Back
Sat 21 Nov 2015 ·  National League Three North
1st XVCleckheaton
Tries: J Murray, C Speed, J Reeve, R Pearl, A Baker, M WilliamsConversions: D Harvey (2)
36
8
Second-half Performance Sees Off Cleckheaton
Andrew Broadbent22 Nov 2015 - 14:57
Share via
Coaches delighted with second half performance which results in a bonus point win.
Wirral made few changes to the team well beaten at Sheffield last week given the current level of injuries within the squad. With CHRIS HUGHES withdrawing from the selected side with a calf injury, STEVE PENDERGAST continued to deputise in the front row. JACK YARKER returned after shoulder injury. STUART GRATTON returned to hooking duties as JASON GREEN has now broken bones in his left hand having just recovered from breakages in his right hand. The substitutes were CHRIS BURROWS, JAMES REEVE and MATT BROWN.
Wirral played towards the road and the wind in the first half. It was Wirral who launched the first attack immediately after the kick off from which JACK YARKER suffered a shoulder injury. Cleckheaton almost scored after 10 minutes but a last minute tackle by ALI BAKER prevented a score. From the resultant play, Cleckheaton spun the ball out down the backs and a double miss move allowed Mike Haywood to cross in the corner, the try was not converted. 0-5. Again Wirral attacked with a long run by ALI BAKER which took play down to the opposition 20m area, the ball was lost and Cleckheaton soon recovered the lost ground and an easy penalty by Ronan Evans extended their lead to 0-8 (15 mins). MATT BROWN came on for JACK YARKER who was not able to continue.
Wirral were continuing to attack but at this stage there were too many dropped passes. Gradually they built pressure and from a 30m line out, Wirral made progress deep into the 20m area with good runs, the ball came loose and JOE MURRAY was on hand to pick up and score, the try was not converted. 5-8 (19 mins).
At this stage it was Cleckheaton who were using the wind to gain ground but Wirral were able to make ground with their counter attacking and this augured well for the second half. Although Cleckheaton almost scored, continued good defending kept the line clear and on Wirral’s next attack the play was interrupted with a deliberate knock down by the Cleckheaton second row, Ryan Piercy and was asked to leave the field for 10 mins. With the away team down to 14 men, Wirral almost scored in the minutes leading up to half time when MATT LOON was hauled down 1 m from the goalposts.
The second half started with greater determination from Wirral and almost scored in the first minute of the half and with Wirral remaining in the 20m area, pressure was exerted on Cleckheaton before CHRIS SPEED breached the defence to score under the posts, DAN HARVEY converted. 12-8 (46mins).
Cleckheaton for their part continued to use their forwards to make progress with good inter passing but Wirral were able to contain. On 55 minutes, JAMES REEVE came on for PAUL LEWIS. With what was his possible first touch of the ball, JAMES REEVE took the ball on the burst from DAN HARVEY and side stepped the fullback to touchdown under the posts, DAN HARVEY converted. 19-8 (56 mins). Within 3 minutes Wirral scored their fourth try from their own half when MARK WILLIAMS made a break and a kick over the defence was not fielded by Cleckheaton, the ball was kicked the forward and although Mark was tackled, ROB PEARL was on hand to kick forward and beat the opposition to touch down and thus a bonus point. It was perhaps fitting that Rob should score given the bad injury he suffered when playing against Cleckheaton last season. The try was not converted. 24-8 (59 minutes).
A 60m clearance from DAN HARVEY which bounced into touch again gave Wirral a foothold in the 20m area. CHRIS BURROWS came on for TOM PARRY. The fifth try came from a Cleckheaton attack where they were tackled in position, the ball was picked up by ROB PEARL who advanced before passing onto ALI BAKER who outpaced the defence to score his first try of the season; the try was converted by DAN HARVEY. 31-8- 65 minutes.
MATT LOON came off injured with a slight head knock to be replaced by TOM PARRY with CHRIS SPEED moving into the centres. The final try was worth waiting for with a break by DAN HARVEY, onto JAMES REEVE who did a pass behind his back to TOM PARRY who drew the full back and passed onto MARK WILLIAMS who used his pace and guile to score his first try for the senior club in the corner. The try was not converted. 36-8 -71 minutes.
