Wirral Defence Overcomes Confident Blackburn

Following the disappointment last week against Stockport a changed Wirral side played with such
heart that brought out a fine win against a side that are looking to get promoted to the league above
given that Wirral had been well beaten at Blackburn earlier in the season 47-5.
Wirral had to make changes to their side with MARK WILLIAMS out with a sprained ankle, NIC
HEARN out for the rest of the season following an operation on his elbow, however we were able to
bring LEWIS HAYES back into the squad after his injury and MARK EDWARDS rejoined the team. The
back row was made up with ROB PEARL, JOSH STEAD and CHRIS DERMODY with the subs being DAN
CARROL, LEWIS HAYES and CHRIS SPEED.
The pitch was in good condition given the drying weather we have seen this week and in the first
half played towards the main road but against the slight wind.
It was apparent from the start that Blackburn were going to handle the ball using their bigger
forwards to try to break through the Wirral defence. After 5 minutes of stern defence the ball was
loose and a DAN HARVEY kick through was followed by the speedy TOM AKEHURST who outpaced
the Blackburn defence to pick up and dive over in the right hand corner to score. From the touchline,
JAMES ANNETTS converted to give Wirral an early 7-0 lead after 5 minutes- JIMMY went on to score
18 points during the day.
This did not deter Blackburn who came back to their running game putting Wirral under some
pressure, the away side were keen to get the ball out to their right hand side and after 12 minutes a
break by the Blackburn wingers enabled Leon Fifiled to score 15m from the posts, the conversion
was missed 7-5 (12 mins).
Play was held in mid field as Wirral strove to retain the keen Blackburn attack but pinching the ball
managed play down into the Blackburn 20m area. Managed play down to 5m out and from a penalty
retained play down there but could not break through the Blackburn defence, TOM AKEHURST 10m
from 5m from the touchline went blind and fed DAN HARVEY who forced his over in the corner and
the referee consulted the touch judge before confirming the try, the conversion from the touchline
just failed, 12-5 (25 mins).
Blackburn continued with their pressure and were rewarded again with another try by winger Fifiled
but failed with his conversion, 12-10 (29 mins). Blackburn continued with their attacking game but
still Wirral tackled anything that moved. Play was now 5m from the Wirral line but Blackburn were
kept out, another scrum led to JOE ADNAMS being sin binned, so JOSH STEAD came off to allow DAN
CARROL to prop. Pressure came from Blackburn but the away side were penalised allowing Wirral to
eventually clear. At this stage TOM AKEHURST had a calf injury and was replaced by MARK
EDWARDS with CHRIS SPEED going to the wing as cover. Half time came with Wirral leading 12-10.
At the start of the second half, Wirral were awarded a penalty some 33m out and just wide of the
posts but was kicked over by JIMMY ANNETTS, 15-10 (42 mins). Wirral continued to use the wind
well with a super kick 50-22 by RHYS JAMES took play back down to the Blackburn 20m. On 47 mins
continued pressure from Wirral resulted in a try by Wirral being disallowed as not being touched
down. On 57 mins CHRIS DERMODY who had such a sterling game through his tackling came off the
field injured and enjoyed the applause from the crowd for his efforts. CHRIS was replaced by JOSH
STEAD. On 60 mins, ADAM DON came off injured and was replaced by LEWIS HAYES.

Wirral continued to attack the ball goes right and JIMMY ANNETTS collects some 20m out and races
through the Blackburn defence to score wide out and from the touchline again converts 22-10 (65
mins). In the space of the next 5 mins, JIMMY ANNETTS scored 2 penalties to take the score to 28-
10, the last from some 40m out.
In the last minutes of the game Blackburn game with 5 mins to go Blackburn scored and with the
last play of the game Blackburn scrum half Lewis Kincart raced through to score another try under
the posts, the conversion was the last play of the game. This last play of the day gave Blackburn their
try bonus point and another point for finishing within 7 points.
This win lifts Wirral back up to 5th in the league and next week Wirral are away at Penrith for a
rearranged game, this being subject to the weather given colder conditions and snow are due next
week. In the club house the Wirral man of the match was given to JIMMY ANNETTS but in my
opinion the man of the match was the WIRRAL TEAM.
Richard McNeil