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Sat 14 Jan 2017 · National League 3 North
1st XVBillingham
Tries: A Baker, J Annetts, M WilliamsConversions: C Harvey (3)Penalties: C Harvey (2)
32
17
Second Half Comeback Wins the Game
Andrew Broadbent15 Jan 2017 - 16:50
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After the away game at Billingham where Wirral were well beaten; the First Team we're keen to overcome the visitors.
As with last week’s game Wirral were eager to reverse the loss incurred at Bill earlier in the season when they were well beaten. For this game there was just one change to the squad with JAMES REEVE coming on to the subs bench in place of JOE ADNAMS. CHRIS HUGHES started at prop on his 200th first team appearance with RYAN HIGGINSON on the bench.
Given the cold weather experienced elsewhere in the country coupled with the rain we have had the pitch was again in excellent condition with Wirral kicking towards the main road and into the wind. Wirral kicked off and after a minor infringement were given the put in at the first scrum, duly won and out to the backs, with ALI BAKER coming into the line and on receipt of the ball was soon through a gap in the away defence to score from 40m some 5m in from touch, the try was not converted, 5-0 (2 mins). This was quickly followed by another break by JAMES ANNETTS but the Bill defence got back to cover that threat.
Billingham for their part were quick to spread the ball wide and show the pace of their wings as they valuable inroads into Wirral territory. It was proving difficult for the home team to contain them as they could not red their intentions with the pass back inside. Pressure told as Matthew Kirby crossed for them from some 10m and this was converted by Dan Finney to give the away side a 5-7 lead after 10 minutes. With this score it brought confidence to the Billingham side and they continued to make ground and probe for openings and it was no surprise when through enterprising play a pass inside again led to Tom Briggs scoring close to the posts, duly converted by Dan Finney to give the away side a 5-14 lead after 17 minutes. Wirral were having difficulty in combatting Billingham as they were starved of possession and were having difficulty in clearing the ball any meaningful distance downfield. The away side were declining penalty opportunities as they went for 5/10m line outs but the Wirral defence started to buckle down to the job in hand and on the half hour mark managed to get into the Billingham half of the field for only the second time in the match. The Billingham team were denied a third try when from close range they were held up over the line when DAN HARVEY managed to get under the potential touch down. Wirral were able to hold out until half time although in the final minute of the half were able to exert some pressure on Billingham in their 20m area.
Within a minute of the restart, Wirral reduced the arrears to 8-14 with a long range (38m) penalty by CRAIG HARVEY. The home side were now exerting pressure on Billingham and had the advantage in the scrum. On 45mins Wirral made two substitutions, RYAN HIGGINSON and RYAN STEAD coming on for CHRIS HUGHES and CHRIS TYSON. On 49mins having turned down two kickable penalty opportunities, they went for a scrum 10m out and pushed the Billingham pack back over the line, they were denied a try as Billingham infringed but were awarded a penalty try which was duly converted by CRAIG HARVEY to put the home side back into the lead 15-14 (49 mins). For the infringement which prevented Wirral from scoring the Billingham wing forward Anthony Jackson was sin binned. After further pressure from Wirral in the opposition 20m area as the forwards advanced, the ball came out wide through the backs and a delayed pass from CRAIG HARVEY to JAMES ANNETTS, gave him an easy 10m run in to score close to the posts and with Craig converting increased the lead after 55 mins to 22-14. JAMES REEVE came on for PAUL LEWIS. In the next few minutes the kickers exchanged penalties, with Dan Finney the Billingham playing converting his from some 38m out against the wind, a fine achievement.
With Wirral using the wind well to gain ground, a penalty was kicked some 50m into touch and a line out taken on the 20m line. A new move only rehearsed in the pre match warm up resulted in an astute pass from JOE MURRAY to MARK WILLIAMS who cut through the away defence to score under the posts, with the conversion from CRAIG HARVEY extended Wirral’s lead to 32-17 with 11 minutes to go thus leaving Wirral three scores ahead.
Billingham continued to attack and make ground but the Wirral defence was able to stand up to the task and see the game out. With 5 minutes to go CRAIG HARVEY fielded the ball only for an opposition player to come in with his knees which resulted in the Wirral player leaving the field to be replaced by PAUL LEWIS, with MARK WILLIAMS going to fly half. Wirral played out the final minutes comfortably.