To their credit Cleckheaton strove to add to their points tally right up to the end of the game but the Wirral defence stood firm. This was a result which pleased the coaching staff in particular the manner of play in the second half. Wirral remain 5th but the two teams above them, HULL and SHEFFIELD are only 1 point ahead. The next game is on December 5th at home to another Cheshire team, STOCKPORT.
Richard McNeil
Wirral played towards the road and the wind in the first half. It was Wirral who launched the first attack immediately after the kick off from which JACK YARKER suffered a shoulder injury. Cleckheaton almost scored after 10 minutes but a last minute tackle by ALI BAKER prevented a score. From the resultant play, Cleckheaton spun the ball out down the backs and a double miss move allowed Mike Haywood to cross in the corner, the try was not converted. 0-5. Again Wirral attacked with a long run by ALI BAKER which took play down to the opposition 20m area, the ball was lost and Cleckheaton soon recovered the lost ground and an easy penalty by Ronan Evans extended their lead to 0-8 (15 mins). MATT BROWN came on for JACK YARKER who was not able to continue.
Wirral were continuing to attack but at this stage there were too many dropped passes. Gradually they built pressure and from a 30m line out, Wirral made progress deep into the 20m area with good runs, the ball came loose and JOE MURRAY was on hand to pick up and score, the try was not converted. 5-8 (19 mins).
At this stage it was Cleckheaton who were using the wind to gain ground but Wirral were able to make ground with their counter attacking and this augured well for the second half. Although Cleckheaton almost scored, continued good defending kept the line clear and on Wirral’s next attack the play was interrupted with a deliberate knock down by the Cleckheaton second row, Ryan Piercy and was asked to leave the field for 10 mins. With the away team down to 14 men, Wirral almost scored in the minutes leading up to half time when MATT LOON was hauled down 1 m from the goalposts.
The second half started with greater determination from Wirral and almost scored in the first minute of the half and with Wirral remaining in the 20m area, pressure was exerted on Cleckheaton before CHRIS SPEED breached the defence to score under the posts, DAN HARVEY converted. 12-8 (46mins).
Cleckheaton for their part continued to use their forwards to make progress with good inter passing but Wirral were able to contain. On 55 minutes, JAMES REEVE came on for PAUL LEWIS. With what was his possible first touch of the ball, JAMES REEVE took the ball on the burst from DAN HARVEY and side stepped the fullback to touchdown under the posts, DAN HARVEY converted. 19-8 (56 mins). Within 3 minutes Wirral scored their fourth try from their own half when MARK WILLIAMS made a break and a kick over the defence was not fielded by Cleckheaton, the ball was kicked the forward and although Mark was tackled, ROB PEARL was on hand to kick forward and beat the opposition to touch down and thus a bonus point. It was perhaps fitting that Rob should score given the bad injury he suffered when playing against Cleckheaton last season. The try was not converted. 24-8 (59 minutes).
A 60m clearance from DAN HARVEY which bounced into touch again gave Wirral a foothold in the 20m area. CHRIS BURROWS came on for TOM PARRY. The fifth try came from a Cleckheaton attack where they were tackled in position, the ball was picked up by ROB PEARL who advanced before passing onto ALI BAKER who outpaced the defence to score his first try of the season; the try was converted by DAN HARVEY. 31-8- 65 minutes.
MATT LOON came off injured with a slight head knock to be replaced by TOM PARRY with CHRIS SPEED moving into the centres. The final try was worth waiting for with a break by DAN HARVEY, onto JAMES REEVE who did a pass behind his back to TOM PARRY who drew the full back and passed onto MARK WILLIAMS who used his pace and guile to score his first try for the senior club in the corner. The try was not converted. 36-8 -71 minutes.
To their credit Cleckheaton strove to add to their points tally right up to the end of the game but the Wirral defence stood firm. This was a result which pleased the coaching staff in particular the manner of play in the second half. Wirral remain 5th but the two teams above them, HULL and SHEFFIELD are only 1 point ahead. The next game is on December 5th at home to another Cheshire team, STOCKPORT.
Richard McNeil
Further reading
Team Sponsors
