Streaker Eventually Spurs Wirral Into Action

There were many changes enforced for the game away at Rossendale with many of the first team carrying injuries and thus the team selected was as follows:

1. Chris Hughes 2. Jack Yarker 3. Ryan Higginson 4. Ryan Stead 5. Paul Lewis 6. Chris Speed 7. Tom Parry 8. Keith Mahon 9. Josh Stead (captain) 10. Sam Broadbent 11. Adam Sheldon 12.Matt Loon 13. Mark Gidman 14. Tom Sweeney (making his debut) 15. Mark Williams Subs: Chris Tyson, Matt Brown and Steve Pendergast.

Congratulations to the Wirral U 15’s who defeated Rossendale 19-5 prior to the main event.

Wirral played against the breeze and the slope in the first half, on a hard pitch with the temperature much cooler than at Clatterbridge.
From the outset it was apparent that Rossendale were to play a running game and within 5 minutes were ahead when a backs move resulted in winger Robert Foxen kicking over the full back and collecting the ball on the bounce to score, the conversion from Steve Nutt was missed. It was apparent that the Rossendale front row were bringing down their opposite numbers and penalties were soon mounting up in Wirral’s favour. One such penalty some 20m out was quickly taken by JOSH STEAD who passed to KEITH MAHON who then proceeded to wade through would be tacklers to cross 10m from the corner flag, against the wind the conversion was well judged by SAM BROADBENT to give Wirral the lead 5-7 (10 minutes).
With the aid of penalties Wirral were able to pin Rossendale back, but with the ball in hand the home side were quick to advance down the field and from a scrum 20m out, the ball went down the blindside where Robert Foxen went in for his second try. The try was converted but this was Steve Nutt’s only successful kick of the afternoon. 12-7 (15 mins). On 26 minutes the lead was extended when good inter passing from 80m out gave George Peel a run in on the right, 17-7.
CHRIS TYSON, MATT BROWN and STEVE PENDERGAST came on for CHRIS SPEED, CHRIS HUGHES and RYAN HIGGINSON respectively on 28 mins. With concentrated play in the Rossendale 20m area, the opposition No 8 Dominic Moon was sin binned for foul play. From the resultant play Wirral played the ball wide and a pass to TOM PARRY saw him cut through to score only for the try to be disallowed for a forward pass. However Wirral were awarded a penalty some plays later and from 17m out SAM BROADBENT converted to leave the score 17-10.
A kick down field was dealt with by MARK WILLIAMS and from behind his own line ran to the 20m line before putting in a kick for touch, where the Rossendale player jumped out of play to push the ball into play (did his feet touch the ground?), the touch judge raised his flag and then put it down but the error gave Rossendale the momentum to attack again. From a scrum 15m out the scrum half went blind and fed Sam Atiola who went in for a try in the corner. 22-10 (38 mins). With the last play of the first half, Wirral were awarded a penalty and went for goal some 15m in from touch and despite the tricky wind, SAM BROADBENT converted to reduce the deficit to 22-13 at half time.
Apparently during the half time interval there was a female streaker from the hen party, which livened up proceedings during the interval, a brave lady given the cool wind. This event obviously inspired Rossendale as within the first 7 minutes of the second half they scored two tries through Keiron Allen and Sam Atiola, the latter from good play by keeping the ball alive with a number of passes, 32-13. CHRIS SPEED came on for KEITH MAHON who had taken a knock; this was quickly followed by RYAN HIGGINSON and CHRIS HUGHES for STEVE PENDERGAST and MATT BROWN.
Wirral were coming more into the game as the slope certainly assists teams but the game was still very open with both teams being denied tries and a further Rossendale try was denied when CHRIS SPEED intercepted a few metres from his line. SAM BROADBENT took a knock and had to be taken off after 59 minutes, which meant wholesale changes in the backs with the main change being MARK WILLIAMS going to fly half. MATT BROWN came on for Sam.
With more ball available to Wirral they continued to attack but the final pass or the kick through was not quite going to hand. On 73 minutes a quick penalty was taken to MARK WILLIAMS, who kicked deftly over the oncoming defence and collected the ball before the Rossendale defender knew what had happened had collected and touched down, the conversion was missed. 32-18. Within the next 4 minutes, Wirral were level at 32 all as firstly good attacking play ended with TOM PARRY scoring and then following great inter passing between the players from the kick off, ended with MATT BROWN being on hand to pick up and dive over the white wash to score. Both tries were converted by MARK WILLIAMS. Could Wirral salvage another win with the last play of the game? unfortunately not as Rossendale secured the ball from the kick off and set up play in the Wirral half, a speculative kick to the left wing enabled the Rossendale wing, Robert Foxen to beat the Wirral winger to the touchdown and the win for Rossendale, as the whistle went for full time as the conversion was missed.
Whilst Rossendale were deserving winners, credit must go to a Wirral side who had lost two key players during the game to injuries, for the way they came back in the closing minutes of the game and almost snatch a draw/ victory.

After a long and physically hard season the physios and coaches will have to work hard with the players this week to ensure we get a side able to compete in the play-off next Saturday.

The first team would like to thank all supporters for their attendance at matches, especially those away from home during the season and look forward to a large contingent making their way down to Hinckley next Saturday, where seats on coaches will be available to supporters. For further details see any updates on the site, or notices in the clubhouse or contact members of the Rugby committee.