Wirral Run Wigton Close

After a traumatic journey to our furthest fixture at Wigton, near Carlisle, with the coach breaking down outside Warrington and having to wait over 90 minutes for a replacement coach, the team did not arrive until after 2.00pm. The referee was not sympathetic and requested a 2.20pm kick off although the match did not kick off until 2.25pm.
The conditions at Wigton were the worst of the season, with gale force winds and driving rain but both teams were fortunate on having a good playing surface on which to play given that Wigton had had the ground drained.
Team changes from that selected, with Joe Murray coming in on the wing for Ollie Atkinson, due to a family bereavement. The subs were Harry Broadbent, Richard Lloyd-Jones and Dave Doneo.
Wirral played with the elements in the first half, but the patter of the game soon developed with Wirral living on scraps of possession as Wigton played the game in their forwards, with numerous phases of pick up and drives and they gradually worked their way up field. Occasional lapses allowed Wirral to clear only for Wigton to work their way back up field. After 10 mins came the first score when a drive from Wigton enabled Deans to score some 20 metres from the post but the conversion was missed against the gale.
Gradually Wirral came into the game as the bus journey was worked out of their legs and they were awarded a penalty some 25m out but centre to the posts and Danny Harvey duly converted to leave the score 5-3 to Wigton which remained the score until half time. The remaining period of the half was left with Wirral defending the regular thrusts from the Wigton pack, who had in their ranks an ex England Amateur RL lock, who made his presence felt.
Wirral tried to move the ball to their backs or go blindside whenever possible but little ground was made and it was apparent that both defences were on top. After 35mins, Robbie Pearl was sin binned and on the stroke of half time an overzealous referee then sin binned Ross Page, but Wirral managed to hold out with 13 men despite repeated attacks from Wigton.
Wirral were expecting to be on the back foot even more during the second half as it was anticipated that Wigton would use the wind to gain ground advantage but this was not the case as Wirral came more into the game and even tried to pass the ball down the line and try some moves but the wind made passing difficulty. 10m mins into the second half with Wirral back to full strength saw Dave Doneo coming on for Chris Tyson.
Wirral had a greater share of the ball against the wind and they showed Wigton that they could make ground with their pick and drive game and in this half there was a short period of play where they were defending their line. After 28 mins Wigton increased their lead with a penalty from in front of the posts having missed an opportunity 2 mins earlier. The penalty coming after Wigton had lost the ball, regained by Wirral and then brought up for not releasing even though several Wigton forwards, had once again over the top.
Harry Broadbent came on for Joe Murray, to save him from frost bite, with Martin McNeil moving to wing. The end of the game saw Wirral camped on the Wigton line but were unable to break over the line despite a number of thrusts. With the majority of the players concentrated on a small area of the pitch Wirral spread the ball to the wing but the final pass did not go to hand and if collected, the game result could have turned in Wirral’s favour.
At the end of the game it was obvious who the relieved side were as Wigton scrum half kicked the ball into touch to avoid any further counter attack from Wirral.
This was a match played in very difficult situations and credit must go to the manner in which Wirral adapted to the conditions, commenced play without any warm up and contained the Wigton game plan of keeping the ball in the forwards and away from their backs, as it was apparent they were concerned at the attacking abilities of the Wirral team following the game at Clatterbridge earlier in the season. Wirral could have possibly drawn the game if the ball had gone to hand but at least gained a bonus point.

Richard McNeil