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Sat 12 Nov 2016 · National League 3 North
Lymm
1st XV
24
27
Tries: M Loon, J Annetts, R PearlConversions: J Annetts (3)Penalties: J Annetts (2)Yellow Carded: M Williams
Late Pearl Try Secures Victory
Andrew Broadbent14 Nov 2016 - 22:52
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Matches against Lymm over the past 3 seasons have always been close and this match was no exception as Wirral’s lack lustre performance in the first half almost cost them this game until a late ROB PEARL try secured victory.
There were only a couple of changes to the team which won at Ilkley with ROB PEARL returning to the back row with CHRIS BURROWS now on the subs bench and CHRIS SPEED playing in the second team.
The early play saw the game being played in the Wirral half and after 3 minutes, Lymm took the lead when centre Richard McEvoy burst through the Wirral back line some 30m out, outpace the defence to score under the posts, Tom Shard converting . 7 minutes later Lymm increased the lead to 10-0 with a Shard penalty. At this stage Wirral had already suffered an injury with a cut to TOM PARRY’S eyebrow but he played on. It was all Lymm at this stage as they turned down another penalty kick to take a 10m line out.
It took some 10 minutes without any meaningful possession before Wirral managed to get into the Lymm half. On 17 minutes, MARK WILLIAMS made a half break, kicked ahead and slipped as the Lymm player caught the ball and was deemed as tackling him in the air and was sent to the sin bin. A couple of minutes later with Lymm in the 20m area, the Wirral scrum wheeled and gave away a penalty try and with the conversion from Shard saw the home team take a 17-0 lead after 21 minutes.
On 25 minutes, with Wirral now getting into the game they managed to get the scoreboard ticking over with a penalty from JAMES ANNETTS from 25m out. A further penalty opportunity was declined as they kicked for the corner, did not find touch but the Lymm player knocked on. Wirral were now pressing with ball in hand on the Lymm line but could not find their way over the whitewash, also deemed as being held up over the line. On 34 minutes, CHRIS HUGHES came on for STUART GRATTON, who left the field with a serious shoulder injury (will be out for some time). Another penalty and another 5m scrum, the ball came out to the backs with MARK WILLIAMS (now back on)coming into the line and a smart grubber kick behind the Lymm back line saw MATT LOON outpace the defence to touch down 5m from the corner, a great conversion from JAMES ANNETTS reduced the arrears to 17-10. Further good play had Wirral down in the Lymm 20m area pressing for a further score before half time, Wirral held up over the line again and from this play, ROB PEARL progressed towards the posts only to be felled by a high tackle- one mete out, no action taken! Half time 17-10.
At half time, CHRIS BURROWS came on for KEITH MAHON (injured). Early in the second half, RYAN HIGGINSON was injured and left the field: JAMES REEVE came on, with the possibility of uncontested scrums. On 50 mins RYAN returned and PAUL LEWIS was substituted. Lymm were caught off side and JAMES ANNETTS converted a penalty from 10m wide of the posts. 17-13 (50 minutes). Playing down the slope and with the wind advantage, Lymm were now putting up high balls, previously they had been dealt with but one was dropped and Oli Higginson the Lymm centre was on hand to pick up the loose ball and run in unopposed from 30m and with the conversion from Shard, Lymm had a 24-13 lead with 18 minutes to go.
We now saw Wirral starting to dominate as pressure was put on the Lymm defence with the home team relieved to clear from penalties. Wirral were now running the ball more as highlighted by a long run from MATT LOON only to be tackled into touch 15m out. The pressure was beginning to tell as the Lymm prop was sent to the bin for fighting and this was followed by a double penalty to Wirral. Two minutes later a Wirral backs move saw a delayed pass from DAN HARVEY to JAMES ANNETTS and James cut through the defence and run in unopposed to score near the posts and he converted his own try to reduce the deficit to 24-20 (66 minutes).
Back again came Wirral again pressing Lymm, tackled on the line but the Lymm defence held out despite giving away penalties, all kick options declined as Wirral went for a possible try. A penalty two metres out was awarded and quickly taken with ROB PEARL smashing his way over the line to put Wirral in the lead and another superb conversion from JAMES ANNETTS (17 points in the game) saw Wirral take the lead for the first time 24-27.(68 minutes). The away side were now chasing a try bonus point and an astute kick from CRAIG HARVEY was collected by MARK WILLIAMS who cut inside his winger only to be tackled a metre from the line and the ball went forward allowing Lymm to touch down.
The final minutes were played out under tension as the next score was so important to each side. Lymm moved the ball downfield and were camped in the Wirral 20m area only for the home side to hold onto the ball in the tackle allowing Wirral to clear. With the light fading as all the injury time was played, a final penalty to Wirral after 48 minutes was kicked dead and the match was over.
