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Sat 22 Apr 2017 · National League 3 North
1st XVRossendale
Tries: R Pearl, T Parry, K Mahon (2), A Baker, M WilliamsConversions: J Annetts (5), M WilliamsYellow Carded: C Harvey (2), J Annetts
42
14
Ali Baker Scores in his Final Game
Andrew Broadbent23 Apr 2017 - 12:49
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Not only an end-of-season game but the end of an era as long serving winger Ali Baker departs for a job abroad.
The final game of the season was at home against league runners up Rossendale with Wirral needing to win to finish 4th in the league. It was also the final game for long serving (2001-2017) winger, ALI BAKER before he takes up a teaching post abroad. The only change to the team which won at Cleckheaton was that JOE MURRAY was recalled to the side in place of JOSH STEAD.
Wirral played against the wind and towards the main road in the first half. The first few minutes saw Wirral in the Rossendale half and even at this stage the away side started aggressively with punches being thrown but apparently not seen by the referee. On their first visit to the Wirral half aided by a penalty, quick ball down the line led to Fraser Lindsay scoring under the posts to give Steve Nutt an easy conversion.0-7 (7 minutes).
With a penalty pending for a high tackle, Wirral continued to attack in the Rossendale 20m area and after the forwards were halted a half break by CRAIG HARVEY and a pass inside saw the usual backing up by ROB PEARL to collect and score under the posts and converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 7-7 (14 minutes). Three minutes later, CRAIG HARVEY was sin-binned for a high tackle when Rossendale were only 5m from the Wirral line. Wirral managed to clear. A penalty opportunity was turned down in front of the posts as they sought ”line out practice”- this became obvious as RYAN STEAD stole a number of their balls at line outs throughout the game and some at vital stages of the game.
A break by the Rossendale No.8 was halted close to the Wirral line and then JACK YARKER emerged with the ball to clear the line. ROB PEARL was injured and replaced by CHRIS SPPED and then CHRIS TYSON came on for PAUL LEWIS. On 35 minutes the Rossendale captain, Dominic Moon was yellow carded for a high tackle. A succession of penalties against Rossendale led to one of these being quickly taken and TOM PARRY ran the 25m to score unopposed under the posts and again converted by JAMES. The half time score was 14-7.
From the kick off the Rossendale winger, Curtis Strong made a strong run gaining some 60m as would be tacklers fell away only to be tackled close to the line. Advantage was played during which time TOM PARRY was injured and was replaced by a recovered ROB PEARL. The referee came back to the original mark where the resultant 5m line out was stolen by RYAN STEAD and Wirral cleared downfield. With territorial advantage Wirral were putting pressure on Rossendale and after a number of thrusts were rewarded when No 8 KEITH MAHON crossed the whitewash to score and this was converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 21-7 (47 minutes).
Play was being contained in mid- field with hard tackling on going. High tackles were being seen on a regular basis and a further high tackle by CRAIG HARVEY was then followed by an attack by the Rossendale No8, Ryan McKibbin on Craig. When matters had “died down”, Ryan received a straight red card which puts him out of next week’s play- off game and CRAIG received a second yellow card. PAUL LEWIS came on for CHRIS TYSON and shortly after this, GARETH BURKES came on for CHRIS HUGHES.
Further problems for Wirral when they went down to 13 men when JAMES ANNETTS was sin binned for a technical offence close to the Wirral line. From the resultant penalty, Rossendale scored wide out through winger, George Peel who squeezed in at the corner and well converted by Steve Nutt from the touchline and against the wind. 21-14 (61 minutes). From the kick off, Rossendale winger, Curtis Strong made a run down the wing kicked ahead only for the bounce of the rugby ball to beat him and from that point the pattern of the game changed.
Using the wind Wirral played the rest of the game in the Rossendale half and pressure from the forwards resulted in No.8 KEITH MAHON crossing over from short range for his second try and this was converted by MARK WILLIAMS, the score of 28-14 gave Wirral breathing space (74 minutes). This was quickly followed by the try of the game as the Wirral backs spun the ball wide and MATT LOON broke through the defence before passing inside to ALI BAKER who raced in usual fashion to score in front of the large crowd assembled in front of the club house and an easy conversion. 35-14. With Wirral again on the attack, at the next breakdown, ALI BAKER was substituted for CHRIS TYSON and came off to a great ovation from his own players and spectators.
