Second Half Turnround Not Enough For Wirral

Last season we lost by two points at Stockport when the home team were awarded a “penalty” deep
into injury time, this season Wirral could have won the game when breaking through the Stockport
defence the decision was made to bring play back and award Wirral with a scrum!
For the match at Stockport, Wirral made a number of changes from the last game they played
against Leek. In terms of weight we must have had the smallest back row: made up with veteran
ROB PEARL appearing alongside BEN BROOKS and CHRIS DERMODY. In the backs, RHYS JAMES came
back into the team at full back with WILL MORRIS on the right wing. NICK HEARN was still recovering
from his elbow injury, CHRIS BURROWS has a back injury, EVAN ROBINSON has a calf injury. We are
hopeful that some of our other 5 injured players will be back shortly. The subs today were DON
CARROL, CHRIS SPEED and MARK EDWARDS.
Wirral played up the slight slope in the first half coupled with the sun in their eyes- this was a
surprise to see given the rain seen over the past few weeks. The pitch was in excellent condition. In
the first minutes of the game Wirral kept play in the middle of the park followed by a 50-22 kick by
BEN BROOKS into the Stockport half. When Wirral had the ball and playing along the line they were
dropping the ball on a number of occasions, as was the case in the first half.
On 13mins, Stockport attacked and were in the Wirral 22 area and after two 5m scrums, Stockport
forced their way over for their first try close to the posts, this was converted, 7-0. The next home try
came when Wirral again lost the ball when in control; the ball was passed down the line and gave
Stockport a run in from 60m, eventually tackled 10m from the posts but the conversion was missed,
12-0 (19 mins).
It was quickly apparent that the home team had the weight advantage and on 25mins increased
their lead in the corner from another scrum maul, not converted 17-0. DAN CARROL came on for
ADAM DON with CHRIS SPEED on for CHRIS DERMODY. On 30 mins, Stockport scored their 4 th try and
Bonus Point from another scrum maul, again not converted, 22-0. Wirral at this stage could not
instil their play into this game as the tackling from Stockport was determined but in the final minutes
of the half Wirral did get play in to the Stockport half and put pressure on the Stockport line but
could not force their way over given the number of penalties awarded in their favour. They could not
score but left Stockport with a substantial 22-0 lead at half time.
Obviously a strong discussion at half time to the Wirral players as they played with more interest at
the start of the second half and resulting from play 20m out from the Stockport line, the ball came
out to MATT RINGER who had a clear run to the line and score under the posts, duly converted by
JAMES ANNETTS, 22-7 (43 minutes).
On 55 minutes, Wirral had play down near the Stockport line and despite a number of penalties (4 in
3 mins) being awarded to them could not get over the whitewash until the ball came out wide and
JAMES ANNETTS found MARK WILLIAMS who ran over to score under the posts, duly converted by
JAMES, 22-14 (56 minutes).
Wirral were now applying pressure on Stockport and on 61 minutes, Wirral scored their 3 rd try when
JAMES ANNETTS scored wide out but could not convert this try, 22-19, could Wirral pull off a victory!
On 65 minutes Wirral made two changes, ADAM DON and MARK EDWARDS on for DON CARROL and
WILL MORRIS.

Two penalties allowed Stockport to gain ground up field and from pressure on the Wirral line but the
away team kept Stockport out but they decided to spin the ball wide which enabled the right wing to
cross in the corner, the conversion was missed, 27-19 (75 mins). SAM VICKERS came off injured
allowing CHRIS SPEED into the pack. Wirral continued to apply pressure and a further break by
JAMES ANNETTS allowed MARK WILLIAMS to race down the field and score under the posts, taking
the ball he quickly converted the try to save time, 27-26.
Wirral put pressure on Stockport and in the last minute of the game, captain CHRIS CROWLEY broke
through 70m out and a try in the offing, the referee blows up and brings play back to then award the
scrum to Wirral- where was the advantage! One minute later the game is deemed as being over and
Wirral come away disappointed with 2 points but the coaches will no doubt be commenting on the
first half performance.
Next week Wirral are at home to Blackburn who are contesting the leadership of the league and are
currently third in the league, kick off 2.15.