Back
Sat 02 Sep 2017 · Northern Premier
1st XVPocklington
Tries: C Harvey (2), C Crowley, K Mahon (2), M Williams, M DaltonConversions: C Harvey (5)Penalties: C Harvey
48
3
Seven Try Blitz Sees Off Pocklington
Andrew Broadbent3 Sep 2017 - 15:16
Share via
For the first ever match between the two sides, Pocklington made the long journey from East Yorkshire and as predicted Wirral made a number of changes to the side which played at AK last week.
Unfortunately due to work commitments, JAMES ANNETTS was not available so BEN BROOKS stepped in. CHRIS SPEED came in on the wing for possibly his last game before flying out to Dubai as MATT LOON had a “family” event to attend. RYAN HIGGINSON came in at prop for the injured CHRIS HUGHES, with MATT DALTON making his league debut in the second row. The subs were CHRIS BURROWS, RYAN STEAD and JAMIE THOMPSON.
Immediately Pocklington were under pressure when a kick downfield went straight out. On 5 minutes Wirral had the opportunity to take the lead with a penalty from under the posts but decided on the scrum, where they lost possession. Wirral took the lead (10 mins) with a straight forward penalty by CRAIG HARVEY and two minutes later, Pocklington had the chance to equalise but from 35m the attempt passed to the left of the posts. At this stage, the away side had the advantage in the scrums and their tackling was keen as one would expect during the first match of the season.
On 22 minutes Pocklington suffered the first of three yellow cards when the hooker was sin binned and then the scrum half went off with a head injury and ambulance called for. On 25 minutes, as was the case last week a pass from Craig to ROB PEARL was ruled forward when in the act of scoring (see the photos and judge for yourself!). A line out ball was stolen by Wirral and CRAIG HARVEY dummied his way over the whitewash to touchdown 5 m from the posts and he also duly converted. 10-0 (27 mins). All the pressure was coming from Wirral now and a quickly taken penalty resulted in a solo run from CHRIS CROWLEY who scored in the same place as Craig, the latter adding the conversion, 17-0 32 mins. Pocklington had to use another of their subs when a hard tackle left their player in no position to play on. Just before half time another Wirral try was disallowed for a forward pass. The first half finished after 53 minutes.
The second half started with Pocklington taking a penalty from 35m out and Jonty Peters converting to put them on the scoreboard. RYAN HIGGINSON had cramp and was replaced by RYAN STEAD with PAUL LEWIS moving to prop -44 minutes. 5 minutes later an astute grubber kick to touch 5 m from the Pocklington line led to the away team winning the line out but the clearance kick was charged down by TOM PARRY and KEITH MAHON was on hand to scoop up the ball and dive over the line, the conversion from near the touchline was missed. 22-3
JAMIE THOMPSON came on for his league debut in place of MATT DALTON. Pocklington made good progress downfield by keeping play amongst their forwards. CHRIS BURROWS came on for KEITH MAHON. CHRIS CROWLEY made a blind side break but the final pass to his support just failed with a clear run in beckoning. On 60 minutes, Wirral on the defensive won the ball and from 75m out created a move where the ball went through several pairs of hands before MARK WILIAMS crossed over under the points to score the try bonus point, with CRAIG HARVEY adding the conversion. 29-3.
MARK WILLIAMS (with Achilles problems) and ROB PEARL (cut scalp) were replaced by KEITH MAHON and MATT DALTON and then RYAN HIGGINSON for PAUL LEWIS. On 70 minutes CRAIG HARVEY dummied his way over for his second try which he duly converted, 36-3. At this stage it looked as if Wirral could score with every piece of possession and pressure from the forwards ended with KEITH MAHON going over for a try close to the posts, remarkably the conversion was missed, 41-3.
Frustration boiled over when the Pocklington No 8 Jack Holborough took out Craig Harvey with a late tackle under the nose of the referee and his game was ended with their 3rd yellow card. The scoring had not finished when CRAIG HARVEY broke through the Pocklington ranks to put in MATT DALTON to score his first try close to the posts, Craig converted. 48-3. Comment was made by the Wirral players that the move to put in Matt by Craig was a clear case of “jug evasion”.
Next week the team are away at Preston Grasshoppers on their new 4G pitch and the team would welcome your support.
Richard McNeil
Immediately Pocklington were under pressure when a kick downfield went straight out. On 5 minutes Wirral had the opportunity to take the lead with a penalty from under the posts but decided on the scrum, where they lost possession. Wirral took the lead (10 mins) with a straight forward penalty by CRAIG HARVEY and two minutes later, Pocklington had the chance to equalise but from 35m the attempt passed to the left of the posts. At this stage, the away side had the advantage in the scrums and their tackling was keen as one would expect during the first match of the season.
On 22 minutes Pocklington suffered the first of three yellow cards when the hooker was sin binned and then the scrum half went off with a head injury and ambulance called for. On 25 minutes, as was the case last week a pass from Craig to ROB PEARL was ruled forward when in the act of scoring (see the photos and judge for yourself!). A line out ball was stolen by Wirral and CRAIG HARVEY dummied his way over the whitewash to touchdown 5 m from the posts and he also duly converted. 10-0 (27 mins). All the pressure was coming from Wirral now and a quickly taken penalty resulted in a solo run from CHRIS CROWLEY who scored in the same place as Craig, the latter adding the conversion, 17-0 32 mins. Pocklington had to use another of their subs when a hard tackle left their player in no position to play on. Just before half time another Wirral try was disallowed for a forward pass. The first half finished after 53 minutes.
The second half started with Pocklington taking a penalty from 35m out and Jonty Peters converting to put them on the scoreboard. RYAN HIGGINSON had cramp and was replaced by RYAN STEAD with PAUL LEWIS moving to prop -44 minutes. 5 minutes later an astute grubber kick to touch 5 m from the Pocklington line led to the away team winning the line out but the clearance kick was charged down by TOM PARRY and KEITH MAHON was on hand to scoop up the ball and dive over the line, the conversion from near the touchline was missed. 22-3
JAMIE THOMPSON came on for his league debut in place of MATT DALTON. Pocklington made good progress downfield by keeping play amongst their forwards. CHRIS BURROWS came on for KEITH MAHON. CHRIS CROWLEY made a blind side break but the final pass to his support just failed with a clear run in beckoning. On 60 minutes, Wirral on the defensive won the ball and from 75m out created a move where the ball went through several pairs of hands before MARK WILIAMS crossed over under the points to score the try bonus point, with CRAIG HARVEY adding the conversion. 29-3.
MARK WILLIAMS (with Achilles problems) and ROB PEARL (cut scalp) were replaced by KEITH MAHON and MATT DALTON and then RYAN HIGGINSON for PAUL LEWIS. On 70 minutes CRAIG HARVEY dummied his way over for his second try which he duly converted, 36-3. At this stage it looked as if Wirral could score with every piece of possession and pressure from the forwards ended with KEITH MAHON going over for a try close to the posts, remarkably the conversion was missed, 41-3.
Frustration boiled over when the Pocklington No 8 Jack Holborough took out Craig Harvey with a late tackle under the nose of the referee and his game was ended with their 3rd yellow card. The scoring had not finished when CRAIG HARVEY broke through the Pocklington ranks to put in MATT DALTON to score his first try close to the posts, Craig converted. 48-3. Comment was made by the Wirral players that the move to put in Matt by Craig was a clear case of “jug evasion”.
Next week the team are away at Preston Grasshoppers on their new 4G pitch and the team would welcome your support.
Richard McNeil
Further reading
Team Sponsors
