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Sat 02 Oct 2010 ·  North One West
1st XVWigton
Tries: A Baker, T Hodson (2)Conversions: D HarveyPenalties: S Broadbent
20
17
Wirral Survive a Late Wigton Revival to Secure the Win
Andrew Broadbent3 Oct 2010 - 17:25
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In a game that could have gone either way and despite injuries to key players Wirral hold on for the win.
For this match against Wigton the only changes to the side were Phil Donaldson coming in for Richard Lloyd-Jones and Phil Gwyn coming onto the subs bench.
This was a hard fought game which ended with Wirral hanging on for a valuable win, having led 20-3 with 10 mins remaining.
The match commenced with Wirral playing with a slight breeze advantage and for the first 29 minutes there was no score as both defences were on top, although Wirral had the greater attacking options. Wigton best break came from a blind side break from a scrum and made some 60m but the attack was stopped as support ran out. For Wirral Ollie Atkinson made a half break who passed on to Robbie Pearl who ran some 40m before the Wigton defence enveloped him to stop any further progress.
After 29mins the deadlock was broken with a penalty to Wirral from 40m out, which Sam Broadbent converted but 5 minutes later the scores were equal when C. Pattinson of Wigton scored from 33m out, having missed an earlier penalty from about the same distance.
Wigton were applying pressure at this point on the Wirral line but a penalty relieved the situation to the Wigton half where they had possession. Strong mauling from Tim Hodson gained the ball for Wirral and from this position, Wirral moved into the Wigton 20m, where a blind side move by Ali Child saw him advance further and appeared to be surrounded by the opposition but managed to get his pass away to Ali Baker who beat the defence to score near the posts. The try was converted by Danny Harvey. 10-3 and this was the score at half time.
At half time Wirral brought on Jack Quinn and Matthew Brown in place of Steve Pendergast and Chris Hughes. Play after half time began to open up which suited Wirral and their talented backs.
In the 54th minute, Wirral although now playing against the breeze, were exerting continued pressure on the Wigton line with a number of forward rushes, from one of these charges, Ali Child went blind and fed Tim Hodson who ran a few metres before crashing through two defenders to score in the corner, the try was not converted. 15-3 From the short kick off, caught by Wirral they put up a high kick only for the Wigton defence to allow the ball to bounce, which was collected by Wirral who then released Stu Hughes who outpaced the defence to run 60m to score in the corner, again the try was not converted. 20-3
At this stage Wirral brought on Phil Gwyn for his first team debut in the back row with Dave Doneo going to second row and Chris Tyson coming off.
Wigton were now coming back into the game with their probing kicks deep into Wirral territory and at this stage Wirral suffered injuries to Sam Broadbent and Rob Pearl and for the time being battled on.
On 70 mins with play 10m from the Wirral line, the Wigton forwards kept the ball and through their mauling forwards, A Bell managed to get the ball down to score with C. Pattinson converting to make the score 20-10 and the match set for a tense finish.
At this stage, the influential Robbie Pearl came off through a leg injury and Jack Quinn was yellow carded but still Wirral held out. Robbie Pearl came back into the fray to assist and on 79 mins (by my watch), Wigton through M Atkinson mauled their way over for another try which was again converted. 20-17.
The last few minutes seemed longer as Wirral repelled the Wigton attacks and were relieved to receive a final penalty and then the whistle.
Whilst Wirral were pleased to collect the 4 points, Wigton also welcomed the bonus point given how far they were behind with 10 minutes to go. A good game which was enjoyed by all spectators.
This was a hard fought game which ended with Wirral hanging on for a valuable win, having led 20-3 with 10 mins remaining.
The match commenced with Wirral playing with a slight breeze advantage and for the first 29 minutes there was no score as both defences were on top, although Wirral had the greater attacking options. Wigton best break came from a blind side break from a scrum and made some 60m but the attack was stopped as support ran out. For Wirral Ollie Atkinson made a half break who passed on to Robbie Pearl who ran some 40m before the Wigton defence enveloped him to stop any further progress.
After 29mins the deadlock was broken with a penalty to Wirral from 40m out, which Sam Broadbent converted but 5 minutes later the scores were equal when C. Pattinson of Wigton scored from 33m out, having missed an earlier penalty from about the same distance.
Wigton were applying pressure at this point on the Wirral line but a penalty relieved the situation to the Wigton half where they had possession. Strong mauling from Tim Hodson gained the ball for Wirral and from this position, Wirral moved into the Wigton 20m, where a blind side move by Ali Child saw him advance further and appeared to be surrounded by the opposition but managed to get his pass away to Ali Baker who beat the defence to score near the posts. The try was converted by Danny Harvey. 10-3 and this was the score at half time.
At half time Wirral brought on Jack Quinn and Matthew Brown in place of Steve Pendergast and Chris Hughes. Play after half time began to open up which suited Wirral and their talented backs.
In the 54th minute, Wirral although now playing against the breeze, were exerting continued pressure on the Wigton line with a number of forward rushes, from one of these charges, Ali Child went blind and fed Tim Hodson who ran a few metres before crashing through two defenders to score in the corner, the try was not converted. 15-3 From the short kick off, caught by Wirral they put up a high kick only for the Wigton defence to allow the ball to bounce, which was collected by Wirral who then released Stu Hughes who outpaced the defence to run 60m to score in the corner, again the try was not converted. 20-3
At this stage Wirral brought on Phil Gwyn for his first team debut in the back row with Dave Doneo going to second row and Chris Tyson coming off.
Wigton were now coming back into the game with their probing kicks deep into Wirral territory and at this stage Wirral suffered injuries to Sam Broadbent and Rob Pearl and for the time being battled on.
On 70 mins with play 10m from the Wirral line, the Wigton forwards kept the ball and through their mauling forwards, A Bell managed to get the ball down to score with C. Pattinson converting to make the score 20-10 and the match set for a tense finish.
At this stage, the influential Robbie Pearl came off through a leg injury and Jack Quinn was yellow carded but still Wirral held out. Robbie Pearl came back into the fray to assist and on 79 mins (by my watch), Wigton through M Atkinson mauled their way over for another try which was again converted. 20-17.
The last few minutes seemed longer as Wirral repelled the Wigton attacks and were relieved to receive a final penalty and then the whistle.
Whilst Wirral were pleased to collect the 4 points, Wigton also welcomed the bonus point given how far they were behind with 10 minutes to go. A good game which was enjoyed by all spectators.
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