Unbeaten League Leaders Eventually Overcome Wirral

For the away trip to league leaders, Huddersfield, Wirral had to make a number of changes from the side that played for 15 minutes last week against Waterloo.
MATT LOON was not available so MARK GIDMAN came in on the wing for his first game of the season. MARK WILLIAMS returned to play at fly half, with CRAIG HARVEY now out for most of the season. JAMES ANNETTS came back in at full back with ALI BAKER reverting to the wing. The forwards were as selected last week with JOE ADNAMS joining the substitute’s bench in place of the unavailable CHRIS TYSON.
Wirral played with the slight wind in the first half on a pitch which was starting to dry out. It was apparent from the start that Wirral had a specific game plan which was to disrupt the rhythm of the Huddersfield team by keeping them on the back foot. In the 4th minute Wirral took the lead when JAMES ANNETTS converted a penalty from 40m. In the early minutes of the game the Wirral backs were passing the ball along the line and creating opportunities, a kick over the home defence left the full back scrambling to defend. In the 10th minute Wirral extended their lead when from a scrum 20m out saw the ball down the backs, a miss out pass saw JAMES ANNETTS score in the corner and then went on to brilliantly convert his own try from the touchline. 0-10 (10 minutes).
Huddersfield came back utilising their forwards to make ground and after 2 line outs close to the Wirral line were denied a try when they were deemed as being held up over the line. The scrum was turned and Wirral were able to clear but after 19 minutes, the home team were on the scoreboard when prolific point’s scorer, Chris Bell scored a penalty. At this stage a number of late tackles were being missed but in the 24th minute, the Huddersfield flanker, Ben Hoyle was yellow carded for a tackle that was so late. The 26th minute saw Wirral extend their lead with another Annetts penalty but Huddersfield retaliated with a long penalty kick from 44m which crept over the bar but the 10 point lead was restored for Wirral with another long range penalty from JAMES ANNETTS.
Huddersfield came back and pressing until a good ball steal by KEITH MAHON enabled Wirral to clear and the half ending after 45 minutes. Wirral stayed out whilst Huddersfield retired to the changing room with their coach having a long discussion with the referee!!
The half stated with Wirral bringing on RYAN HIGGINSON in place of CHRIS HUGHES, who was injured. From the kick off and the subsequent play, a high kick was dropped by Wirral which immediately put them under pressure. From this position, the home side built momentum through their forwards grinding out the hard yards until Callum Thompson crashed over the whitewash from a metre out, close to the posts only for the conversion to be missed. 11-16 (42 mins). Huddersfield were awarded two kickable penalties, one was successful thus reducing the home sides deficit to 2 points. At this stage that Wirral were not getting the rub of the green as far as the refereeing decisions were going as for instance the home side scrum half was running away from the scrum without the ball and Wirral were then being penalised for breaking up the scrum.
Huddersfield eventually took the lead in the 54th minute, when Wirral had a clearance kick charged down which gave Huddersfield possession again in the 20m area, again using their forwards they worked their way to the whitewash before the second row, Austen Thompson crashed over again from a metre out and with the conversion there lead was now 21-16. JAMES REEVE came on for PAUL LEWIS.
The Huddersfield forwards were now looking to dominate and in the 68th minute were awarded a penalty try from a pushover, duly converted. This did not deter Wirral as they tried to get back into the game but were thwarted and were getting no assistance from the referee. A late and high tackle on MARK WILLIAMS “seen “by the exchange referee led to an exchange of views between the two sides but again he did nothing to protect the players. JOE ADNAMS came on for KEITH MAHON.
Huddersfield were now pressing for the 4th try and the bonus point but they were denied by Wirral for the second time this season when the referee called for time.
A great performance by Wirral in the first half and perhaps let Huddersfield back into the game with a dropped ball and failure to clear their lines in the early part of the second half and were unlucky to not come away with a losing bonus point at least. As a result of this game Wirral fall to 6th in the league but do have that game in hand at home next week.
Next week Wirral have a re-arranged game against Waterloo kicking off at 2-15pm.