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Sat 02 Mar 2024 · Regional 1 North West
1st XVKendal
Tries: W Morris (2), C Burrows, J Adnams, T AkehurstConversions: M WilliamsYellow Carded: C Dermody
27
15
Hard Fought Win Over Kendal in Difficult Conditions
Andrew Broadbent3 Mar - 17:29
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In a game played in front of the VPs and WAGs after the usual excellent lunch Wirral come out as victors.
The match against Kendal was played in front of the Vice Presidents and the WAGS, in very heavy conditions when taking into account the rain we have had previously and on the Saturday prior to the game. Fortunately the rain cleared before the game which eased matters to some extent in what turned out to be a difficult ground but the interesting fact that despite the wet ball no high balls kicked were dropped by either team.
The good numbers watching the game were joined by the Penrith team whose game was called off at Anselmians when they reached the ground- it helped the bar take on that day. Penrith were obviously cheering the fellow Cumbrian team.
Wirral had to make changes to the team selected when SAM VICKERS was injured at training on Thursday evening and thus CHRIS SPEED was brought into the team from the subs bench. JAMES ANNETTS was out following a hand injury, maybe away for 2/3 weeks. BEN BROOKS came into the centre with the back row being, JOSH STEAD, CHRIS BURROWS and CHRIS SPEED. The subs were CHRIS DERMODY, DAN CARROL and CHRIS TYSON (now 41).
Wirral played towards the main road and in the first minutes of the game Kendal were given a penalty some 28m out and in line with the posts, the kick was missed. Wirral reacted and a break down the left made some 50m before the ball was maintained and split to the right where good passing enabled WILL MORRIS to touch down in the corner, the conversion was missed, 5-0 (7 mins). Wirral continued to press strongly with teams looking to kick for distance, a further break by Wirral saw RHYS JAMES on the ball being tackled just short of the Kendal line, Wirral were on hand to pass to the right and WILL MORRIS was again on hand to score again in the corner, not converted, 10-0 (18 mins). Two changes made DAN CARROL and CHRIS DERMODY on for JOE ADNAMS and CHRIS SPEED to assist the players in such difficult conditions.
Kendal came back into the game and had pressure in the Wirral 20m area, a clearance kick by Wirral was charged down and Kendal won the race to touch down over the line by D. Blenkharn 15m from the posts, duly converted by A. Stephens to reduce Wirral’s lead to 10-7 (26 mins). CHRIS TYSON came on for LEWIS HAYES.
On 29 mins, Wirral were looking to attack from just outside their 20m area, the ball was dropped, Kendal were first to react, kicked forward twice, which enabled N. Saumaki to easily beat the defence to score 15m from the corner flag, the conversion was missed, 10-12. It was Kendal who was now doing the pressing and in the minute before half time, Kendal increased their lead to 10-15 with an easy penalty from in front of the posts. This was disappointing from Wirral’s point of view given that they had been responsible for gifting Kendal with two tries. 10-15 at half time.
At the start of the second half, WIRRAL made two changes, JOE ADNAMS and CHRIS SPEED on for ADAM DON and JOSH STEAD. At the start of the half, Kendal played with great enthusiasm and a long kick downfield enabled Wirral to attack and a great run by BEN BROOKS down the left was stopped just short of the line, the Wirral forwards were on hand and CHRIS BURROWS was on hand to pick up and force his way over from 3m out, some 6 m from the corner flag, the conversion was made by MARK WILLIAMS to give Wirral the lead, 17-15 (47 mins).
Pressure from Wirral resulted in an incident which meant CHRIS DERMODY and a Kendal player was sin-binned. On 72 minutes, combined struggle in the Kendal 20m area and taking play up to the Kendal line then resulted in that try scoring prop, JOE ADNAMS crossing over to score, the bonus point try, the conversion was missed, 22-15.
Wirral then had an opportunity to kick a penalty to put the result beyond Kendal scoring another try but declined the chance, from the offside offence. Wirral decided to take the scrum (15m from the touch line) from 18m out, little cover on the right hand side, Wirral won the ball and CHRIS SPEED playing at 8, picked up and fed TOM AKEHURST who burst through the space to dive over for Wirral’s fifth try, the conversion was missed, 27-15. WILL MORRIS was in support but TOM took the advantage to score again.