There was still time for a final Wirral try as MARK WILLIAMS cut through the Rossendale backs who had no answer to Wirral when they are in this form to score again under the posts and to give James Annetts his fifth conversion to give Wirral a convincing 42-14 win over the league runners up.
Wirral finish 4th in the league and when we look back at our defeats in the season particularly those we had expected to win they came at a time when key players were absent through injury etc. Coach, Matt Cairns is already preparing for next season and looking to add to the squad with training starting in earnest on 1st July.
Wirral played against the wind and towards the main road in the first half. The first few minutes saw Wirral in the Rossendale half and even at this stage the away side started aggressively with punches being thrown but apparently not seen by the referee. On their first visit to the Wirral half aided by a penalty, quick ball down the line led to Fraser Lindsay scoring under the posts to give Steve Nutt an easy conversion.0-7 (7 minutes).
With a penalty pending for a high tackle, Wirral continued to attack in the Rossendale 20m area and after the forwards were halted a half break by CRAIG HARVEY and a pass inside saw the usual backing up by ROB PEARL to collect and score under the posts and converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 7-7 (14 minutes). Three minutes later, CRAIG HARVEY was sin-binned for a high tackle when Rossendale were only 5m from the Wirral line. Wirral managed to clear. A penalty opportunity was turned down in front of the posts as they sought ”line out practice”- this became obvious as RYAN STEAD stole a number of their balls at line outs throughout the game and some at vital stages of the game.
A break by the Rossendale No.8 was halted close to the Wirral line and then JACK YARKER emerged with the ball to clear the line. ROB PEARL was injured and replaced by CHRIS SPPED and then CHRIS TYSON came on for PAUL LEWIS. On 35 minutes the Rossendale captain, Dominic Moon was yellow carded for a high tackle. A succession of penalties against Rossendale led to one of these being quickly taken and TOM PARRY ran the 25m to score unopposed under the posts and again converted by JAMES. The half time score was 14-7.
From the kick off the Rossendale winger, Curtis Strong made a strong run gaining some 60m as would be tacklers fell away only to be tackled close to the line. Advantage was played during which time TOM PARRY was injured and was replaced by a recovered ROB PEARL. The referee came back to the original mark where the resultant 5m line out was stolen by RYAN STEAD and Wirral cleared downfield. With territorial advantage Wirral were putting pressure on Rossendale and after a number of thrusts were rewarded when No 8 KEITH MAHON crossed the whitewash to score and this was converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 21-7 (47 minutes).
Play was being contained in mid- field with hard tackling on going. High tackles were being seen on a regular basis and a further high tackle by CRAIG HARVEY was then followed by an attack by the Rossendale No8, Ryan McKibbin on Craig. When matters had “died down”, Ryan received a straight red card which puts him out of next week’s play- off game and CRAIG received a second yellow card. PAUL LEWIS came on for CHRIS TYSON and shortly after this, GARETH BURKES came on for CHRIS HUGHES.
Further problems for Wirral when they went down to 13 men when JAMES ANNETTS was sin binned for a technical offence close to the Wirral line. From the resultant penalty, Rossendale scored wide out through winger, George Peel who squeezed in at the corner and well converted by Steve Nutt from the touchline and against the wind. 21-14 (61 minutes). From the kick off, Rossendale winger, Curtis Strong made a run down the wing kicked ahead only for the bounce of the rugby ball to beat him and from that point the pattern of the game changed.
Using the wind Wirral played the rest of the game in the Rossendale half and pressure from the forwards resulted in No.8 KEITH MAHON crossing over from short range for his second try and this was converted by MARK WILLIAMS, the score of 28-14 gave Wirral breathing space (74 minutes). This was quickly followed by the try of the game as the Wirral backs spun the ball wide and MATT LOON broke through the defence before passing inside to ALI BAKER who raced in usual fashion to score in front of the large crowd assembled in front of the club house and an easy conversion. 35-14. With Wirral again on the attack, at the next breakdown, ALI BAKER was substituted for CHRIS TYSON and came off to a great ovation from his own players and spectators.
There was still time for a final Wirral try as MARK WILLIAMS cut through the Rossendale backs who had no answer to Wirral when they are in this form to score again under the posts and to give James Annetts his fifth conversion to give Wirral a convincing 42-14 win over the league runners up.
Wirral finish 4th in the league and when we look back at our defeats in the season particularly those we had expected to win they came at a time when key players were absent through injury etc. Coach, Matt Cairns is already preparing for next season and looking to add to the squad with training starting in earnest on 1st July.
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