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Sat 06 Feb 2016 · National League Three North
Birkenhead Park
1st XV
10
36
Tries: A Baker, A Sheldon (2), J Annetts, D HarveyConversions: J Annetts (4)Penalties: J AnnettsYellow Carded: K Mahon, M Brown
Second Half Performance Seals Derby Win for Wirral
Andrew Broadbent7 Feb 2016 - 13:30
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Despite the heavy pitch suiting Birkenhead Park's 'keeping it tight' tactics, Wirral's running rugby comes out on top.
For this rearranged game at Birkenhead Park, Wirral made only 1 change to their squad with JAMES REEVE returning to the subs bench in place of CHRIS TYSON. With the rain that we had had during the week the pitch was heavy and did not suit Wirral’s running game but were keen for the match to be played to avoid any fixture congestion. Park had worked hard to get the pitch playable and matters were helped that the weather forecast was again wrong and no rain fell in the hour before and during the game.
The game started in dramatic fashion when Wirral with their first handling of the ball in their own 20m area chose to run as CRAIG HARVEY ran across the Park backs before releasing ALI BAKER who split the defence and then ran some 85m to score in the corner, the try was converted from the touchline by JAMES ANNETTS. 0-7 (2mins).
Park took play down to the Wirral 20m area where after a series of scrums and mauls, KEITH MAHON was sin binned for a technical offence (7 mins). With Wirral down to 14 men Park took advantage with one of their typical rolling mauls and scored through captain, Dave Ibbotson with Dave Hall converting, 7-7 (7 mins). The drama was not over as from the kick off, Stu Brown was tackled fairly but on the next passage of play exacted revenge with a late tackle resulting in being sin binned. Matters now quietened down.
Wirral were now beginning to exert pressure on Park and turned down a number of kickable penalty opportunities this combined with passes being dropped at vital moments meant that they had nothing to show for all this pressure. It was Park who then took the lead with a penalty from Dave Hall 10-7 (21mins). This was followed by Park’s best period of the game as they exerted pressure on the Wirral line but the away side held out notwithstanding that MATT BROWN was sin binned for a technical offence. JACK YARKER came into the front row with KEITH MAHON having to be sacrificed. Wirral cleared and worked their way downfield and received a penalty which was to be the last play of the first half, so kick for goal was taken and JAMES ANNETTS slotted over from 33m to tie the scores at the interval.
With a slight wind advantage in the second half and coach, MATT CAIRNS words ringing in their ears, the game changed with Wirral having more of the territory and possession. After early pressure in this half, a strong run by ROB PEARL down the right broke the defence drew the full back and put in ADAM SHELDON for a try as he ran round to the posts to give JAMES ANNETTS an easy conversion. 10-17 (46 mins).
Back came Wirral and put Park under pressure on their line with a series of scrums and thrusts at the line but could not break down the defence, however a Park player, Laurence Thomas took exception to this pressure and landed several punches in front of the referee who had no hesitation in brandishing the red card, 51 mins. From this position Wirral turned down the penalty kick option from in front of the posts and opted for the scrum. The ball came out left, CRAIG HARVEY sent ALI BAKER on a dummy run, ran to the corner and fed JAMES ANNETTS with an inside ball to touch down with the scorer also converting. 10-24 (53 mins). MATT BROWN and CHRIS BURROWS came on for STEVE PENDERGAST and KEITH MAHON. JAMES REEVE also coming on for PAUL LEWIS.
Although pressure was being applied, Wirral sought the elusive fourth try and the bonus point. A number of consecutive penalties gave Park field position in the Wirral 20m area but the renowned Wirral defence was able to contain the Park attacks and a kick through which went dead was their last opportunity to score (64 mins). Wirral came back quickly exerting pressure on the Park line, a SAM BROADBENT try was disallowed, deemed as being held up over the line as he slid in !. However from the next scrum the ball was spun right with SAM BROADBENT putting in DAN HARVEY to register that important try bonus point, duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS to give him 16 points in the match. 10-31 (76 mins). Wirral rounded off proceedings with their 5th try when the backs combined with ALI BAKER coming into the line to create an overlap for ADAM SHELDON to score his second try of the game in the corner, the try was not converted. Wirral were worthy winners 10-36.
