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Sat 25 Feb 2017 · National League 3 North
1st XVFirwood Waterloo
Tries: A Baker (3), M Williams, J Annetts (2), M GidmanConversions: J Annetts (4)
43
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The Pace of Annetts and Baker Spearhead the Wirral Victory Over Waterloo
Andrew Broadbent26 Feb 2017 - 16:53
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Win over local rivals keeps Wirral near the top and Waterloo too near the bottom of the league.
The team for this re arranged game against Waterloo was not selected until late in the week until availabilities and shift patterns were known.
MARK GIDMAN retained his position on the wing with MARK WILLIAMS continuing at fly half. The main changes were on the substitute’s bench where GARETH BURKES and CHRIS SPEED joined JAMES REEVE on the bench. RYAN HIGGINSON started as CHRIS HUGHES was not available.
It was a must win game for both teams as Wirral strive for second place and thus the play-off position whilst Waterloo need victories to climb way from the relegation places. Waterloo felt they need 4 wins from their remaining 7 matches and had targeted Wirral away as being one given they had an excellent win last week at home to Lymm.
In the first half WIRRAL played against the wind and towards the main road. Having kicked off Waterloo in possession kicked the ball downfield where it was collected by Ali Baker who linked up with JAMES ANNETTS; the latter made a decisive break but with would be tacklers converging, a back pass was collected by ALI BAKER who streaked through the remaining defence to score under the posts which JAMES converted. 7-0 (1 min). Further pressure from Wirral resulted in the home team doubling their score when a pass from DAN HARVEY saw MARK WILLIAMS cut through the Waterloo back line to score close to the posts, converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 14-0 (6 minutes). Wirral continued to attack and another scoring opportunity was lost when the ball was dropped and Waterloo counter attacked by kicking through but good defensive work by MARK GIDMAN stopped the attack. After 10 minutes RYAN HIGGINSON injured his knee when tackled and fell awkwardly, he was replaced by GARETH BURKES, who was making his first appearance in the first team for 6 seasons.
Waterloo had been enjoying more territory and possession in the period leading up to their first try when the ball was spun out wide to the left and Tom Lavelle forced his way over in the corner through two would be tacklers, the try was not converted. 14-5 (22 minutes) . JAMES REEVE and CHRIS SPEED came on for PAUL LEWIS and KEITH MAHON respectively, the latter having suffered an injury to the ribs area. Wirral increased their lead to 19-5 (25 mins) following ALI BAKER making much ground before passing on to JAMES ANNETTS who forced his way over 10m from the posts. In the final period up to half time utilising the wind better, Waterloo had the greater share of possession and territory and putting much pressure on the Wirral line through a series of 5m scrums they were deemed as being held up over the line. Eventually Waterloo through their captain, Dan King forced his way over a try, which was not converted. This left the score at half time 19-10.
Like the first half, Wirral scored early in the second, when the ball was taken back into the Waterloo 20m area and they cleared downfield directly into touch. JAMES ANNETTS quickly got the ball and ran to near where the ball was kicked out and took a quick throw in to MATT RINGER who advanced a few metres before passing back to JAMES ANNETTS, who to the surprise of the Waterloo team crossed the line unopposed. The try was not converted: 24-10 (43 minutes).This try gave Wirral their bonus point. A break by JOE MURRAY where he cut through the Waterloo defence just failed to create a try when the recipient attempted to score himself when a further pass would have been the better option. However a couple of minutes later and following a passage of good passing, ALI BAKER crossed the whitewash for his second try, duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 31-10 (54 minutes). PAUL LEWIS came on for JAMES REEVE.
Wirral had a scrum some 10m from their own line and on winning the ball a long cross field ball was collected by ALI BAKER who beat his man but was then tackled and lost the ball some 50m downfield when the odds were on him scoring-“ not classed as jug evasion “ on this occasion. At this stage Wirral were well on top and good inter passing eventually led to MARK GIDMAN crashing over the line in the corner, his last try for the first team being several seasons ago. The crowd rose to salute “gidders” on his return down the pitch. The try was not converted 36-10 (69 minutes). JAMES REEVE came on for RYAN STEAD.
The final try came when MARK WILLIAMS was high tackled but the referee waved play on as MARK continued his run before passing to TOM PARRY who weaved his way through the Waterloo defence before passing to ALI BAKER who had a clear run in for his hat trick, the try was converted. 43 -10.
