Forward Power Sets up Backs to Score in Win at Ilkley

Following last week’s slip up at home to Sheffield, Wirral made a number of changes for the match away at Ilkley, who it will be recalled ran us close in the first part of the season with Wirral only coming out on top 10-5. MATT BROWN had a twinge in his neck so CHRIS HUGHES stepped up from the bench to replace. JULIAN HAIGH came in on the right wing in place of ADAM SHELDON. There was a new subs bench with CHRIS BURROWS, CHRIS TYSON and RYAN HIGGINSON (back on loan from Macclesfield until the end of April).
An early kick off had been arranged for 2.00pm given that Director of Rugby, ANDY McKINNEY had arranged for his 50th birthday party back at the club later in the evening. Given the weather forecast of heavy rain it was just as well we kicked off early as it started to rain just as the match finished.
Wirral kicked off with the wind advantage and immediately had Ilkley pinned in their 20m area, which they eventually cleared but from the first scrum , CRAIG HARVEY threw out a long pass which was collected by JAMES ANNETTS who beat two players before running 50m to score in the corner, the try was not converted. 0-5 (2 minutes). Within 5 further minutes, Wirral had doubled the lead when the forwards won the ball from a line out and as one mauled their way forward some 25m before releasing the ball, where JOE MURRAY made a half break and from recycled ball a long pass from CRAIG to ALI BAKER saw the latter canter in at the corner, the try was not converted. 0-10. At this stage with the forwards being so dominant it appeared that Wirral could score on every attack, a third try was scored when SAM BROADBENT on a crash ball pierced the Ilkley defence only to be called back for a forward pass.
Ilkley managed to get into the game and made progress up field helped by a number of penalties in their favour. Their first penalty by Joe Rowntree scraped over the cross bar and were rewarded with a second penalty when STUART GRATTON was yellow carded for a technical offence or as STUART said “one for the team”. From our sighting standing behind the kicker, the penalty kick was wide of the posts but was given by the touch judges much to the astonishment of the Ilkley supporters. 6-10 (31 mins). RYAN HIGGINSON came on to go into the front row and thus CHRIS SPEED had to be sacrificed with CHRIS HUGHES moving to hooking duties.
From the kick off Ilkley knocked on and Wirral were immediately putting pressure on the home side line, the ball came out to CRAIG HARVEY who looked to go right, doubled back and then dummied his way over without being touched, JAMES ANNETTS converted. 6-17 (34 mins). At this stage the Ilkley pack were under pressure in the scrums as well as losing the odd line out ball and with the pressure they were absorbing , the defence was breached again when from some 25m out JOE MURRAY fed JAMES ANNETTS on the blind side who skated through the cover to score near the corner. This was the try bonus point achieved before half time but these tries out wide were not making it easy for James and his conversions. 6-22 (39 mins) and half time score. CHRIS BURROWS went on for PAUL LEWIS.
From the kick off Wirral gathered the ball and looked to play out of defence in their own 20m area when for the second week running an interception was given away and the Ilkley captain, Josh Kimber scored under the posts and converted by Joe Rowntree. 13-22. this gave Ilkley the impetus they were looking for given they had the elements in their favour. A superb kick into the wind by JOE MURRAY took play up to the opposition 5m line and although Ilkley took a quick throw in, play was concentrated in the Ilkley half. The next try came from open play with the ball being passed from one side of the field to the other with STEVE PENDERGAST lined up with the backs and an offload from STEVE led to SAM BROADBENT crashing through the home defence to score. 13-27 (47 mins). CHRIS HUGHES and RYAN STEAD came off for RYAN HIGGINSON and CHRIS TYSON, quickly followed by PAUL LEWIS on for KEITH MAHON.
Continuous pressure then put the result beyond doubt when after much probing by the forwards and the home side cover not in place, CRAIG HARVEY put his brother San in for a try which was converted by JAMES ANNETTS, 13-34 (60 mins). CHRIS HUGHES came back on in place of STEVE PENDERGAST who had put in a powerful shift. RYAN STEAD back on for PAUL LEWIS. On 67 mins there was a clash of heads as ROB PEARL tackled an Ilkley player and both left the field as precaution but I can report that both players are OK. ROB PEARL was replaced by KEITH MAHON.
With play in the Wirral 20m area, a break by JAMES ANNETTS took play some 60m up field, CRAIG HARVEY carried on the move down the blindside and somehow managed to keep out of touch notwithstanding the Ilkley players in attendance and was stopped just before the line but managed to get his pass away to ALI BAKER who had the easy task of scoring near the posts, duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 13-41 (74 mins). Whilst that was the end of the Wirral scoring there was a good break by CHRIS BURROWS of some 50m when he was stopped as he tried to walk over the Ilkley full back.
In the final 6 minutes of the game, Wirral relaxed and Ilkley scored 2 tries firstly through hooker, Nico Nyemba who forced his way over in the corner, well converted from the touchline by Rowntree and with the final play of the game deep into added time Ilkley got a third try through Ben Magee, again converted. 27-41.
This was a good all round performance by Wirral with the result being closer than it ought but there is still room for improvement given the number of penalties given away and to avoid interceptions! This win leaves Wirral 13 points ahead of nearest rivals Sheffield, with all teams having played 22 matches. 8 more points are required from the remaining 4 games to guarantee the play-off position. Next week the team are on their travels again to Cleckheaton, whose ground is easy to find just being off the M62.