Wirral sparkle in the sunshine at Cleckheaton

Again there were a number of changes to the team which played against Morley last week. JACK YARKER returned to prop from hooker with JASON GREEN taking over. RYAN STEAD started on the bench with CHRIS TYSON joining PAUL LEWIS in the second row. JOE MURRAY was not available through work so JOSH STEAD continued to deputise. CRAIG HARVEY went to fly-half with a new centre partnership of SAM BROADBENT and MARK WILLIAMS. The subs were GARETH BURKES, RYAN STEAD and CHRIS SPEED.

The game was played on the warmest day of the year so far on a hard pitch.

The early pressure came from Wirral and had a couple of opportunities to open the scoring but the final pass did not go to hand- also kickable penalties were turned down as the away team searched for tries. Finally they broke the stalemate when PAUL LEWIS put in CRAIG HARVEY who cut inside the full back to score. This was converted by JAMES ANNETTS-0-7 (8 mins). Cleck were keen to attack but a dropped ball and a kick through by MARK WILLIAMS took play down to the Cleck 20m area it was cleared but left Wirral on the attack, quick passing and along pass from MARK WILLIAMS put MATT LOON in at the corner, where a superb conversion from the touchline was made by JAMES ANNETTS, 0-14 (13 mins).

Wirral continued to attack but the final pass was were not going to hand and pressure on Cleck was relieved with a penalty to Cleck 50m out where they made a break but the centre was overhauled by JAMES ANNETTS close to the try line. The tackle was deemed as being high and after the referee consulted his linesman a penalty try was awarded and duly converted by Ron Hayden. JAMES ANETTS was yellow carded for the tackle. 7-14 (21 minutes). No points conceded during his absence and on 34 minutes, RYAN STEAD came on for PAUL LEWIS. Wirral continued to attack only to be denied another score when the ball was dropped over the line. In the minute before half time, Wirral extended the lead when a kick through from CRAIG HARVEY enabled ALI BAKER to beat the defence and touch down, the conversion was missed. 7-19 and this was the score at half time. At the break, CHRIS SPEED came on for KEITH MAHON.

The early pressure in the second half again came from Wirral and although another opportunity was missed, the next try came from MATT LOON who cut through the middle to score 8m from the touchline- the conversion was missed. 7-24 (46 mins). In view of the heat both teams were looking to kick the ball long to save on energy. From such a deep position, Cleckheaton were deemed to be held up over the line but following the scrum they scored a well- executed try through full back Ron Hayden under the posts which he also converted. 14-24 (49 mins).

Wirral’s continued to attack but a dropped ball put Cleck away and only a try saving tackle in the corner by CRAIG prevented another Cleck try who then had a try disallowed for a forward pass. Possession was lost by Cleck and Wirral moved downfield where another penalty was quickly taken by JOSH STEAD and resulted in CRAIG HARVEY scoring in the corner and again well converted from the touchline by JAMES ANNETTS. 14-31 (63 mins). During the next few minutes, Wirral scored two tries, first from a kick downfield not fielded by the Cleck full back cleanly and the ball was passed quickly from JOSH STEAD to MARK WILLIAMS and finally to ALI BAKER who went along the touchline before running behind the posts, giving JIMMY an easy conversion.14-38. This was quickly followed when from loose play, MARK WILLIAMS picked up from 25m out and ran in unopposed for another conversion by JAMES 14-45 (68 mins).

To their credit Cleckheaton did not give up and a quickly taken penalty led to a try by Andy Piper, the conversion was missed. 19-45. From play deep in the Wirral 20m they played their way out of trouble before releasing MATT LOON who broke through from 70m out, cut inside his opposite number before beating the cover to score under the posts and making another easy conversion for JAMES ANNETTS. 19-52. By my reckoning this was in the 79th minute but somehow a further 7 minutes were allocated to the game enabling Cleck to score 2 more tries through Richard Piper and Ron Hayden enabling them to score a try bonus point and the final score of 31-52.

Cleckheatons position in the league will not be finalised until the final round of matches, Wirral have a final game at home against the runners up in the league, Rossendale on 22nd April and thus finishing fourth. Wirral won the opening game of the season at Rossendale. Come down and support the team and see the final appearance of ALI BAKER before he departs for pastures new in the Far East.

The excitement of the win did not finish there as coach, MATT CAIRNS completed the 3 pint challenge in the clubhouse only to find that the coach (bus) batteries had failed which meant more time than anticipated in Cleckheaton. The home team provided some liquid refreshment and this was followed by some players having a game of Crown Green Bowling, some professed to having some knowledge but they could not compete with PAUL LEWIS, especially the walk following the ball. Another Cass coach came to recharge the batteries and we finally got away at 8.45 and back to the club for 10.20pm quite a long day in the sun.

It should be recalled that MATT LOON not only scored a hat –trick but it was also his birthday and was last seen asleep on the bench outside the club house having celebrated well on the journey home.