Waterloo to their credit continued to work the ball up field using their forwards, as they attempted to get on the score sheet in the second half but the Wirral defence remained solid. Given the changes made to the team in recent weeks, Coach Matt Cairns was pleased with the performance and the 5 points lifts Wirral back up to 4th place. This match was the first of 3 consecutive home matches and next week the match is against ILKLEY.
MARK GIDMAN retained his position on the wing with MARK WILLIAMS continuing at fly half. The main changes were on the substitute’s bench where GARETH BURKES and CHRIS SPEED joined JAMES REEVE on the bench. RYAN HIGGINSON started as CHRIS HUGHES was not available.
It was a must win game for both teams as Wirral strive for second place and thus the play-off position whilst Waterloo need victories to climb way from the relegation places. Waterloo felt they need 4 wins from their remaining 7 matches and had targeted Wirral away as being one given they had an excellent win last week at home to Lymm.
In the first half WIRRAL played against the wind and towards the main road. Having kicked off Waterloo in possession kicked the ball downfield where it was collected by Ali Baker who linked up with JAMES ANNETTS; the latter made a decisive break but with would be tacklers converging, a back pass was collected by ALI BAKER who streaked through the remaining defence to score under the posts which JAMES converted. 7-0 (1 min). Further pressure from Wirral resulted in the home team doubling their score when a pass from DAN HARVEY saw MARK WILLIAMS cut through the Waterloo back line to score close to the posts, converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 14-0 (6 minutes). Wirral continued to attack and another scoring opportunity was lost when the ball was dropped and Waterloo counter attacked by kicking through but good defensive work by MARK GIDMAN stopped the attack. After 10 minutes RYAN HIGGINSON injured his knee when tackled and fell awkwardly, he was replaced by GARETH BURKES, who was making his first appearance in the first team for 6 seasons.
Waterloo had been enjoying more territory and possession in the period leading up to their first try when the ball was spun out wide to the left and Tom Lavelle forced his way over in the corner through two would be tacklers, the try was not converted. 14-5 (22 minutes) . JAMES REEVE and CHRIS SPEED came on for PAUL LEWIS and KEITH MAHON respectively, the latter having suffered an injury to the ribs area. Wirral increased their lead to 19-5 (25 mins) following ALI BAKER making much ground before passing on to JAMES ANNETTS who forced his way over 10m from the posts. In the final period up to half time utilising the wind better, Waterloo had the greater share of possession and territory and putting much pressure on the Wirral line through a series of 5m scrums they were deemed as being held up over the line. Eventually Waterloo through their captain, Dan King forced his way over a try, which was not converted. This left the score at half time 19-10.
Like the first half, Wirral scored early in the second, when the ball was taken back into the Waterloo 20m area and they cleared downfield directly into touch. JAMES ANNETTS quickly got the ball and ran to near where the ball was kicked out and took a quick throw in to MATT RINGER who advanced a few metres before passing back to JAMES ANNETTS, who to the surprise of the Waterloo team crossed the line unopposed. The try was not converted: 24-10 (43 minutes).This try gave Wirral their bonus point. A break by JOE MURRAY where he cut through the Waterloo defence just failed to create a try when the recipient attempted to score himself when a further pass would have been the better option. However a couple of minutes later and following a passage of good passing, ALI BAKER crossed the whitewash for his second try, duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 31-10 (54 minutes). PAUL LEWIS came on for JAMES REEVE.
Wirral had a scrum some 10m from their own line and on winning the ball a long cross field ball was collected by ALI BAKER who beat his man but was then tackled and lost the ball some 50m downfield when the odds were on him scoring-“ not classed as jug evasion “ on this occasion. At this stage Wirral were well on top and good inter passing eventually led to MARK GIDMAN crashing over the line in the corner, his last try for the first team being several seasons ago. The crowd rose to salute “gidders” on his return down the pitch. The try was not converted 36-10 (69 minutes). JAMES REEVE came on for RYAN STEAD.
The final try came when MARK WILLIAMS was high tackled but the referee waved play on as MARK continued his run before passing to TOM PARRY who weaved his way through the Waterloo defence before passing to ALI BAKER who had a clear run in for his hat trick, the try was converted. 43 -10.
Waterloo to their credit continued to work the ball up field using their forwards, as they attempted to get on the score sheet in the second half but the Wirral defence remained solid. Given the changes made to the team in recent weeks, Coach Matt Cairns was pleased with the performance and the 5 points lifts Wirral back up to 4th place. This match was the first of 3 consecutive home matches and next week the match is against ILKLEY.
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