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Sat 11 Sep 2010 · North One West
Northwich
1st XV
21
18
Tries: S Pendergast, H BroadbentConversions: D HarveyPenalties: S Broadbent, D HarveySent Off: H BroadbentYellow Carded: H Broadbent
Wirral Earn a Losing Bonus Point at Northwich
Andrew Broadbent12 Sep 2010 - 19:03
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In a game dominated by a high penalty count and changeable weather; Wirral fail to capitalise on chances and go down to a capable Northwich side
Following last week’s game v New Brighton, Wirral made a number of changes with Dave Doneo coming into the second row, Harry Broadbent coming into the back row, and Rob Pearl moving into the centre because of the loss through injury of Ian White and Ollie Atkinson. Richard Lloyd Jones also started on the wing.
The match kicked off with the weather threatening showers but in brilliant sunshine however the match was punctuated with heavy showers, which made open rugby challenging and passing/catching difficult.
Wirral played with the slight breeze in the first half and in the first 13 minutes both teams missed the opportunity of opening the scoring with penalties, Wirral missing 3 to Northwich’s 1. On 18 minutes due to errors by Wirral and a penalty, Northwich had a line out 5m from the line and they caught and mauled their way over the line, the conversion was missed. 5-0
5 mins later, Wirral scored a converted try to take the lead. A long kick from Sam Broadbent rolled into touch 1m from the line and although Wirral lost the line out they gained control of the ball and a half break by Sam resulted in Rob Pearl taking a crash ball only to be stopped 1m from the line. From the resultant maul, prop Steve Pendergast crashed over from at least a metre out, with Danny Harvey converting, 5-7
In the next 4 mins there was an exchange of penalties continuing the trend of a large number of penalties being given out by the referee. One of these resulted in the Northwich No 7 Sam Naylor, being sin binned for fighting. At this stage the rain was at its heaviest and created difficult conditions for the players, but such conditions led to Northwich’s second try, when a pass back to clear the Wirral line was dropped over the line and a Northwich forward was the quickest to react and scored. From near the touchline the try was converted by Richard Dale 15-10
Harry Broadbent was then sin binned for what appeared to be a minor technical offence and resulted in pressure from Northwich for the rest of the half and they increased their lead from one of their two kickable penalty opportunities. This left the half time score 18-10.
Early in the second half, James Miratana the other Northwich flanker was yellow carded for a high tackle but Wirral did not take advantage of the additional player and could not reduce the deficit, another penalty was missed from 35m. At this stage James Quinn came on for his debut at prop replacing Steve Pendergast, Rob Pearl returning to the back row in a switch that saw Harry Broadbent move to centre.
Increasing pressure was applied by Northwich in the middle part of the second half but they were denied a score by good Wirral defensive work which stalled another Northwich rolling maul. Ross Page retired from the scene with a back twinge and was replaced by Sam Edgar and Chris Tyson came on for Tim Hodgson.
Twenty three mins into the half from a line out 40m out, a clean Wirral take saw the ball go down the backs for the first time, where Harry Broadbent made good progress down the wing evading several tacklers to struggle over and score in the corner, the try was not converted. 18-15
The Northwich coach, Steve Darrington then made his second appearance of the season and provided a contrast with his opposing prop, James Quinn who was at least 20 years younger. Wirral were then reduced to 14 men, as Harry Broadbent received his second yellow card for blocking a Northwich player who was kicking through. The next 5 mins saw a further exchange of penalties. 21-18.
In the final minutes all the pressure came from Wirral, with Northwich hanging on for the final whistle but the chance of a drop goal or a further kickable penalty did not come Wirral’s away, a last penalty was awarded to Wirral 50m out but against the wind the distance was considered too far to convert.
The final whistle went, with Northwich edging through 21-18, but Wirral did pick up a losing bonus point. This was a good performance from Wirral given the difficult conditions against a side who had finished second in the league last season. On reflection Wirral had the kicking opportunities to win this match with 5 penalties missed which is a disappointing contrast to the 100% conversion rate against New Brighton last week.
Richard McNeil
The match kicked off with the weather threatening showers but in brilliant sunshine however the match was punctuated with heavy showers, which made open rugby challenging and passing/catching difficult.
Wirral played with the slight breeze in the first half and in the first 13 minutes both teams missed the opportunity of opening the scoring with penalties, Wirral missing 3 to Northwich’s 1. On 18 minutes due to errors by Wirral and a penalty, Northwich had a line out 5m from the line and they caught and mauled their way over the line, the conversion was missed. 5-0
5 mins later, Wirral scored a converted try to take the lead. A long kick from Sam Broadbent rolled into touch 1m from the line and although Wirral lost the line out they gained control of the ball and a half break by Sam resulted in Rob Pearl taking a crash ball only to be stopped 1m from the line. From the resultant maul, prop Steve Pendergast crashed over from at least a metre out, with Danny Harvey converting, 5-7
In the next 4 mins there was an exchange of penalties continuing the trend of a large number of penalties being given out by the referee. One of these resulted in the Northwich No 7 Sam Naylor, being sin binned for fighting. At this stage the rain was at its heaviest and created difficult conditions for the players, but such conditions led to Northwich’s second try, when a pass back to clear the Wirral line was dropped over the line and a Northwich forward was the quickest to react and scored. From near the touchline the try was converted by Richard Dale 15-10
Harry Broadbent was then sin binned for what appeared to be a minor technical offence and resulted in pressure from Northwich for the rest of the half and they increased their lead from one of their two kickable penalty opportunities. This left the half time score 18-10.
Early in the second half, James Miratana the other Northwich flanker was yellow carded for a high tackle but Wirral did not take advantage of the additional player and could not reduce the deficit, another penalty was missed from 35m. At this stage James Quinn came on for his debut at prop replacing Steve Pendergast, Rob Pearl returning to the back row in a switch that saw Harry Broadbent move to centre.
Increasing pressure was applied by Northwich in the middle part of the second half but they were denied a score by good Wirral defensive work which stalled another Northwich rolling maul. Ross Page retired from the scene with a back twinge and was replaced by Sam Edgar and Chris Tyson came on for Tim Hodgson.
Twenty three mins into the half from a line out 40m out, a clean Wirral take saw the ball go down the backs for the first time, where Harry Broadbent made good progress down the wing evading several tacklers to struggle over and score in the corner, the try was not converted. 18-15
The Northwich coach, Steve Darrington then made his second appearance of the season and provided a contrast with his opposing prop, James Quinn who was at least 20 years younger. Wirral were then reduced to 14 men, as Harry Broadbent received his second yellow card for blocking a Northwich player who was kicking through. The next 5 mins saw a further exchange of penalties. 21-18.
In the final minutes all the pressure came from Wirral, with Northwich hanging on for the final whistle but the chance of a drop goal or a further kickable penalty did not come Wirral’s away, a last penalty was awarded to Wirral 50m out but against the wind the distance was considered too far to convert.
The final whistle went, with Northwich edging through 21-18, but Wirral did pick up a losing bonus point. This was a good performance from Wirral given the difficult conditions against a side who had finished second in the league last season. On reflection Wirral had the kicking opportunities to win this match with 5 penalties missed which is a disappointing contrast to the 100% conversion rate against New Brighton last week.
Richard McNeil
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