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Sat 16 Dec 2023 · Regional 1 North West
1st XVLeek
Tries: T Akehurst, J Annetts, H Long , D Harvey, W RussellConversions: J Annetts (3), B BrooksYellow Carded: T Akehurst
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Wirral Serve Up Festive Feast of Rugby
Andrew Broadbent17 Dec 2023 - 14:23
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The largest crowd of the season, after an excellent Christmas lunch, see the first team complete the double over Leek.
This was Wirral’s largest crowd of the season as they completed a win over Leek following the superb Christmas Lunch put on by Rob and his team.
Wirral made a number of changes to the team which played last week at Macclesfield, JOE ADNAMS returned at prop as ADAM DON had a leg injury, CHRIS BURROWS was unavailable due to work commitments and was replaced by HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE. In the backs JAMES ANNETTS played at full back as RHYS JAMES was unavailable, MARK WILLIAMS came back into the side at centre with DAN HARVEY moving back to the wing. The subs bench was HARRY WALMSLEY, JOSH STEAD and WILL MORRIS, the latter returning to first team rugby following his injury at Rossendale at the beginning of the season.
Wirral played towards the main road in the first half against the wind, the pitch was in good condition following the recent drying weather. Leek used the wind in the first minutes to their advantage tying Wirral down in their half. On 7 minutes Leek took the lead when a maul close to the Wirral line enabled Leek to score and duly convert, 0-7 (7 minutes). Gradually Wirral worked their way into the game and worked their way downfield.
The first Wirral try came after a spell of good passing which led to JAMES ANNETTS breaking through before handing on to TOM AKEHURST who burst through to score, duly converted by JAMES, 7-7 (21 minutes). The second try quickly followed when a further attack resulted in a penalty to Wirral, this was taken quickly and JAMES ANNETTS scored in the corner and against the wind converted well against the wind, 14-7 (27 mins). At this stage Wirral made two changes, JOSH STEAD for HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE and HARRY WALMSLEY for DAN CARROLL.
Leek then had the opportunity to attack again when Wirral failed to clear giving the away side a penalty some 20m out, which would have been an easy 3 points for Leek but they decided to go for a 5m line out opportunity. Wirral managed to clear and get through to half time 14-7 ahead. Against the wind this was a good performance for Wirral.
From the start of the second half, MARK WILLIAMS made a great 50m clearance to touch but Wirral failed to capitalise on this with the line out judged as not being straight. On 49 mins another line out to Wirral 20m out was taken and passed straight to second row HAYDEN LONG who collected and raced through the Leek defence to score, again converted by JAMES ANNETTS, 21-7 (49 mins). It now appeared that the strength of the wind in Wirral’s favour had died down to some extent.
The opportunity for another try came from deep in the Wirral half, MARK WILLIAMS broke and passed on to EVAN ROBINSON who made ground and kicked ahead only for him to pick up well and dive only for the referee to deem that he had grounded short of the line. WILL MORRIS came on for JAMES ANNETTS, HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE for CHRIS DERMODY. NICK HEARN suffered an elbow injury so DAN CARROLL came on allowing MATT RINGER to revert to the back row.
On 59 minutes a break by TOM AKEHURST, on to EVAN ROBINSON and a final pass to WILL MORRIS enabled him to score the 4th try and the bonus point, the conversion was missed, 26-7 (59 mins). CHRIS DERMODY came on for MATT RINGER. Further good play by WIRRAL resulted in DAN HARVEY finishing off a move to score under the posts, duly converted by BEN BROOKS 33-7.
LEEK responded with a long distance try duly converted, 33-14. At this stage CHRIS CROWLEY left the field with a calf injury and was replaced by JAMES ANNETTS. On 72 minutes, TOM AKEHURST was sin binned for a technical offence.
With Wirral missing a number of key players, the pressure came from Leek and they were rewarded with a further mauled try, duly converted 33-21, MATT RINGER came on for HARRY WALMSLEY. Back came Leek looking for a 4th try and a potential bonus try point but Wirral held out until the final whistle went.
