home side dropped balls and gave pressure advantage to MANCHESTER, who did not help themselves with a kick for a 5m line out was kicked dead. Pressure was contained in mid field and if Wirral could get good ball they could make inroads down the field.
On 33m MANCHESTER had a 5m line out and with their heavier pack were able to push their way over the line for No8 Charlie Greene to score, the conversion was missed, 7-5 (33 mins). From the kick off this was caught deep by RHYS JAMES who broke through for 40m before off loading to JAMES ANNETTS and finally out to MARK EDWARDS for a score in the corner, this was converted by BEN BROOKS, 14-5 (37 mins). One minute later, MANCHESTER on the ball some 30m out passed to the full back, somehow or other he managed to get through a number of tackles to score wide out, converted by Ben Jones, to leave the score at half time, 14-12.
The second half started with Wirral knowing they have to use the wind to give them field advantage and within 6 minutes, had increased their lead with forward pressure on the MANCHESTER line resulted in HAYDEN LONG pressing over under the posts, the try was converted by JAMES ANNETTS, 21-12 (46 mins). LEWIS HAYES came on for ADAM DON. To increase their lead Wirral took a penalty from 35m out but it went wide of the posts, 50 mins. On 56 mins, the MANCHESTER captain fly half was sin binned.
Wirral were applying pressure but could have added to their total if they ruled out some obvious errors. On 60 mins pressure from Wirral on the away 20m area resulted in a quick ball coming out from the maul and a long pass from JAMES ANNETTS enabled MARK EDWARDS to scamper over in the right corner, again well converted from the touchline by JAMES ANNETTS, 28-12- this was the try bonus point.
On 63 minutes, SAM BROADBENT came on for STUART GRATTON, followed by CHRIS DERMODY for CHRIS BURROWS (who had played well in his 2nd game for the Seniors having not played over the past few seasons). A couple of minutes later, JAMES ANNETTS converted a penalty to increase the Wirral lead to 31-12.
On 72 minutes, MANCHESTER made progress downfield and full back, Robson Jones crossed out wide, 31-17.
ADAM DON came on for JACK WALSH and this was followed by a yellow card against SAM BROADBENT. With the last play of the game, MANCHESTER annoyingly scored their 4th try (bonus point) and the conversion gave MANCHESTER a losing bonus point. After the conversion the referee called time.
It was disappointing that WIRRAL gave 12 points away in the last 5 minutes on a day with more precision Wirral could have scored more points- this gave MANCHESTER 2 points today. If they could tidy up those points they may well prove helpful in next week’s game away at Anselmians.
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