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Sat 10 Oct 2015 · National League Three North
Burnage
1st XV
6
36
Tries: J Stead, M Loon, S Broadbent, J Yarker, A SheldonConversions: D Harvey (3)Yellow Carded: R Pearl
Second half blitz gives Wirral the bonus point
Graeme Phelan11 Oct 2015 - 18:35
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Second half blitz gives Wirral the bonus point
For the game at Burnage, Wirral had to make a number of enforced changes due to last week’s injuries to ROSS PAGE and CRAIG HARVEY, who we wish well in their long recovery. ROSS had surgery on Friday and I understand that the operation went well; CRAIG will be out for 8/12 weeks. After these changes, further changes took place on Saturday morning.
STUART DUNBAR came in at centre, with SAM BROADBENT moving to fly half, DAN HARVEY to centre and MARK WILLIAMS playing at full back where he finished last week’s game. MARK GRIFFITHS was not available and ADAM SHELDON returned to the wing. CHRIS HUGHES returned to prop and the subs were STEVE PENDERGAST, CHRIS TYSON and JAMES REEVE.
Burnage played with the advantage of the slight breeze in the first half and like Wirral they had suffered a number of injuries and this reflected in the second team score line at Clatterbridge yesterday against the second team.
The first few minutes were played in mid field until Burnage were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, duly kicked by Rhys Evans (3-0- 7 mins). This gave Burnage confidence and using the wind gained ground and put the Wirral defence under pressure but the defence held out. At this stage Wirral were making handling errors but there was evidence showing through a number of half breaks from SAM BROADBENT that this Burnage defence could be broken down. Gradually Wirral were coming more into the game and a line out steal by PAUL LEWIS who off loaded to ROB PEARL who made 50m before being hauled down. After 30 mins, CHRIS TYSON, JAMES REEVE and STEVE PENDERGAST came on for PAUL LEWIS, CHRIS SPEED and CHRIS HUGHES respectively.
From a scrum 10m out, Wirral pushed their opposite numbers back to their line, where after a number of attempts to cross the whitewash, Wirral were awarded a penalty try, duly converted by DAN HARVEY. As a result of the penalty, Burnage were reduced to 14 as Nick Scholes was given a yellow card. 3-7 (35 mins). This was the score at half time in half where both sides had made a number of handling errors which stopped the flow of the game.
Five minutes into the second half with Burnage attacking, ROB PEARL was sin binned for seeking the ball when coming in from the wrong side and from in front of the posts; Rhys Evans reduced the lead to 6-7 (45mins).
Gradually Wirral were taking control of the game with better use of the wind than Burnage and with the forwards mauling forward put pressure on Burnage in the 20ms area, a quick release then allowed JOSH STEAD to scamper over the line for his first senior try, duly converted by DAN HARVEY, 6-14 (50 mins). To their credit Burnage almost scored but the Wirral defence once again stood firm and the next score was going to be important, PAUL LEWIS came on for CHRIS TYSON-58 mins.
A good kick downfield by Wirral put pressure on Burnage in their 20m area, the forwards moved towards the whitewash and then ball was released, SAM BROADBENT delayed his pass and MATT LOON came through the gap to score, again converted by DAN HARVEY (even without the right kicking tee) to extend the lead to 6-21 (65 mins). The match was effectively over as Wirral strove for the bonus point.
A high up and under from SAM BROADBENT was missed by Burnage and kicked through by Wirral but collected by Burnage but the ever improving TOM PARRY put the fullback under pressure and his clearance only made a few metres. From the line out, Wirral took play to the posts again and whilst the ball did not come out cleanly to JOSH STEAD he managed to get the ball to SAM BROADBENT who brushed through the Burnage defence to score the additional try bonus point. The try was not converted.6-26 (73 mins).
CHRIS TYSON came on for RYAN STEAD and JOSH STEAD left the field with ROB PEARL taking over at scrum half. The remaining minutes of the game were all Wirral and with plenty of possession were able to make progress. A run by MATT LOON followed by a number of players involved resulted in that man from the front row union, JACK YARKER touching down. Before scoring their final try, MATT LOON whilst over the line managed to not score after good play from centre, STUART DUNBAR. With the final passage of the game, after a move which involved several players, ADAM SHELDON touched down in the corner. With the final two tries not being converted this left the score 6-36.