Despite playing against the elements in the second half, Wirral played to something approaching their usual standard and on the second half performance deserved to win this match. Wirral are now 4th on points having missed out on a try bonus point, one point behind Sandal and 6 behind Rossendale. On Saturday, after two weeks on the road, Wirral are at home to bottom placed, Stockport- kick off 2.15pm.
Richard McNeil
The early play saw the game being played in the Wirral half and after 3 minutes, Lymm took the lead when centre Richard McEvoy burst through the Wirral back line some 30m out, outpace the defence to score under the posts, Tom Shard converting . 7 minutes later Lymm increased the lead to 10-0 with a Shard penalty. At this stage Wirral had already suffered an injury with a cut to TOM PARRY’S eyebrow but he played on. It was all Lymm at this stage as they turned down another penalty kick to take a 10m line out.
It took some 10 minutes without any meaningful possession before Wirral managed to get into the Lymm half. On 17 minutes, MARK WILLIAMS made a half break, kicked ahead and slipped as the Lymm player caught the ball and was deemed as tackling him in the air and was sent to the sin bin. A couple of minutes later with Lymm in the 20m area, the Wirral scrum wheeled and gave away a penalty try and with the conversion from Shard saw the home team take a 17-0 lead after 21 minutes.
On 25 minutes, with Wirral now getting into the game they managed to get the scoreboard ticking over with a penalty from JAMES ANNETTS from 25m out. A further penalty opportunity was declined as they kicked for the corner, did not find touch but the Lymm player knocked on. Wirral were now pressing with ball in hand on the Lymm line but could not find their way over the whitewash, also deemed as being held up over the line. On 34 minutes, CHRIS HUGHES came on for STUART GRATTON, who left the field with a serious shoulder injury (will be out for some time). Another penalty and another 5m scrum, the ball came out to the backs with MARK WILLIAMS (now back on)coming into the line and a smart grubber kick behind the Lymm back line saw MATT LOON outpace the defence to touch down 5m from the corner, a great conversion from JAMES ANNETTS reduced the arrears to 17-10. Further good play had Wirral down in the Lymm 20m area pressing for a further score before half time, Wirral held up over the line again and from this play, ROB PEARL progressed towards the posts only to be felled by a high tackle- one mete out, no action taken! Half time 17-10.
At half time, CHRIS BURROWS came on for KEITH MAHON (injured). Early in the second half, RYAN HIGGINSON was injured and left the field: JAMES REEVE came on, with the possibility of uncontested scrums. On 50 mins RYAN returned and PAUL LEWIS was substituted. Lymm were caught off side and JAMES ANNETTS converted a penalty from 10m wide of the posts. 17-13 (50 minutes). Playing down the slope and with the wind advantage, Lymm were now putting up high balls, previously they had been dealt with but one was dropped and Oli Higginson the Lymm centre was on hand to pick up the loose ball and run in unopposed from 30m and with the conversion from Shard, Lymm had a 24-13 lead with 18 minutes to go.
We now saw Wirral starting to dominate as pressure was put on the Lymm defence with the home team relieved to clear from penalties. Wirral were now running the ball more as highlighted by a long run from MATT LOON only to be tackled into touch 15m out. The pressure was beginning to tell as the Lymm prop was sent to the bin for fighting and this was followed by a double penalty to Wirral. Two minutes later a Wirral backs move saw a delayed pass from DAN HARVEY to JAMES ANNETTS and James cut through the defence and run in unopposed to score near the posts and he converted his own try to reduce the deficit to 24-20 (66 minutes).
Back again came Wirral again pressing Lymm, tackled on the line but the Lymm defence held out despite giving away penalties, all kick options declined as Wirral went for a possible try. A penalty two metres out was awarded and quickly taken with ROB PEARL smashing his way over the line to put Wirral in the lead and another superb conversion from JAMES ANNETTS (17 points in the game) saw Wirral take the lead for the first time 24-27.(68 minutes). The away side were now chasing a try bonus point and an astute kick from CRAIG HARVEY was collected by MARK WILLIAMS who cut inside his winger only to be tackled a metre from the line and the ball went forward allowing Lymm to touch down.
The final minutes were played out under tension as the next score was so important to each side. Lymm moved the ball downfield and were camped in the Wirral 20m area only for the home side to hold onto the ball in the tackle allowing Wirral to clear. With the light fading as all the injury time was played, a final penalty to Wirral after 48 minutes was kicked dead and the match was over.
Despite playing against the elements in the second half, Wirral played to something approaching their usual standard and on the second half performance deserved to win this match. Wirral are now 4th on points having missed out on a try bonus point, one point behind Sandal and 6 behind Rossendale. On Saturday, after two weeks on the road, Wirral are at home to bottom placed, Stockport- kick off 2.15pm.
Richard McNeil
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