Wirral Outfought by Larger Manchester Pack

This was always going to be a tight game when 4 th placed Wirral travelled to 5 th placed Manchester
where the pitch was in good condition and Wirral played against the wind in the first half.
There were changes to the team that had played at Penrith last week and then later changes in the
last 24 hours due to illness to one of the players. In the backs Wirral were able to bring back JIMMY
ANNETTS and MARK WILLIAMS to the centres with the wings being DAN HARVEY and MARK
EDWARDS, RHYS JAMES back to full back. In the forwards, LEWIS HAYES came in at second row
alongside SAM VICKERS with HAYDEN LONG moving back to No8. The rest of the back row was made
up of CHRIS BURROWS (now back after injury) and JOSH STEAD. The subs were BEN BROOKS, DAN
CARROL and CHRIS TYSON (the first time he has played for a number of seasons).
The game started with Wirral looking to attack and the first break was made by MARK WILLIAMS
only to be stopped close to the line, the ball was recycled to the right and there was that try scoring
prop JOE ADNAMS to score (his second try in 4 minutes of rugby) in the corner- the conversion from
JIMMY ANNETTS was missed 0-5 (3 minutes).
Manchester were looking to kick deep with the wind but after 10 minutes a further break by Wirral
through LEWIS HAYES enabled MARK EDWARDS to break deep through the defence and pass inside
to TOM AKEHURST who scored under the posts, duly converted by JIMMY ANNETTS 0-12 (10
minutes). On 14 minutes lead increased to 0-15 with a JIMMY ANNETTS penalty. On 20 minutes,
Wirral had a 5m line out but despite efforts by the forwards were not able to cross the line but it did
result in another penalty to Wirral duly converted by JIMMY ANNETTS to increase the lead to 0-18.
On 31 minutes, Manchester had a 5m scrum which showed the strength of the home side who
pushed Wirral back and the touch- down was disallowed- however JOE ADNAMS was sin binned
which meant DAN CARROL went on to take the scrum and left JOSH STEAD having to leave the field.
Manchester then scored when from a long pass out to the right wing exposed Wirral’s cover and
scored close to the corner, duly converted, 7-18. From the kick off ball caught and kicked downfield
leaving Manchester with a line out from 15m, this was well executed to the back of the line, well
peeled and set up the attack which resulted in a try close to the posts, duly converted, 14-18. Half
time score.
At the start of the second half, Wirral with 14 men and within this early second half period, having
lost the ball at kick off it gave Manchester the chance to again attack which resulted in Manchester
scoring again as their forwards poured forward, the conversion was missed, 19-18 (44 mins). MARK
WILLIAMS left the field with a blood injury (Cut to eye brow area- patched up by medic- will need to
be stitched); BEN BROOKS came on for the blood bin.
On 50 mins Manchester declined kick at goal and went for a line out 5m out, which resulted in MCR
scoring their 4 th try (Bonus point) through their forwards, duly converted 26-18. 51 mins ADAM DON
and Sam Vickers were substituted by DAN CARROLL and CHRIS TYSON. Again Manchester attacked
and one of their forceful forwards powered over the line to score their 5 th try, duly converted, 33-18
(60 minutes). At this stage of the second half Wirral had little ball but were tackling Manchester hard
and looking to keep them in mid-field. The ball then came loose after strong tackling and that man,
TOM AKEHURST was there to kick forward some 35m and pick up to score under the posts,
converted by DAN HARVEY 33-25 (70 mins).

Wirral continued to apply pressure with astute kicks by JIMMY ANNETTS and RHYS JAMES to touch in
the Manchester 20m area but Wirral could not convert that pressure as Manchester counter
attacked. With 2 minutes to go Wirral were awarded a penalty 40m out and the decision taken to a
kick from 40m out as a try would not give us a win. The kick was taken by JIMMY ANNETTS and sailed
over the posts. 28-33 and this was virtually the end of the game as from the kick off WIRRAL
advanced but could not break through, kicked forward and caught by Manchester who kicked the
ball dead to end the game.
Thus with 5 points Manchester now go ahead of Wirral in the table, who we have to play again the
Papa John’s competition at the end of the season.
Next week Wirral are at home against Anselmians kick off 2.15pm in what will be an interesting
game given Anselmians drawing with Blackburn 29 each this weekend.
Richard McNeil