For this fixture, Wirral had good support and it was pleasing to see in the second half that despite the changes, the team settled down and showed that the squad is strong enough to cope with the injuries incurred. This win still leaves Wirral fourth in the table and next week play Hull, who are currently lying second.
Richard McNeil
STUART DUNBAR came in at centre, with SAM BROADBENT moving to fly half, DAN HARVEY to centre and MARK WILLIAMS playing at full back where he finished last week’s game. MARK GRIFFITHS was not available and ADAM SHELDON returned to the wing. CHRIS HUGHES returned to prop and the subs were STEVE PENDERGAST, CHRIS TYSON and JAMES REEVE.
Burnage played with the advantage of the slight breeze in the first half and like Wirral they had suffered a number of injuries and this reflected in the second team score line at Clatterbridge yesterday against the second team.
The first few minutes were played in mid field until Burnage were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, duly kicked by Rhys Evans (3-0- 7 mins). This gave Burnage confidence and using the wind gained ground and put the Wirral defence under pressure but the defence held out. At this stage Wirral were making handling errors but there was evidence showing through a number of half breaks from SAM BROADBENT that this Burnage defence could be broken down. Gradually Wirral were coming more into the game and a line out steal by PAUL LEWIS who off loaded to ROB PEARL who made 50m before being hauled down. After 30 mins, CHRIS TYSON, JAMES REEVE and STEVE PENDERGAST came on for PAUL LEWIS, CHRIS SPEED and CHRIS HUGHES respectively.
From a scrum 10m out, Wirral pushed their opposite numbers back to their line, where after a number of attempts to cross the whitewash, Wirral were awarded a penalty try, duly converted by DAN HARVEY. As a result of the penalty, Burnage were reduced to 14 as Nick Scholes was given a yellow card. 3-7 (35 mins). This was the score at half time in half where both sides had made a number of handling errors which stopped the flow of the game.
Five minutes into the second half with Burnage attacking, ROB PEARL was sin binned for seeking the ball when coming in from the wrong side and from in front of the posts; Rhys Evans reduced the lead to 6-7 (45mins).
Gradually Wirral were taking control of the game with better use of the wind than Burnage and with the forwards mauling forward put pressure on Burnage in the 20ms area, a quick release then allowed JOSH STEAD to scamper over the line for his first senior try, duly converted by DAN HARVEY, 6-14 (50 mins). To their credit Burnage almost scored but the Wirral defence once again stood firm and the next score was going to be important, PAUL LEWIS came on for CHRIS TYSON-58 mins.
A good kick downfield by Wirral put pressure on Burnage in their 20m area, the forwards moved towards the whitewash and then ball was released, SAM BROADBENT delayed his pass and MATT LOON came through the gap to score, again converted by DAN HARVEY (even without the right kicking tee) to extend the lead to 6-21 (65 mins). The match was effectively over as Wirral strove for the bonus point.
A high up and under from SAM BROADBENT was missed by Burnage and kicked through by Wirral but collected by Burnage but the ever improving TOM PARRY put the fullback under pressure and his clearance only made a few metres. From the line out, Wirral took play to the posts again and whilst the ball did not come out cleanly to JOSH STEAD he managed to get the ball to SAM BROADBENT who brushed through the Burnage defence to score the additional try bonus point. The try was not converted.6-26 (73 mins).
CHRIS TYSON came on for RYAN STEAD and JOSH STEAD left the field with ROB PEARL taking over at scrum half. The remaining minutes of the game were all Wirral and with plenty of possession were able to make progress. A run by MATT LOON followed by a number of players involved resulted in that man from the front row union, JACK YARKER touching down. Before scoring their final try, MATT LOON whilst over the line managed to not score after good play from centre, STUART DUNBAR. With the final passage of the game, after a move which involved several players, ADAM SHELDON touched down in the corner. With the final two tries not being converted this left the score 6-36.
For this fixture, Wirral had good support and it was pleasing to see in the second half that despite the changes, the team settled down and showed that the squad is strong enough to cope with the injuries incurred. This win still leaves Wirral fourth in the table and next week play Hull, who are currently lying second.
Richard McNeil
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