This win reduces Sheffield Tigers lead at the top of the table to 9 points with both teams having played the same number of matches and Wirral 13 points ahead of Waterloo, who have a game in hand. Next week Wirral are away at 4th placed Hull, who won24-25 at Lymm on Saturday. For those looking to travel to Hull please see the noticeboard for details of the travel arrangements.
Richard McNeil
The game started in dramatic fashion when Wirral with their first handling of the ball in their own 20m area chose to run as CRAIG HARVEY ran across the Park backs before releasing ALI BAKER who split the defence and then ran some 85m to score in the corner, the try was converted from the touchline by JAMES ANNETTS. 0-7 (2mins).
Park took play down to the Wirral 20m area where after a series of scrums and mauls, KEITH MAHON was sin binned for a technical offence (7 mins). With Wirral down to 14 men Park took advantage with one of their typical rolling mauls and scored through captain, Dave Ibbotson with Dave Hall converting, 7-7 (7 mins). The drama was not over as from the kick off, Stu Brown was tackled fairly but on the next passage of play exacted revenge with a late tackle resulting in being sin binned. Matters now quietened down.
Wirral were now beginning to exert pressure on Park and turned down a number of kickable penalty opportunities this combined with passes being dropped at vital moments meant that they had nothing to show for all this pressure. It was Park who then took the lead with a penalty from Dave Hall 10-7 (21mins). This was followed by Park’s best period of the game as they exerted pressure on the Wirral line but the away side held out notwithstanding that MATT BROWN was sin binned for a technical offence. JACK YARKER came into the front row with KEITH MAHON having to be sacrificed. Wirral cleared and worked their way downfield and received a penalty which was to be the last play of the first half, so kick for goal was taken and JAMES ANNETTS slotted over from 33m to tie the scores at the interval.
With a slight wind advantage in the second half and coach, MATT CAIRNS words ringing in their ears, the game changed with Wirral having more of the territory and possession. After early pressure in this half, a strong run by ROB PEARL down the right broke the defence drew the full back and put in ADAM SHELDON for a try as he ran round to the posts to give JAMES ANNETTS an easy conversion. 10-17 (46 mins).
Back came Wirral and put Park under pressure on their line with a series of scrums and thrusts at the line but could not break down the defence, however a Park player, Laurence Thomas took exception to this pressure and landed several punches in front of the referee who had no hesitation in brandishing the red card, 51 mins. From this position Wirral turned down the penalty kick option from in front of the posts and opted for the scrum. The ball came out left, CRAIG HARVEY sent ALI BAKER on a dummy run, ran to the corner and fed JAMES ANNETTS with an inside ball to touch down with the scorer also converting. 10-24 (53 mins). MATT BROWN and CHRIS BURROWS came on for STEVE PENDERGAST and KEITH MAHON. JAMES REEVE also coming on for PAUL LEWIS.
Although pressure was being applied, Wirral sought the elusive fourth try and the bonus point. A number of consecutive penalties gave Park field position in the Wirral 20m area but the renowned Wirral defence was able to contain the Park attacks and a kick through which went dead was their last opportunity to score (64 mins). Wirral came back quickly exerting pressure on the Park line, a SAM BROADBENT try was disallowed, deemed as being held up over the line as he slid in !. However from the next scrum the ball was spun right with SAM BROADBENT putting in DAN HARVEY to register that important try bonus point, duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS to give him 16 points in the match. 10-31 (76 mins). Wirral rounded off proceedings with their 5th try when the backs combined with ALI BAKER coming into the line to create an overlap for ADAM SHELDON to score his second try of the game in the corner, the try was not converted. Wirral were worthy winners 10-36.
This win reduces Sheffield Tigers lead at the top of the table to 9 points with both teams having played the same number of matches and Wirral 13 points ahead of Waterloo, who have a game in hand. Next week Wirral are away at 4th placed Hull, who won24-25 at Lymm on Saturday. For those looking to travel to Hull please see the noticeboard for details of the travel arrangements.
Richard McNeil
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