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Sat 02 Apr 2016 · National League Three North
Cleckheaton
1st XV
20
12
Tries: J Haigh, J AnnettsConversions: J AnnettsYellow Carded: C Harvey, C Tyson
Cleckheaton Forward Power Overcomes Wirral
Andrew Broadbent3 Apr 2016 - 17:38
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Wirral underperform as Cleckheaton dominate.
Despite the heavy rain on the M62 over to Cleckheaton, it had stopped by the time pre match training took place, with the players arriving in plenty of time to get the “bus out of their legs”.
Wirral made one change from last week with MATT BROWN coming onto the bench in place of RYAN HIGGINSON.
Immediately from the kick off it was obvious that Cleckheaton were to use their forwards to make progress downfield and aided by two penalties in their favour they were now in the Wirral 20m area and in the 3rd minute, Cleckheaton stand-off Ronan Evans scored the first points with a penalty, 3-0.
Cleckheaton were clearly up for this game given that they were hovering outside the relegation places but were playing like a team much further up the league. Wirral were struggling for possession and territory and matters were not helped by the number of penalties awarded against Wirral. With half breaks and kicking to touch, Wirral were on the defensive for much of the first half and only final tackles prevented Cleckheaton from adding to their score. In the 17th minute, Adam Piper crossed for a try from 5m line out. The try was not converted. 8-0
After 25 minutes Wirral managed to get into the opposition 20m but Cleckheaton were able to clear their lines. CHRIS TYSON and MATT BROWN came on for RYAN STEAD and CHRIS HUGHES. A Cleckheaton second row then left a field on a stretcher but continued to watch the game from the side lines. At this stage Wirral were losing balls in tackles, knocking on and could not get into their usual rhythm, one could not believe this was the same team that put in such a fine performance last week at ILKLEY. Cleckheaton had a number of line outs close to the Wirral line but Wirral were able to hold out as the home team turned down penalty kick opportunities as they went for tries instead. Wirral were able to hold out until half time and it is to some credit that they had kept the score down to only 8 points.
Immediately after half time, an exchange of kicks led to Cleckheaton putting in a short kick which they also collected and enabled them to put winger Martin Woodhead away his pass inside was knocked on by CRAIG HARVEY and was yellow carded for that action on 41 minutes. With Wirral a man down, Cleckheaton took advantage from a 5m scrum as the ball was passed swiftly down the line which created an overlap for full back Jamie Wilson to score in the corner, well converted by Ronan Evans to leave the home side leading 15-0 (43 minutes). A further break by Cleckheaton was stopped with a try saving tackle from ROB PEARL.
On 46 minutes, Paul Turner was yellow carded and two penalties enabled Wirral to get down into the Cleckheaton 20m area. With ball in hand, Wirral were now attacking and JAMES ANNETTS took the ball at speed only to be high tackled by No. 23 (Jack Bickerdike) which was only given a yellow card and I thought warranted more serious action. CHRIS HUGHES came on for STEVE PENDERGAST, RYAN STEAD for PAUL LEWIS, and CHRIS BURROWS for CHRIS SPEED. From a scrum 12m out Wirral went blind with the ball passed from ROB PEARL to JOE MURRAY who put in JULIAN HAIGH to score in the corner, the conversion was missed (53 mins). Straight from the kick off collected by Wirral the ball was passed out wide, JULIAN HAIGH in the line made a half break before off-loading to JAMES ANNETTS who outpaced the covering defence to score 10m from the corner flag, he duly converted to bring Wirral back into the game at 15-12 (54 mins).
Wirral were not able to consolidate this position as within 4 minutes, Cleckheaton increased their lead to 8 when wing forward Jack Seddon went in at the corner after the ball went through several pairs of hands, the conversion was missed. 20-12 (59 minutes). Whilst this was the end of the scoring Cleckheaton had a number of opportunities to add to their score but only a number of last ditch tackles by JAMES ANNETTS, DAN HARVEY and ROB PEARL prevented further tries, which also included in the home team knocking on over the line as well as being held up over the line.
In the final minutes of the game, with Wirral down to 14 men as CHRIS TYSON had been sin-binned, Wirral sought a losing bonus point. ALI BAKER made a fine 60m run but his pass inside went to ground and that opportunity was missed. The game finished with Wirral in the 20m area but could not control the ball for sufficient numbers of play to make any progress and so the game was lost.
