Wirral Eventually Overcome a Resilient Huddersfield YMCA

Following our last minute defeat at Waterloo last week, Wirral were forced to make two changes following injuries to SIMON FLAVELL (hamstring) and JOE MURRAY (foot injury) allowing ADAM SHELDON to return after injury and JOSH STEAD to return to the first team. With ROSS PAGE having a calf strain, STEVE PENDERGAST came onto the bench along with CHRIS TYSON and JAMES REEVE.
On a warm summer day on a pitch looking in ideal condition, Wirral played against the slight breeze and towards the main road in the first half. It was HYMCA who were immediately on the attack and a sweeping backs move saw full back Cory Rhodes with an overlap, cross over in the corner, the conversion was missed. 0-5 (4 mins). The lead was short-lived as a controlled attack with their first possession of the game saw Wirral exert pressure on HYMCA with ROB PEARL scoring wide out, with the conversion from CRAIG HARVEY, gave Wirral a 7-5 lead after 7 minutes.
The HYMCA wing forward, Sam Hodge had to leave the field with a bad cut to the head after a collision with one of his team and was not able to return to the game. From play in mid field, Adam Ryder made a break and woeful Wirral tackling allowed him to make the break and to score close to the posts, the try was converted by Simon Wilson allowing the away side to retake the lead at 7-12 (10 mins).
At this stage, Wirral were guilty of giving possession away through turnover ball and dropped passes and this was a feature throughout the game, an aspect which would be reviewed during training this week. After 18 minutes, Wirral made their first replacement when CHRIS SPEED had to leave the field unwell and was replaced by JAMES REEVE. A good phase of passing saw Wirral progress downfield with a break by PAUL LEWIS who passed on to JAMES REEVE who crossed in the corner after selling an outrageous dummy to the potential tackler, the conversion was missed- 12-12 (26 mins). Both teams were now retaining possession and making good yardage with kicks to touch. In this period, Wirral made 2 more substitutions with STEVE PENDERGAST and CHRIS TYSON coming on for CHRIS HUGHES and PAUL LEWIS, the latter also feeling unwell.
Wirral continued to apply pressure and were now camped on the HYMCA line but could not get across the whitewash despite a number of thrusts, eventually knocking on, with the away side able to clear. From the resultant line out, the ball went right where CRAIG HARVEY although tackled managed to pass round the tackler to allow brother DAN HARVEY to run over unopposed, to touch down close to the posts, CRAIG converted to give Wirral a half time lead of 19-12.
On 45 mins, Wirral extended the lead to 22-12 with a penalty from CRAIG HARVEY. From the kick off this was taken by HYMCA and quick ball gave fly half, Eddie Barber the opportunity to outpace the Wirral defence to score wide out and with the conversion by Simon Wilson reduced the Wirral lead to 22-19 (46 mins). PAUL LEWIS back on for JAMES REEVE...
Winning the game was proving much more difficult than Wirral anticipated but then in a 15 minutes period the game was won with Wirral scoring 3 tries, interspersed with a penalty for the away side.
A strong run down the right wing by MATT LOON almost put in JOSH STEAD, only for the scrum half to be tackled 2 metres from the line; with pressure on the HYMCA line they could not get over the line and eventually the ball was knocked on and cleared. Back came Wirral with a 50m kick to touch by Craig. HYMCA looked to attack from their own 20m area and made good progress downfield before the attack was stopped, CRAIG HARVEY stole the ball and fed ADAM SHELDON quickly who had a clear 50m run to the line, the conversion was missed. 27-19 (55mins).Having reduced the arrears to 27-22, Wirral progressed downfield and with the ball going left, Matt Loon joined the backs and broke through to draw the full back before putting in ADAM SHELDON for his second try from 10m out, the conversion was missed. 32-22 (61mins).
Wirral were now putting pressure on the HYMCA left hand side where the winger was having a nightmare of a game. From a line out 20m out, the Wirral forwards as one, gained ground, which was a feature of the game, enabled them to drive over the HYMCA line with ROB PEARL touching down for his second try, again not converted. 37-22 (70 mins).
HYMCA continued to strive for the 4th try and a bonus point and were rewarded for their persistence when sub, Jack Housley crossed in the corner but not before the referee consulted the linesman as it was felt that the player had touched the whitewash, the try was not converted. 37-27 (75 mins). This gave HYMCA the impetus to seek another try and get a losing bonus point. Within a 60 second period both sides lost one of their influential players, firstly ROB PEARL and then Eddie Barber were shown yellow cards, for different reasons.
Well into injury time and with the final play of the game, Wirral were attacking and an opportunist grubber kick by CRAIG HARVEY to the HYMCA 20 metre area looked to be covered by the winger and was put under pressure by MATT LOON, who was able to take the ball off the winger to run round and score under the posts and conversion from DAN HARVEY. 44-27 (80+6).
Whilst this was a welcome bonus point win, Wirral will look back on this game and feel that they did not play to their true potential, although the forwards played well as a collective unit. However a win is a win. Although this is early in the season, Wirral are now in 3rd place on point’s difference after 3 matches- their highest position in the National Leagues. Next Saturday, Wirral are away to league leaders, Sheffield Tigers. Please see web site/club noticeboard re details of the travel arrangements for this match.
Richard McNeil