This result leaves Wirral with the same number of points as Rossendale whose match today was called off today but trail them on point’s difference. There is no match next week but in a fortnight Wirral are away at Hull who currently lie in 4th- another difficult match.
Given the cold weather experienced elsewhere in the country coupled with the rain we have had the pitch was again in excellent condition with Wirral kicking towards the main road and into the wind. Wirral kicked off and after a minor infringement were given the put in at the first scrum, duly won and out to the backs, with ALI BAKER coming into the line and on receipt of the ball was soon through a gap in the away defence to score from 40m some 5m in from touch, the try was not converted, 5-0 (2 mins). This was quickly followed by another break by JAMES ANNETTS but the Bill defence got back to cover that threat.
Billingham for their part were quick to spread the ball wide and show the pace of their wings as they valuable inroads into Wirral territory. It was proving difficult for the home team to contain them as they could not red their intentions with the pass back inside. Pressure told as Matthew Kirby crossed for them from some 10m and this was converted by Dan Finney to give the away side a 5-7 lead after 10 minutes. With this score it brought confidence to the Billingham side and they continued to make ground and probe for openings and it was no surprise when through enterprising play a pass inside again led to Tom Briggs scoring close to the posts, duly converted by Dan Finney to give the away side a 5-14 lead after 17 minutes. Wirral were having difficulty in combatting Billingham as they were starved of possession and were having difficulty in clearing the ball any meaningful distance downfield. The away side were declining penalty opportunities as they went for 5/10m line outs but the Wirral defence started to buckle down to the job in hand and on the half hour mark managed to get into the Billingham half of the field for only the second time in the match. The Billingham team were denied a third try when from close range they were held up over the line when DAN HARVEY managed to get under the potential touch down. Wirral were able to hold out until half time although in the final minute of the half were able to exert some pressure on Billingham in their 20m area.
Within a minute of the restart, Wirral reduced the arrears to 8-14 with a long range (38m) penalty by CRAIG HARVEY. The home side were now exerting pressure on Billingham and had the advantage in the scrum. On 45mins Wirral made two substitutions, RYAN HIGGINSON and RYAN STEAD coming on for CHRIS HUGHES and CHRIS TYSON. On 49mins having turned down two kickable penalty opportunities, they went for a scrum 10m out and pushed the Billingham pack back over the line, they were denied a try as Billingham infringed but were awarded a penalty try which was duly converted by CRAIG HARVEY to put the home side back into the lead 15-14 (49 mins). For the infringement which prevented Wirral from scoring the Billingham wing forward Anthony Jackson was sin binned. After further pressure from Wirral in the opposition 20m area as the forwards advanced, the ball came out wide through the backs and a delayed pass from CRAIG HARVEY to JAMES ANNETTS, gave him an easy 10m run in to score close to the posts and with Craig converting increased the lead after 55 mins to 22-14. JAMES REEVE came on for PAUL LEWIS. In the next few minutes the kickers exchanged penalties, with Dan Finney the Billingham playing converting his from some 38m out against the wind, a fine achievement.
With Wirral using the wind well to gain ground, a penalty was kicked some 50m into touch and a line out taken on the 20m line. A new move only rehearsed in the pre match warm up resulted in an astute pass from JOE MURRAY to MARK WILLIAMS who cut through the away defence to score under the posts, with the conversion from CRAIG HARVEY extended Wirral’s lead to 32-17 with 11 minutes to go thus leaving Wirral three scores ahead.
Billingham continued to attack and make ground but the Wirral defence was able to stand up to the task and see the game out. With 5 minutes to go CRAIG HARVEY fielded the ball only for an opposition player to come in with his knees which resulted in the Wirral player leaving the field to be replaced by PAUL LEWIS, with MARK WILLIAMS going to fly half. Wirral played out the final minutes comfortably.
This result leaves Wirral with the same number of points as Rossendale whose match today was called off today but trail them on point’s difference. There is no match next week but in a fortnight Wirral are away at Hull who currently lie in 4th- another difficult match.
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