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Sat 11 Nov 2023 · Regional 1 North West
Kendal
1st XV
31
30
Last Minute Conversion Consigns Wirral to defeat
Andrew Broadbent12 Nov 2023 - 17:30
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In a game where Wirral led for all but a few seconds, defeat comes as a bitter pill to swallow.
Wirral were in the lead in this game from the 2nd minute until 30 seconds before the end of the game and must be looking at the chances where they could have scored to seal this game.
For the long trip to Kendal which was bathed in sunshine (good to see) for all the hours we were there, Wirral had to make a significant number of changes to the side that had defeated Northwich the previous week. In the backs JIMMY ANNETTS could not play due to work commitments and his place was taken by CHRIS SPEED playing for the first time for several months. MARK “Eddie” EDWARDS was not able to play due to concussion received in the previous game. STU GRATTON was not able to play hooker so MATT RINGER moved up, JACK WALSH was not able to play having been suspended for 4 matches following an incident in the Northwich cup game a few weeks ago. Into the second row came SAM VICKERS making his debut. The back row was CHRIS BURROWS, NICK HEARN and HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE (HCJ). The subs were DAN CARROL, CHRIS DERMODY and SAM BROADBENT.
There was a 1 minute silence following the playing of: The Last Post.
Wirral played towards the main road for those who know the Kendal ground. The first Kendal kick was charged down and as a result Wirral took the penalty and scored by BEN BROOKS to give Wirral an early 0-3 lead after 2 minutes. There followed a series of good clearance kicks downfield from BEN which helped to clear any pressure. On 9 minutes Wirral extended their lead to 0-6 with another BEN BROOKS penalty and it was Wirral who were the attacking team. When attacking the ball was passed along the line and wide giving left winger EVAN ROBINSON to run in from 15m out to score 10m from the posts, duly converted by BEN BROOKS 0-13 (15 minutes). On 22mins a long kick downfield by Wirral was collected by Kendal who made a break down the field and although tackled the Kendal team were in the ascendency play came to the try line where a short pass to their No8, Stephen Nelson forced his way over to score and duly converted by Aaron Stephens, 7-13. Kendal were coming more into the game as the forwards made progress down field, missed a penalty from 33m out, a further penalty was missed but this was followed by another try by Kendal close to the posts, duly converted to give the home team a 14-13 lead (36 minutes). CHRIS DERMODY came on for HCJ; this was quickly followed by DAN CARROL coming on for an injured MATT RINGER. In virtually the last play before half time, Wirral had play down in the Kendal 20m area, awarded a penalty declined the kick and played for a 5m line out. The ball came out along the line and led to EVAN ROBINSON on the wing to score wide out, the conversion was missed but gave Wirral the lead at half time 14-18.
At the start of the second half, Wirral had the ball in mid field and passed along the line, the ball coming to Evan Robinson on the wing, who made good yardage before passing inside to CHRIS CROWLEY who touched down 5m from the flag, the conversion was missed, 14-23, 41 minutes. Within 2 minutes, Wirral had another opportunity to score but the final pass did not go to hand, when perhaps a move inside might have set up the rest of the attack. For the next period of the game, Wirral kept pressure on the Kendal line but could not proceed over the line. Kendal cleared and made a 50 m break but back came Wirral with CHRIS SPEED broke a tackle only to be caught 2m from the line, from this possession Wirral worked hard and NICK HEARN crossed close to the posts, duly converted by BEN BROOKS to leave the score after 61 minutes, 14-30. This was the fourth try and the bonus point. Kendal made some changes which seemed to add weight to their pack and this was beginning to have an effect on the scrum where we were being pushed back. On 68 minutes a break down the right led to a Kendal try following a number of missed tackles, the try was not converted, 19-30. We then had to bring on a number of changes, SAM BROADBENT for the limping JOE ADNAMS (reducing the press in the forwards) and HCJ coming on for EVAN ROBINSON (a facial injury).
In the final 10 minutes of the game, the incentive was all with Kendal and then a penalty resulting in Kendal going for a 5m line out and this resulted in a push over try, the try was not converted leaving the score24-30. On 77 minutes, Wirral were down field and awarded a penalty some 30m out and 5m from the touchline, unfortunately this just failed by clipping the upright. Kendal came back with another strong attack and although stopped it resulted in RHYS JAMES being sin binned for a high tackle. This gave Kendal a further penalty and a kick to touch went over the try line touch but the referee overruled our touch judge to give a 5m line out- which resulted in another push over try. The conversion was taken 7m from the touchline by a kicker who had a poor day with his kicking but it was kicked to give Kendal a 31-30 lead. In the final play of the day down the field came Wirral, were making some progress but a lost ball was kicked into touch and the game ended.
