Loon Hat-trick Not Enough

Wirral’s squad was unchanged for their last away game of the year and the only change to the starting line-up was CHRIS HUGHES starting and RYAN HIGGINSON on the bench. Wirral played uphill in the first half on what was a damp, dark afternoon with the floodlights on from the start.
The first 15 minutes of the game saw majority of play contained to mid-field the only exception being when a kick though went over the dead ball line. From play in the 20m area, Sandal were awarded a penalty from 18m out which captain, Greg Wood converted. 3-0. Gradually Wirral improved their share of possession and was highlighted by a 30m break by JAMES ANNETTS, which was followed by a kick to 10m from the Sandal line. Wirral benefitted from a penalty, which was quickly taken and CRAIG HARVEY delayed his pass to MATT LOON who came through at a good angle to cut through the Sandal defence to score under the posts and this was converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 3-7 (19 minutes).
Even at this stage, late tackles on Wirral players were being missed by the referee. Sandal hacked forward from a breakdown in Wirral play and only avoided scoring when JAMES ANNETTS came racing across to kick dead. From the 5m scrum, Sandal were prevented from scoring with good tackling by JOE MURRAY and CHRIS SPEED and although the Sandal forwards made thrusts at the line the defence held up, the ball went out to the backs where Greg Wood put in a long cross kick where right winger Dom Fawcett leapt high to catch and fall over the line, the conversion was missed. 10-7 (27 minutes). KEITH MAHON came on for CHRIS SPEED.
At this stage Sandal attacked down the blindside, the wing forward stepped into touch, play continued with Sandal pressing only for play to eventually come back where touch judge, BRENDAN BAILEY was subject to much abuse from the Sandal supporters and the lumbering Sandal prop sub. The referee had to reprimand the Sandal bench. RYAN HIGGINSON came on for JACK YARKER (Shoulder/neck injury). Good backs move by Sandal was stopped 20m from the Wirral line which resulted in DAN HARVEY being sin binned for coming in from the wrong side! From the resultant 5m scrum, Sandal extended their lead with a try from Declan Thompson; the conversion was missed as was a penalty in the last minute of the first half. 15-7 at half time (47 minutes).
Playing downhill, Wirral were awarded a penalty some 32m out but this was missed and within a couple of minutes, Sandal had responded with another penalty from Greg Wood. 18-7 (46 mins). It was now apparent that Wirral had the edge on Sandal in the scrum and were now pushing them back metres at a time and this helped Wirral put pressure on the home side in their 20m area. Pressure was now on Sandal and good handling on the blind side saw Craig and Dan involved before the final pass saw MATT LOON cross in the corner, the conversion was missed. 18-12 (50 minutes). PAUL LEWIS came on for RYAN STEAD.
Sandal then made a break up the middle and an off load saw Tom Coad cross under the posts, not that much could be seen from the many players in that area. A melee erupted with many players involved and it resulted in the Sandal second row, Luke Norbury being sent off for punching with the smallest player on the field, JOE MURRAY being sin binned. The try was eventually converted to give Sandal a 25-12 lead (60 minutes). CHRIS SPEED came on for KEITH MAHON. A further try came when Sandal went down the blindside some 30m out and ended with No 8 Sam Whittingham scoring their try bonus point: this was also converted. 32-12 (65 minutes), which was extended with a further Greg Wood penalty. KEITH MAHON came on for CHRIS SPEED, the latter being subject to punch, again not seen by the referee.
On 69 minutes, Sandal scrum half Josh Walker was sin binned for a deliberate knock on as he broke up a Wirral attack, reducing the home team to 13 men. MATT LOON was deemed to have been held up over the line but good handling in the Sandal 20m area saw him cross for his hat trick as he stepped inside his opposite number to score, the conversion was missed. 35-17 (69 mins). From the kick off the ball was collected cleanly and the Wirral backs showed what they could do with crisp passing, MARK WILLIAMS collect the ball some 55m out, cut inside and outpace the defence to score under the posts (try bonus point) and duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 35-24 (71 mins actual play).
Although there was no more scoring all the pressure came from Wirral as they sought one more try to give them a losing bonus point. The Sandal pack were being driven back, the scrum collapsed and no action taken. Much as Wirral applied pressure they could not construct that final pass. Matters had been helped when another Sandal player was sin binned. The second half eventually finished after 49 minutes (at 3.59)and without the floodlights this match could not have been finished.
On reflection the kicking of Greg Wood the Sandal captain was the difference between the two sides both from hand as he knows the ground and the contours well and off the tee. Wirral retain 3rd position in the league and their last game of 2016 is at home next week against Doncaster Phoenix, kick off 2.15pm.
Richard McNeil