Wirral Edged Out By Huddersfield

The game against league leaders Huddersfield was played in ideal conditions with a little give in the ground following some rain during the week. The only change from last week’s game was KEITH MAHON coming in for the injured ROB PEARL; JAMES REEVE came onto the subs bench.
The game started with Huddersfield immediately on the attack with play contained 30m from the Wirral goal line but at this stage the home team were relieved just to get the ball into touch. On 7 minutes close to the try line, Huddersfield went blind and from 5m out the try scoring pass was knocked on over the line. On 12 minutes Wirral managed to get into the opposition half for the first time and were able to make progress with the limited possession they had.
Huddersfield attacked with the ball only to drop 60m out, this was picked up by CRAIG HARVEY who made a half break before delaying the pass to CHRIS BURROWS, although he had options on either side of him, he was able to outpace the Huddersfield defence to score 5m from the corner flag. The try was well converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 7-0 (15 mins). The worrying aspect at this stage was the penalty count mounting against Wirral and it was enabling the away side to make ground easily, from such a penalty and 5m line out they knocked on when pressurised near the Wirral line. Wirral had the opportunity on 23m to extend their lead with an attempt from 39m but this was missed.
With an equal amount of possession Wirral were able to penetrate the Huddersfield defence and a half break by JAMES ANNETTS and pass onto JACK YARKER saw the prop crash over the line only for the referee from some distance away, to deem the ball to be held up over the line, another chance lost. On 37 minutes Bell the Huddersfield fly half reduced the arrears with a penalty and the score at half time was 7-3.
Immediately after half time, the Huddersfield second row, Austen Thompson broke through a tackle and passed to Bell before receiving the return pass to score under the posts, this was converted by Bell to give the away side a 7-10 lead. Wirral came back and a break by DANNY HARVEY was stopped metres from the line and this was then followed by a quickly taken penalty by CRAIG HARVEY to RYAN HIGGINSON who was stopped by three player’s inches from the line. After 5 minutes of pressure Huddersfield eventually cleared. On 53 mins Wirral were level when a JAMES ANNETTS penalty was converted from 35m out. 10-10. Wirral make their first change when CHRIS HUGHES coming on for JACK YARKER.
Huddersfield on holding possession at the next scrum, had the scrum half picks up and run into the open side who wasleaving the scrum, nothing given but from that incident, Huddersfield are awarded a penalty which Bell converted, 10-13 (67 minutes). Still Wirral came back and pressing Huddersfield in their 20m area and only a dropped ball in front of the posts prevented them from scoring. JAMES REEVE came on for PAUL LEWIS (68 mins). On 72 mins Huddersfield extended their lead with another penalty 10-16.
The rest of the match was spent 30m from the Huddersfield line as their defence was severely tested. Wirral were turning down kickable penalty opportunities as they sought a converted try and this pressure told with the Huddersfield No 7 Lewis Bradley being sin binned. 2 minutes later the ref. produced another yellow card against the winger, Brandon Conway, who whilst walking off had an altercation with the Wirral captain, who retaliated; the referee reversed the penalty and rescinded the yellow card!! The final 2 minutes saw Huddersfield resorting to delaying tactics before the line out which they controlled and played out time, much to their relief.
This result leaves Wirral in 6th place having played all the teams directly above them in the first half of the season. For the next two weeks they are on the road, firstly at Ilkley (see club house for details of coach departure) and then neighbours Lymm. Matches now kick off at 2.15pm.
Richard McNeil