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Sat 19 Nov 2016 ·  National League 3 North
1st XVStockport
Tries: M Williams (3), D Harvey, J Annetts (2), M Loon (2), M Ringer, C Harvey, S Broadbent, R HigginsonConversions: J Annetts (8)
76
14
Wirral Bring in a Ringer
Andrew Broadbent22 Nov 2016 - 21:43
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Following injuries at Lymm, coach Matt Cairns was forced into making changes for the match against bottom of the table Stockport.
With STUART GRATTON possibly needing surgery on his injured shoulder and thus is likely to be out for the rest of the season, the opportunity was given to 20 year old MATT RINGER to make his debut for the first team after good reports on his second team appearances. KEITH MAHON was rested and ROB PEARL switched to No 8 and CHRIS SPEED came into the back row. CHRIS HUGHES started in the front row with RYAN HIGGINSON on the bench along with TOM PARRY and JAMES REEVE.
Given the heavy rain and high winds we have had during the week, the pitch was firm and weather conditions were ideal for rugby. Wirral played towards the main road in the first half.
From the kick off Wirral were immediately on the attack with JAMES ANNETTS making progress down the left before being tackled into touch. Winning the line out, the ball was passed right and MARK WILIAMS came into the line to out-pace the defence to score in the corner, the conversion was missed. Even at this stage, Wirral had such dominance one pondered on what the final score might be, as SAM BROADBENT made progress down the middle only to be halted in the 20m area. Whilst Wirral were exerting pressure the final passes were not going to hand and chances were being lost. Stockport cleared downfield only for the ball to be collected by MATT LOON who powered infield and delivered a pass to DAN HARVEY who ran strongly to score in the opposite corner, the conversion was missed. 10-0 (12 mins).
It was another 11 minutes before Wirral scored again despite continuing to put pressure on the away side but came when Wirral were camped in the 20m area and with the forwards being held the ball was spun out right and a long pass from CRAIG HARVEY to JAMES ANNETTS saw the full back slide over in the corner, JAMES converted his own try. 17-0 (23 minutes). One minute later, Wirral were on the score sheet again when Stockport in possession lost the ball in a tackle from MATT LOON who although surrounded by the opposition gradually broke free and raced in from 60m to score wide out and thus Wirral had their try bonus point, the try was not converted. Another attack from the Wirral 20m commenced and thwarted when a pass was intercepted by the Stockport fly half, Scott Redfern who raced in from 40m to score and then convert his own try. 22-7 (28 mins). Four minutes later, MATT LOON was again the scorer for Wirral when a long pass beating several defenders was collected and the winger strolled in at corner. The next try was probably the most popular of the afternoon when from a 5m line out caught by Wirral they worked their way to the Stockport line with debutant, MATT RINGER in control at the back and when the whitewash was reached he was on hand to touch down and well converted by JAMES ANNETTS, who went to convert all the subsequent tries. 34-7 (39 mins). A series of good inter-passing by Wirral took play some 60m downfield only for the ball to be dropped and half-time called. 34-7.
At half time, RYAN HIGGINSON came on for JACK YARKER. Within a minute of the second half starting, a clearance from Stockport failed to find touch and was collected by CRAIG HARVEY who from 30m out, ran through the Stockport defence to score under the posts and three minutes later a similar situation with MARK WILIAMS collecting the ball some 45m out and proceeded to outpace the defence before beating the full back to score. 48-7 (44 minutes).
At this stage, coach, MATT CAIRNS switched the backs round to give MARK WILLIAMS some experience of playing fly half. TOM PARRY came on for CHRIS SPEED, who had an injury to his knee. Further pressure from Wirral saw Sam Broadbent on the end of a long pass to score. 55-7. (53 mins).
A rehearsed move from a certain position on the field saw PAUL LEWIS draw the opposition before passing to JAMES ANNETTS, who was through the gap to score. 62-7 (56 minutes) JAMES REEVE came on for PAUL LEWIS.
Wirral were now in full flow and a fine 60m break by JAMES ANNETTS came to nothing when the pass inside did not go to hand but play was back in the Stockport 20m area. Since coming on TOM PARRY had made good yardage and a further thrust enabled the ball to come out to RYAN HIGGINSON who forced his way over the whitewash to score. 69-7 (64 minutes). The final home try came from a Stockport error when the ball was dropped some 60m out and a kick through by MARK WILIAMS saw him in space but not in a position to pick up but two further controlled kicks forward saw the ball over the line and Mark winning the race to touch down for his second hat-trick of the season. 76-7 (74 minutes). The final minutes of the match saw Stockport in control of the ball amongst their forwards aided by a couple of penalties as they made their way downfield and with the last play of the game, the No 8 Jordan Pearson forced his way over and duly converted by Redfern- 76-14.
