Back
Sat 30 Jan 2016 · National League Three North
1st XVBurnage
Tries: C Harvey (4), A Baker, D Harvey, R Stead, J Yarker, S BroadbentConversions: J Annetts (8)
64
7
1st XV v Burnage
Andrew Broadbent31 Jan 2016 - 13:46
Share via
Harvey brothers set up Wirral victory.
Before the game there was a minute’s silence as two members of the Club had died in the last few days, CHRIS GREEN whose son plays in the Under 15’s and a member of many years standing, JOHN BURKE.
Wirral had to make only one change from last week’s squad when CHRIS TYSON came onto the sub’s bench in place of JAMES REEVE who had received a head injury last week and as precaution was not selected.
Wirral played against the wind in the first half and from the outset they were to use the backs when possible and this was evident as early as the second minute when JAMES ANNETTS sporting his “Mike Brown” haircut made the first break deep into Burnage territory only for the move to break down. From this field position a quickly taken penalty by JOE MURRAY saw the ball go through a number of hands before CRAIG HARVEY crossed to score the first try, converted by JAMES ANNETTS, 7-0 (7 mins). Within 2 minutes Wirral had doubled their lead when from an attack in mid-field, CRAIG put in a cross kick to the left wing where ALI BAKER had acres of space to catch and amble over to score, again converted, 14-0.
Wirral continued to apply pressure and a break by JAMES ANNETTS set up a second try for CRAIG who scored in the corner, the try was not converted, 19-0 (25 mins)and at this stage Wirral made their first substitutions as JACK YARKER and CHRIS TYSON came on for MATT BROWN and PAUL LEWIS respectively. For their part Burnage were looking to use their forwards to move up the field and made progress to the Wirral 20m area aided by an interception, where they turned down potential penalty opportunities. Their reward was a break by prominent centre, Stuart Oldham who split the Wirral defence to score under the posts giving James Hodder an easy conversion. 19-7 (34 minutes).
This try did not deter the home side as they continued to attack and a rolling maul made some 20m before being stopped but the Burnage prop, Matt Walder had transgressed and was sin binned. From this position, the ball was spun out to the backs and the other HARVEY brother, DAN ran in from 18m to score wide out to give Wirral their try bonus point on the stroke of half time, 24-7. At this stage CHRIS BURROW came on for CHRIS SPEED.
The second half commenced just as the first half had finished with Wirral on the attack and within 3 minutes of the restart, the scoreboard was clicking over again, when RYAN STEAD made a break and whilst looking for support and finding no one there, ploughed on to score under the posts giving an easy conversion to JAMES ANNETTS. 31-7. The home team continued to press with great bouts of inter passing between all 15 players. MATT BROWN came on for STEVE PENDERGAST.
The pressure on Burnage continued and a loose ball was kicked through enabling CRAIG HARVEY to touchdown for his hat-trick, duly converted and 5 minutes later after the forwards had made repeated thrusts at the try line and a series of 5m scrums, the ball came out on the blind side and that that man was there again to claim his fourth try. The score was now 43-7 (55 mins) and at this stage CRAIG HARVEY was given a warm reception as he left the field to be replaced by CHRIS SPEED who went to centre with DANNY HARVEY moving to fly half. Craig had been carrying an injury which had not been obvious to the watcher but in view of next week’s game was taken off as a precaution.
Pressure continued but a further try was some 15 minutes away but in the meantime Wirral had knocked on under the posts, had a try scoring opportunity brought back for foul play (by the opposition) and a penalty given in our favour! and a try disallowed. With Burnage continuing to move the ball away from the 20m area by hand as little progress was being made in kicking, prop JACK YARKER intercepted a pass some 15m out and “outpaced” the remaining defenders to score, converted by JAMES ANNETTS to give Wirral 50 points for the first time this season. 50-7 (72 mins). 5 minutes later Wirral were awarded a penalty try when a kick through went over the try line and JAMES ANNETTS was tackled off the ball in the course of touching down, at least he had the consolation of an easy conversion. 57-7. The final try came with 2 minutes to go as Wirral progressed in the Burnage 20m area and a PAUL LEWIS pass put in SAM BROADBENT to crash over close to the posts. JAMES ANNETTS kicked his 7th conversion of the afternoon. 64-7.
