Superman Reeve Scores His First Try

For the opening game of the League season, Wirral made 2 changes to the team that narrowly lost to Macclesfield in the Cheshire Cup last week. RYAN STEAD and MATT LOON were unavailable due to work commitments and thus CHRIS TYSON and JULIAN HAIGH stepped in respectively. CHRIS SPEED had recovered from his foot injury and the substitutes were ROSS PAGE, CHRIS BURROWS and TOM PARRY.
Due to the cricket first XI also having a match, the game was played down the road on Ocean Fields but this did not detract from a large crowd in attendance, with the match being played in ideal September conditions. The fields were looking in superb condition.
Wirral were playing up the slight slope and against the breeze as they allowed Rossendale to win the kick off ball and in the first action of the game, Wirral were forced to make a substitution as ADAM SHELDON, winger suffered a dislocated finger and was replaced by CHRIS BURROWS. Play for the first 5 minutes was concentrated in midfield until Wirral moved the ball wide and JAMES ANNETTS made inroads into the Rossendale 20m area, the ball was retained and came out to captain, CRAIG HARVEY who weaved his way through the Rossendale defence to score under the posts, duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 7-0 -7 minutes.
From the kick off, Rossendale gathered the ball and using their forwards made progress into the Wirral 20m area, where prop Leighton Taylor crashed over from a few metres out close to the posts, unbelievably the conversion was missed. 7-5 -10 minutes. Six minutes later with Rossendale using the wind to their advantage they were again in the Wirral 20m area, where the forwards engineered space for winger, George Peel to squeeze in at the corner, the conversion was missed. 7-10- 13 minutes.
Back came Wirral into the game attacking at every opportunity, until what perhaps was the turning point in the first half, when the Rossendale No 8 Ryan McKibbon through frustration took out CRAIG HARVEY with a dangerous tackle. The referee issued a yellow card. From that situation, James Annetts had a penalty attempt from 45m but just missed, but 2 minutes later was presented with an easier opportunity which he converted to level the scores at 10-10- 24 minutes.
Wirral were now in the ascendancy and with the Wirral pack driving back the Rossendale scrum, they were rewarded with a number of penalties and took the decision to opt for scrums. To try and stop the rampant Wirral scrum a number of penalties were incurred which left Rossendale down to 13 men for a short period as second row, Paddy Pole had an enforced 10 minutes break. From the next scrum Wirral were justly rewarded with a push over try as ROB PEARL touched down 12m in from touch and again converted by JAMES ANNETTS, 17-10-30 minutes.
Now restored to 14 men, Rossendale could not contain Wirral and the highlight was a try by JAMES REEVE, his first try at senior level, when he received the ball 18m out, evaded would be tacklers and then side stepped the full back to score 15m from the posts, James Annetts did the business to leave the score 24-10 (35 minutes) and this was to be the half time score. TOM PARRY came on for PAUL LEWIS (calf injury) at half time and on 44 minutes, ROSS PAGE came on for JAMES REEVE (facial injury).
Wirral started the second half with the wind and slope advantages but it was Rossendale who started with the greater confidence, taking play into the Wirral half by keeping ball in hand and progressed to the 20m area. Quick ball to the right enabled right winger, Nathan Connolly to have an easy run in from 15m out but again the conversion was missed. 24-15 - 51 minutes. JAMES REEVE went back on for ROSS PAGE.
Rossendale continued to attack until a kick was charged down on the half way line, Wirral were first to react with CRAIG HARVEY releasing brother, DANNY who outstripped the away defence to score under the posts, duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 31-15- 55 minutes. Wirral were now in control and although James attempted a 50m penalty, which was just wide, a further opportunity came from 35 metres. duly converted. 34-15 (64 minutes). ROSS PAGE came on for CHRIS HUGHES.
Rossendale still had a good percentage of the ball but could make no headway against the Wirral defence and in midfield, the ball was turned over, with JASON GREEN in the clear but soon to be overhauled by the Rossendale defence but a slip pass to the ever present ROB PEARL saw the wing forward sprint clear for his second try of the afternoon, again converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 41-15- 67 minutes.
The away side to their credit continued to attack and were rewarded in the 79th minute with a bonus point try by Ryan McGibbon, after good work by his fellow forwards. The conversion was missed to leave the final score, Wirral 41 Rossendale 20, which is an improvement on the 25 all draw we managed in the first game last season against the same opponents.
In scoring their try, James Annetts was injured and have since learnt that his thumb is broken and in a cast and will be out for a number of weeks as I can testify having broken both thumbs.
Overall this was an excellent start to the league season in front of a large crowd and trust the team will be well supported as we play Waterloo at Blundellsands next week, where we were unfortunate to lose by 2 points last season.
Richard McNeil