With some results going in our favour we have moved up to 3rd in the league and this score-line has helped in the improvement of our point’s difference but the team were looking to tighten up their defence today as too many points were been given away. Next Saturday the first team are away at Morley and for those wishing to travel by the coach, please check for details on the noticeboard later this week.
Richard McNeil
Given the heavy rain and high winds we have had during the week, the pitch was firm and weather conditions were ideal for rugby. Wirral played towards the main road in the first half.
From the kick off Wirral were immediately on the attack with JAMES ANNETTS making progress down the left before being tackled into touch. Winning the line out, the ball was passed right and MARK WILIAMS came into the line to out-pace the defence to score in the corner, the conversion was missed. Even at this stage, Wirral had such dominance one pondered on what the final score might be, as SAM BROADBENT made progress down the middle only to be halted in the 20m area. Whilst Wirral were exerting pressure the final passes were not going to hand and chances were being lost. Stockport cleared downfield only for the ball to be collected by MATT LOON who powered infield and delivered a pass to DAN HARVEY who ran strongly to score in the opposite corner, the conversion was missed. 10-0 (12 mins).
It was another 11 minutes before Wirral scored again despite continuing to put pressure on the away side but came when Wirral were camped in the 20m area and with the forwards being held the ball was spun out right and a long pass from CRAIG HARVEY to JAMES ANNETTS saw the full back slide over in the corner, JAMES converted his own try. 17-0 (23 minutes). One minute later, Wirral were on the score sheet again when Stockport in possession lost the ball in a tackle from MATT LOON who although surrounded by the opposition gradually broke free and raced in from 60m to score wide out and thus Wirral had their try bonus point, the try was not converted. Another attack from the Wirral 20m commenced and thwarted when a pass was intercepted by the Stockport fly half, Scott Redfern who raced in from 40m to score and then convert his own try. 22-7 (28 mins). Four minutes later, MATT LOON was again the scorer for Wirral when a long pass beating several defenders was collected and the winger strolled in at corner. The next try was probably the most popular of the afternoon when from a 5m line out caught by Wirral they worked their way to the Stockport line with debutant, MATT RINGER in control at the back and when the whitewash was reached he was on hand to touch down and well converted by JAMES ANNETTS, who went to convert all the subsequent tries. 34-7 (39 mins). A series of good inter-passing by Wirral took play some 60m downfield only for the ball to be dropped and half-time called. 34-7.
At half time, RYAN HIGGINSON came on for JACK YARKER. Within a minute of the second half starting, a clearance from Stockport failed to find touch and was collected by CRAIG HARVEY who from 30m out, ran through the Stockport defence to score under the posts and three minutes later a similar situation with MARK WILIAMS collecting the ball some 45m out and proceeded to outpace the defence before beating the full back to score. 48-7 (44 minutes).
At this stage, coach, MATT CAIRNS switched the backs round to give MARK WILLIAMS some experience of playing fly half. TOM PARRY came on for CHRIS SPEED, who had an injury to his knee. Further pressure from Wirral saw Sam Broadbent on the end of a long pass to score. 55-7. (53 mins).
A rehearsed move from a certain position on the field saw PAUL LEWIS draw the opposition before passing to JAMES ANNETTS, who was through the gap to score. 62-7 (56 minutes) JAMES REEVE came on for PAUL LEWIS.
Wirral were now in full flow and a fine 60m break by JAMES ANNETTS came to nothing when the pass inside did not go to hand but play was back in the Stockport 20m area. Since coming on TOM PARRY had made good yardage and a further thrust enabled the ball to come out to RYAN HIGGINSON who forced his way over the whitewash to score. 69-7 (64 minutes). The final home try came from a Stockport error when the ball was dropped some 60m out and a kick through by MARK WILIAMS saw him in space but not in a position to pick up but two further controlled kicks forward saw the ball over the line and Mark winning the race to touch down for his second hat-trick of the season. 76-7 (74 minutes). The final minutes of the match saw Stockport in control of the ball amongst their forwards aided by a couple of penalties as they made their way downfield and with the last play of the game, the No 8 Jordan Pearson forced his way over and duly converted by Redfern- 76-14.
With some results going in our favour we have moved up to 3rd in the league and this score-line has helped in the improvement of our point’s difference but the team were looking to tighten up their defence today as too many points were been given away. Next Saturday the first team are away at Morley and for those wishing to travel by the coach, please check for details on the noticeboard later this week.
Richard McNeil
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