Whilst Wirral collected 5 points news came through from a snowy Rossendale that Sheffield Tigers had taken Rossendale’s unbeaten home record and also gained a try bonus point. Next week we have our rearranged derby match away at Birkenhead Park where there is sure to be a large crowd for the 2.15pm kick off.
Richard McNeil
Wirral had to make only one change from last week’s squad when CHRIS TYSON came onto the sub’s bench in place of JAMES REEVE who had received a head injury last week and as precaution was not selected.
Wirral played against the wind in the first half and from the outset they were to use the backs when possible and this was evident as early as the second minute when JAMES ANNETTS sporting his “Mike Brown” haircut made the first break deep into Burnage territory only for the move to break down. From this field position a quickly taken penalty by JOE MURRAY saw the ball go through a number of hands before CRAIG HARVEY crossed to score the first try, converted by JAMES ANNETTS, 7-0 (7 mins). Within 2 minutes Wirral had doubled their lead when from an attack in mid-field, CRAIG put in a cross kick to the left wing where ALI BAKER had acres of space to catch and amble over to score, again converted, 14-0.
Wirral continued to apply pressure and a break by JAMES ANNETTS set up a second try for CRAIG who scored in the corner, the try was not converted, 19-0 (25 mins)and at this stage Wirral made their first substitutions as JACK YARKER and CHRIS TYSON came on for MATT BROWN and PAUL LEWIS respectively. For their part Burnage were looking to use their forwards to move up the field and made progress to the Wirral 20m area aided by an interception, where they turned down potential penalty opportunities. Their reward was a break by prominent centre, Stuart Oldham who split the Wirral defence to score under the posts giving James Hodder an easy conversion. 19-7 (34 minutes).
This try did not deter the home side as they continued to attack and a rolling maul made some 20m before being stopped but the Burnage prop, Matt Walder had transgressed and was sin binned. From this position, the ball was spun out to the backs and the other HARVEY brother, DAN ran in from 18m to score wide out to give Wirral their try bonus point on the stroke of half time, 24-7. At this stage CHRIS BURROW came on for CHRIS SPEED.
The second half commenced just as the first half had finished with Wirral on the attack and within 3 minutes of the restart, the scoreboard was clicking over again, when RYAN STEAD made a break and whilst looking for support and finding no one there, ploughed on to score under the posts giving an easy conversion to JAMES ANNETTS. 31-7. The home team continued to press with great bouts of inter passing between all 15 players. MATT BROWN came on for STEVE PENDERGAST.
The pressure on Burnage continued and a loose ball was kicked through enabling CRAIG HARVEY to touchdown for his hat-trick, duly converted and 5 minutes later after the forwards had made repeated thrusts at the try line and a series of 5m scrums, the ball came out on the blind side and that that man was there again to claim his fourth try. The score was now 43-7 (55 mins) and at this stage CRAIG HARVEY was given a warm reception as he left the field to be replaced by CHRIS SPEED who went to centre with DANNY HARVEY moving to fly half. Craig had been carrying an injury which had not been obvious to the watcher but in view of next week’s game was taken off as a precaution.
Pressure continued but a further try was some 15 minutes away but in the meantime Wirral had knocked on under the posts, had a try scoring opportunity brought back for foul play (by the opposition) and a penalty given in our favour! and a try disallowed. With Burnage continuing to move the ball away from the 20m area by hand as little progress was being made in kicking, prop JACK YARKER intercepted a pass some 15m out and “outpaced” the remaining defenders to score, converted by JAMES ANNETTS to give Wirral 50 points for the first time this season. 50-7 (72 mins). 5 minutes later Wirral were awarded a penalty try when a kick through went over the try line and JAMES ANNETTS was tackled off the ball in the course of touching down, at least he had the consolation of an easy conversion. 57-7. The final try came with 2 minutes to go as Wirral progressed in the Burnage 20m area and a PAUL LEWIS pass put in SAM BROADBENT to crash over close to the posts. JAMES ANNETTS kicked his 7th conversion of the afternoon. 64-7.
Whilst Wirral collected 5 points news came through from a snowy Rossendale that Sheffield Tigers had taken Rossendale’s unbeaten home record and also gained a try bonus point. Next week we have our rearranged derby match away at Birkenhead Park where there is sure to be a large crowd for the 2.15pm kick off.
Richard McNeil
Further reading
Team Sponsors