Highly disappointing for Wirral who scored 2 points but still retained 4th as Kendal with 5 points moved to 5th , one point behind Wirral. Next week Wirral are at home against Sandbach, 2.15pm kick off.
Richard McNeil
For the long trip to Kendal which was bathed in sunshine (good to see) for all the hours we were there, Wirral had to make a significant number of changes to the side that had defeated Northwich the previous week. In the backs JIMMY ANNETTS could not play due to work commitments and his place was taken by CHRIS SPEED playing for the first time for several months. MARK “Eddie” EDWARDS was not able to play due to concussion received in the previous game. STU GRATTON was not able to play hooker so MATT RINGER moved up, JACK WALSH was not able to play having been suspended for 4 matches following an incident in the Northwich cup game a few weeks ago. Into the second row came SAM VICKERS making his debut. The back row was CHRIS BURROWS, NICK HEARN and HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE (HCJ). The subs were DAN CARROL, CHRIS DERMODY and SAM BROADBENT.
There was a 1 minute silence following the playing of: The Last Post.
Wirral played towards the main road for those who know the Kendal ground. The first Kendal kick was charged down and as a result Wirral took the penalty and scored by BEN BROOKS to give Wirral an early 0-3 lead after 2 minutes. There followed a series of good clearance kicks downfield from BEN which helped to clear any pressure. On 9 minutes Wirral extended their lead to 0-6 with another BEN BROOKS penalty and it was Wirral who were the attacking team. When attacking the ball was passed along the line and wide giving left winger EVAN ROBINSON to run in from 15m out to score 10m from the posts, duly converted by BEN BROOKS 0-13 (15 minutes). On 22mins a long kick downfield by Wirral was collected by Kendal who made a break down the field and although tackled the Kendal team were in the ascendency play came to the try line where a short pass to their No8, Stephen Nelson forced his way over to score and duly converted by Aaron Stephens, 7-13. Kendal were coming more into the game as the forwards made progress down field, missed a penalty from 33m out, a further penalty was missed but this was followed by another try by Kendal close to the posts, duly converted to give the home team a 14-13 lead (36 minutes). CHRIS DERMODY came on for HCJ; this was quickly followed by DAN CARROL coming on for an injured MATT RINGER. In virtually the last play before half time, Wirral had play down in the Kendal 20m area, awarded a penalty declined the kick and played for a 5m line out. The ball came out along the line and led to EVAN ROBINSON on the wing to score wide out, the conversion was missed but gave Wirral the lead at half time 14-18.
At the start of the second half, Wirral had the ball in mid field and passed along the line, the ball coming to Evan Robinson on the wing, who made good yardage before passing inside to CHRIS CROWLEY who touched down 5m from the flag, the conversion was missed, 14-23, 41 minutes. Within 2 minutes, Wirral had another opportunity to score but the final pass did not go to hand, when perhaps a move inside might have set up the rest of the attack. For the next period of the game, Wirral kept pressure on the Kendal line but could not proceed over the line. Kendal cleared and made a 50 m break but back came Wirral with CHRIS SPEED broke a tackle only to be caught 2m from the line, from this possession Wirral worked hard and NICK HEARN crossed close to the posts, duly converted by BEN BROOKS to leave the score after 61 minutes, 14-30. This was the fourth try and the bonus point. Kendal made some changes which seemed to add weight to their pack and this was beginning to have an effect on the scrum where we were being pushed back. On 68 minutes a break down the right led to a Kendal try following a number of missed tackles, the try was not converted, 19-30. We then had to bring on a number of changes, SAM BROADBENT for the limping JOE ADNAMS (reducing the press in the forwards) and HCJ coming on for EVAN ROBINSON (a facial injury).
In the final 10 minutes of the game, the incentive was all with Kendal and then a penalty resulting in Kendal going for a 5m line out and this resulted in a push over try, the try was not converted leaving the score24-30. On 77 minutes, Wirral were down field and awarded a penalty some 30m out and 5m from the touchline, unfortunately this just failed by clipping the upright. Kendal came back with another strong attack and although stopped it resulted in RHYS JAMES being sin binned for a high tackle. This gave Kendal a further penalty and a kick to touch went over the try line touch but the referee overruled our touch judge to give a 5m line out- which resulted in another push over try. The conversion was taken 7m from the touchline by a kicker who had a poor day with his kicking but it was kicked to give Kendal a 31-30 lead. In the final play of the day down the field came Wirral, were making some progress but a lost ball was kicked into touch and the game ended.
Highly disappointing for Wirral who scored 2 points but still retained 4th as Kendal with 5 points moved to 5th , one point behind Wirral. Next week Wirral are at home against Sandbach, 2.15pm kick off.
Richard McNeil
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