Wirral maintain 5th place in the league and I was informed that the position in the league as at last night counts towards the opposition we would play in the Papa John’ s Cup at the end of the season. Wirral’s next match is away at Stockport on 6th January next year.
Richard McNeil
Wirral made a number of changes to the team which played last week at Macclesfield, JOE ADNAMS returned at prop as ADAM DON had a leg injury, CHRIS BURROWS was unavailable due to work commitments and was replaced by HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE. In the backs JAMES ANNETTS played at full back as RHYS JAMES was unavailable, MARK WILLIAMS came back into the side at centre with DAN HARVEY moving back to the wing. The subs bench was HARRY WALMSLEY, JOSH STEAD and WILL MORRIS, the latter returning to first team rugby following his injury at Rossendale at the beginning of the season.
Wirral played towards the main road in the first half against the wind, the pitch was in good condition following the recent drying weather. Leek used the wind in the first minutes to their advantage tying Wirral down in their half. On 7 minutes Leek took the lead when a maul close to the Wirral line enabled Leek to score and duly convert, 0-7 (7 minutes). Gradually Wirral worked their way into the game and worked their way downfield.
The first Wirral try came after a spell of good passing which led to JAMES ANNETTS breaking through before handing on to TOM AKEHURST who burst through to score, duly converted by JAMES, 7-7 (21 minutes). The second try quickly followed when a further attack resulted in a penalty to Wirral, this was taken quickly and JAMES ANNETTS scored in the corner and against the wind converted well against the wind, 14-7 (27 mins). At this stage Wirral made two changes, JOSH STEAD for HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE and HARRY WALMSLEY for DAN CARROLL.
Leek then had the opportunity to attack again when Wirral failed to clear giving the away side a penalty some 20m out, which would have been an easy 3 points for Leek but they decided to go for a 5m line out opportunity. Wirral managed to clear and get through to half time 14-7 ahead. Against the wind this was a good performance for Wirral.
From the start of the second half, MARK WILLIAMS made a great 50m clearance to touch but Wirral failed to capitalise on this with the line out judged as not being straight. On 49 mins another line out to Wirral 20m out was taken and passed straight to second row HAYDEN LONG who collected and raced through the Leek defence to score, again converted by JAMES ANNETTS, 21-7 (49 mins). It now appeared that the strength of the wind in Wirral’s favour had died down to some extent.
The opportunity for another try came from deep in the Wirral half, MARK WILLIAMS broke and passed on to EVAN ROBINSON who made ground and kicked ahead only for him to pick up well and dive only for the referee to deem that he had grounded short of the line. WILL MORRIS came on for JAMES ANNETTS, HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE for CHRIS DERMODY. NICK HEARN suffered an elbow injury so DAN CARROLL came on allowing MATT RINGER to revert to the back row.
On 59 minutes a break by TOM AKEHURST, on to EVAN ROBINSON and a final pass to WILL MORRIS enabled him to score the 4th try and the bonus point, the conversion was missed, 26-7 (59 mins). CHRIS DERMODY came on for MATT RINGER. Further good play by WIRRAL resulted in DAN HARVEY finishing off a move to score under the posts, duly converted by BEN BROOKS 33-7.
LEEK responded with a long distance try duly converted, 33-14. At this stage CHRIS CROWLEY left the field with a calf injury and was replaced by JAMES ANNETTS. On 72 minutes, TOM AKEHURST was sin binned for a technical offence.
With Wirral missing a number of key players, the pressure came from Leek and they were rewarded with a further mauled try, duly converted 33-21, MATT RINGER came on for HARRY WALMSLEY. Back came Leek looking for a 4th try and a potential bonus try point but Wirral held out until the final whistle went.
Wirral maintain 5th place in the league and I was informed that the position in the league as at last night counts towards the opposition we would play in the Papa John’ s Cup at the end of the season. Wirral’s next match is away at Stockport on 6th January next year.
Richard McNeil
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