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Sat 25 Mar 2017 · National League 3 North
Stockport
1st XV
12
38
Tries: S Broadbent, J Yarker (2), K Mahon, M Williams, A BakerConversions: J Annetts (4)
Yarker Lays Down His Marker
Andrew Broadbent26 Mar 2017 - 16:50
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Wirral get back to winning ways in the sunshine at Stockport.
For the penultimate away game of the season, there were some changes to the team. Acting captain, ROB PEARL returned to the side after recovering from his injury, JOSH STEAD retained his place at scrum half in the absence of injured JOE MURRAY. CHRIS TYSON started in the second row with PAUL LEWIS on the bench where he was joined by CHRIS SPEED and STEVE PENDERGAST.
The game was played in bright sunshine on a drying and hardening pitch, which tends to aid the game which Wirral tend to play. In the first minute of the game, Wirral thought they had scored after a promising backs move only to find that MATT LOON’s foot had strayed into touch. With Wirral pressing a hand injury to MATT RINGER forced him to leave the field meaning that STEVE PENDERGAST faced 75 minutes of play, JACK YARKER went to hooker.
For the next 25 minutes with limited ball, Wirral were put under pressure by Stockport’s game plan of progress up the middle through their forwards aided by Wirral when in possession losing the ball in the tackle/dropped passes. Stockport was able to put pressure on Wirral and were denied a try when deemed to be held up over the line. It was no surprise that Stockport took the lead in the 25th minute when a missed tackle allowed Simon Currie to cross and duly converted by Scott Redfern to give the home side a 7-0 lead.
This score spurred Wirral into action and in the 8 minutes before half time, Wirral scored three tries. The first coming from pressure on the Stockport line which after a number of thrusts the ball was popped to SAM BROADBENT on the blind side to crash over from 3m to score, the conversion was missed. Prior to the next try, Wirral had missed two further tries following good breaks by ROB PEARL and MATT LOON only to be thwarted by tap tackles metres from the line. With Wirral now in the ascendancy further pressure was applied and a penalty allowed a 5m line out, which was collected and rumbled over the whitewash with JACK YARKER touching down for his first try of the season, the conversion was again missed, 7-10-38 minutes. From the kick off, Wirral moved forward with purpose and the ball spin along the backs saw DAN HARVEY switch inside to KEITH MAHON who had a clear 20m run to the line to score under the posts, converted by JAMES ANNETTS to give Wirral a 7-17 lead at half time.
Stockport started the second half promisingly and were close to the Wirral line only to knock on and allowing Wirral to clear. CHRIS SPEED and PAUL LEWIS came on for CHRIS TYSON and KEITH MAHON.
On 54 minutes pressure from Wirral with another 5m line out led to JACK YARKER’s second try from another maul and this try cost Stuart Gratton “money” as he will not be the leading front row try scorer this season. JAMES ANNETTS converted to give Wirral a 7-24 lead and the important try bonus point.
On 62 minutes came the try of the game as CHRIS SPEED made a break down the right of some 50m before off- loading to ROB PEARL, Wirral recycled the ball and quick passing to the other side of the pitch enabled MARK WILLIAMS to cross and again converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 7-31. Three minutes later two penalties against the Wirral side gave Stockport pressure in the away side 20m area and another missed tackle enabled Simon Green to squeeze in at the corner, not converted, 12-31. With Stockport in possession, the ball was dropped and ALI BAKER swooped to pick up and run through the home defence to score under the posts and another conversion for JAMES ANNETTS.
KEITH MAHON came on for the hard working TOM PARRY only for TOM to return to the pitch when SAM BROADBENT came off with a hand injury with a few minutes remaining. There was one final opportunity for Wirral to score, when ALI BAKER was clear yet managed to drop the ball- enough said.
This win moves Wirral up to 5th in the league with coach, MATT CAIRNS targeting to finish the season with a flourish starting next week with a home game against relegation threatened Morley.
The game was played in bright sunshine on a drying and hardening pitch, which tends to aid the game which Wirral tend to play. In the first minute of the game, Wirral thought they had scored after a promising backs move only to find that MATT LOON’s foot had strayed into touch. With Wirral pressing a hand injury to MATT RINGER forced him to leave the field meaning that STEVE PENDERGAST faced 75 minutes of play, JACK YARKER went to hooker.
For the next 25 minutes with limited ball, Wirral were put under pressure by Stockport’s game plan of progress up the middle through their forwards aided by Wirral when in possession losing the ball in the tackle/dropped passes. Stockport was able to put pressure on Wirral and were denied a try when deemed to be held up over the line. It was no surprise that Stockport took the lead in the 25th minute when a missed tackle allowed Simon Currie to cross and duly converted by Scott Redfern to give the home side a 7-0 lead.
This score spurred Wirral into action and in the 8 minutes before half time, Wirral scored three tries. The first coming from pressure on the Stockport line which after a number of thrusts the ball was popped to SAM BROADBENT on the blind side to crash over from 3m to score, the conversion was missed. Prior to the next try, Wirral had missed two further tries following good breaks by ROB PEARL and MATT LOON only to be thwarted by tap tackles metres from the line. With Wirral now in the ascendancy further pressure was applied and a penalty allowed a 5m line out, which was collected and rumbled over the whitewash with JACK YARKER touching down for his first try of the season, the conversion was again missed, 7-10-38 minutes. From the kick off, Wirral moved forward with purpose and the ball spin along the backs saw DAN HARVEY switch inside to KEITH MAHON who had a clear 20m run to the line to score under the posts, converted by JAMES ANNETTS to give Wirral a 7-17 lead at half time.
Stockport started the second half promisingly and were close to the Wirral line only to knock on and allowing Wirral to clear. CHRIS SPEED and PAUL LEWIS came on for CHRIS TYSON and KEITH MAHON.
On 54 minutes pressure from Wirral with another 5m line out led to JACK YARKER’s second try from another maul and this try cost Stuart Gratton “money” as he will not be the leading front row try scorer this season. JAMES ANNETTS converted to give Wirral a 7-24 lead and the important try bonus point.
On 62 minutes came the try of the game as CHRIS SPEED made a break down the right of some 50m before off- loading to ROB PEARL, Wirral recycled the ball and quick passing to the other side of the pitch enabled MARK WILLIAMS to cross and again converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 7-31. Three minutes later two penalties against the Wirral side gave Stockport pressure in the away side 20m area and another missed tackle enabled Simon Green to squeeze in at the corner, not converted, 12-31. With Stockport in possession, the ball was dropped and ALI BAKER swooped to pick up and run through the home defence to score under the posts and another conversion for JAMES ANNETTS.
KEITH MAHON came on for the hard working TOM PARRY only for TOM to return to the pitch when SAM BROADBENT came off with a hand injury with a few minutes remaining. There was one final opportunity for Wirral to score, when ALI BAKER was clear yet managed to drop the ball- enough said.
This win moves Wirral up to 5th in the league with coach, MATT CAIRNS targeting to finish the season with a flourish starting next week with a home game against relegation threatened Morley.
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