Ultimately this was much better performance by Wirral in the second half, which leaves Wirral with 8 wins at home this season (second best in the league) and also the second best defence in the League for teams playing at home. Well done to the team as they continue their progress in the league, still 4th but now 8 points ahead of 5th placed Manchester. CHRIS SPEED was awarded with Wirral’s man of the match.
Richard McNeil
The good numbers watching the game were joined by the Penrith team whose game was called off at Anselmians when they reached the ground- it helped the bar take on that day. Penrith were obviously cheering the fellow Cumbrian team.
Wirral had to make changes to the team selected when SAM VICKERS was injured at training on Thursday evening and thus CHRIS SPEED was brought into the team from the subs bench. JAMES ANNETTS was out following a hand injury, maybe away for 2/3 weeks. BEN BROOKS came into the centre with the back row being, JOSH STEAD, CHRIS BURROWS and CHRIS SPEED. The subs were CHRIS DERMODY, DAN CARROL and CHRIS TYSON (now 41).
Wirral played towards the main road and in the first minutes of the game Kendal were given a penalty some 28m out and in line with the posts, the kick was missed. Wirral reacted and a break down the left made some 50m before the ball was maintained and split to the right where good passing enabled WILL MORRIS to touch down in the corner, the conversion was missed, 5-0 (7 mins). Wirral continued to press strongly with teams looking to kick for distance, a further break by Wirral saw RHYS JAMES on the ball being tackled just short of the Kendal line, Wirral were on hand to pass to the right and WILL MORRIS was again on hand to score again in the corner, not converted, 10-0 (18 mins). Two changes made DAN CARROL and CHRIS DERMODY on for JOE ADNAMS and CHRIS SPEED to assist the players in such difficult conditions.
Kendal came back into the game and had pressure in the Wirral 20m area, a clearance kick by Wirral was charged down and Kendal won the race to touch down over the line by D. Blenkharn 15m from the posts, duly converted by A. Stephens to reduce Wirral’s lead to 10-7 (26 mins). CHRIS TYSON came on for LEWIS HAYES.
On 29 mins, Wirral were looking to attack from just outside their 20m area, the ball was dropped, Kendal were first to react, kicked forward twice, which enabled N. Saumaki to easily beat the defence to score 15m from the corner flag, the conversion was missed, 10-12. It was Kendal who was now doing the pressing and in the minute before half time, Kendal increased their lead to 10-15 with an easy penalty from in front of the posts. This was disappointing from Wirral’s point of view given that they had been responsible for gifting Kendal with two tries. 10-15 at half time.
At the start of the second half, WIRRAL made two changes, JOE ADNAMS and CHRIS SPEED on for ADAM DON and JOSH STEAD. At the start of the half, Kendal played with great enthusiasm and a long kick downfield enabled Wirral to attack and a great run by BEN BROOKS down the left was stopped just short of the line, the Wirral forwards were on hand and CHRIS BURROWS was on hand to pick up and force his way over from 3m out, some 6 m from the corner flag, the conversion was made by MARK WILLIAMS to give Wirral the lead, 17-15 (47 mins).
Pressure from Wirral resulted in an incident which meant CHRIS DERMODY and a Kendal player was sin-binned. On 72 minutes, combined struggle in the Kendal 20m area and taking play up to the Kendal line then resulted in that try scoring prop, JOE ADNAMS crossing over to score, the bonus point try, the conversion was missed, 22-15.
Wirral then had an opportunity to kick a penalty to put the result beyond Kendal scoring another try but declined the chance, from the offside offence. Wirral decided to take the scrum (15m from the touch line) from 18m out, little cover on the right hand side, Wirral won the ball and CHRIS SPEED playing at 8, picked up and fed TOM AKEHURST who burst through the space to dive over for Wirral’s fifth try, the conversion was missed, 27-15. WILL MORRIS was in support but TOM took the advantage to score again.
Ultimately this was much better performance by Wirral in the second half, which leaves Wirral with 8 wins at home this season (second best in the league) and also the second best defence in the League for teams playing at home. Well done to the team as they continue their progress in the league, still 4th but now 8 points ahead of 5th placed Manchester. CHRIS SPEED was awarded with Wirral’s man of the match.
Richard McNeil
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