It was clear that Cleckheaton were up for this game more so than Wirral, as they maintained their unbeaten 2016 home record but were helped by the number of penalties Wirral gave away (a minimum of 17) and clearly Wirral could not find the rhythm that they enjoyed last week. Wirral still lie in 2nd place, some 9 points ahead of Sheffield and need a further 7 points to be assured of the runner up position. Next week Wirral are on the road again at Cheshire neighbours, Stockport (3.00 kick off).
Richard McNeil
Wirral made one change from last week with MATT BROWN coming onto the bench in place of RYAN HIGGINSON.
Immediately from the kick off it was obvious that Cleckheaton were to use their forwards to make progress downfield and aided by two penalties in their favour they were now in the Wirral 20m area and in the 3rd minute, Cleckheaton stand-off Ronan Evans scored the first points with a penalty, 3-0.
Cleckheaton were clearly up for this game given that they were hovering outside the relegation places but were playing like a team much further up the league. Wirral were struggling for possession and territory and matters were not helped by the number of penalties awarded against Wirral. With half breaks and kicking to touch, Wirral were on the defensive for much of the first half and only final tackles prevented Cleckheaton from adding to their score. In the 17th minute, Adam Piper crossed for a try from 5m line out. The try was not converted. 8-0
After 25 minutes Wirral managed to get into the opposition 20m but Cleckheaton were able to clear their lines. CHRIS TYSON and MATT BROWN came on for RYAN STEAD and CHRIS HUGHES. A Cleckheaton second row then left a field on a stretcher but continued to watch the game from the side lines. At this stage Wirral were losing balls in tackles, knocking on and could not get into their usual rhythm, one could not believe this was the same team that put in such a fine performance last week at ILKLEY. Cleckheaton had a number of line outs close to the Wirral line but Wirral were able to hold out as the home team turned down penalty kick opportunities as they went for tries instead. Wirral were able to hold out until half time and it is to some credit that they had kept the score down to only 8 points.
Immediately after half time, an exchange of kicks led to Cleckheaton putting in a short kick which they also collected and enabled them to put winger Martin Woodhead away his pass inside was knocked on by CRAIG HARVEY and was yellow carded for that action on 41 minutes. With Wirral a man down, Cleckheaton took advantage from a 5m scrum as the ball was passed swiftly down the line which created an overlap for full back Jamie Wilson to score in the corner, well converted by Ronan Evans to leave the home side leading 15-0 (43 minutes). A further break by Cleckheaton was stopped with a try saving tackle from ROB PEARL.
On 46 minutes, Paul Turner was yellow carded and two penalties enabled Wirral to get down into the Cleckheaton 20m area. With ball in hand, Wirral were now attacking and JAMES ANNETTS took the ball at speed only to be high tackled by No. 23 (Jack Bickerdike) which was only given a yellow card and I thought warranted more serious action. CHRIS HUGHES came on for STEVE PENDERGAST, RYAN STEAD for PAUL LEWIS, and CHRIS BURROWS for CHRIS SPEED. From a scrum 12m out Wirral went blind with the ball passed from ROB PEARL to JOE MURRAY who put in JULIAN HAIGH to score in the corner, the conversion was missed (53 mins). Straight from the kick off collected by Wirral the ball was passed out wide, JULIAN HAIGH in the line made a half break before off-loading to JAMES ANNETTS who outpaced the covering defence to score 10m from the corner flag, he duly converted to bring Wirral back into the game at 15-12 (54 mins).
Wirral were not able to consolidate this position as within 4 minutes, Cleckheaton increased their lead to 8 when wing forward Jack Seddon went in at the corner after the ball went through several pairs of hands, the conversion was missed. 20-12 (59 minutes). Whilst this was the end of the scoring Cleckheaton had a number of opportunities to add to their score but only a number of last ditch tackles by JAMES ANNETTS, DAN HARVEY and ROB PEARL prevented further tries, which also included in the home team knocking on over the line as well as being held up over the line.
In the final minutes of the game, with Wirral down to 14 men as CHRIS TYSON had been sin-binned, Wirral sought a losing bonus point. ALI BAKER made a fine 60m run but his pass inside went to ground and that opportunity was missed. The game finished with Wirral in the 20m area but could not control the ball for sufficient numbers of play to make any progress and so the game was lost.
It was clear that Cleckheaton were up for this game more so than Wirral, as they maintained their unbeaten 2016 home record but were helped by the number of penalties Wirral gave away (a minimum of 17) and clearly Wirral could not find the rhythm that they enjoyed last week. Wirral still lie in 2nd place, some 9 points ahead of Sheffield and need a further 7 points to be assured of the runner up position. Next week Wirral are on the road again at Cheshire neighbours, Stockport (3.00 kick off).
Richard McNeil
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