Preston Win But Wirral Deserved Better From This Game

PG were relegated from the league above last season and have brought in a new coach and a number of players from other teams in an attempt to gain promotion at the first attempt aided by an impressive playing budget!
The only change to the squad from last week was JAMES ANNETTS in at full back in place of BEN BROOKS. This was CHRIS SPEEDS last game before leaving for Dubai and this proved to be eventful.
Wirral were playing against the wind and the heavy showers in the first half. The first attack came from PG through their forwards but this was repelled and a long clearance kick saw play in the PG half. On 6 minutes the PG centre James Fitzpatrick was sin binned for foul play. For the next 15 minutes play was contained in the PG half and after 17 minutes PG had already given away 6 penalties. Wirral capitalised on this turning down one opportunity for 3 points and went for touch.
Putting pressure on the PG line they were held up over the line and from the resultant scrum the ball spun left and a short pass from PAUL LEWIS put in ROB PEARL for a canter over the line under the posts, converted by JAMES ANNETTS, 0-7 (12 minutes). Again Wirral were back down in the PG 25 and from a similar position to where they scored the first try the opportunity was lost with a dropped pass. One of CHRIS SPEED’s boots split and borrowed one boot from one of the substitutes. The PG forwards were now making progress up the field and some fierce tackling was needed to halt them and with a 5m scrum, Wirral held out. JACK YARKER was sin binned for a technical offence as his opposite number was dragging him down in the scrum. From this position, PAUL LEWIS went up to prop and with 7 in the scrum, PG applied the pressure and new signing Matt Lamprey picked up from the base of the scrum and drove over, the conversion was by SAM STOTT. 7-7 (25 mins).
CHRIS SPEED was then replaced by CHRIS BURROWS as on the 4G he had turned his ankle. The PG backs from the kick off made their only break of the game when from 60m out and good backing up led to full back Niall Crosley scoring and this was also converted, 14-7 (28 mins). At this stage, PG were strong when on the attack but tended to give away a number of penalties when Wirral were in play. In the last minute of the first half PG extended their lead to 17-7 with a penalty from Stott.
Early in the second half, PG had a scrum some 8m out with Oliver Trippier picking up and although held up over the line managed to touch the ball down giving Stott an easy conversion. 24-7 (45 mins).RYAN STEAD and JAMIE THOMPSON came on for PAUL LEWIS and MATT DALTON. Wirral had ample possession but were making little progress against the PG forwards with their backs quickly up to prevent Wirral playing their fluent game. After being on the field for 7 minutes the PG replacement back row, Alex Isherwood (ex Rossendale) was sin binned for a technical offence-53 minutes.
From a line out 10m out, Wirral caught and pushed forward and drove the bigger PG back and STUART GRATTAN was on hand to score and converted by JAMES ANNETTS, 24-14 (55 minutes). This has been a successful ploy by Wirral as in the first half one such move yielded them 40m.
Wirral were playing the game in the PG half aided by some good kicking downfield and for touch by CRAIG HARVEY and JAMES ANNETTS. On 68 minutes a drive by Wirral took play to the PG line where it was stopped by a foul by a PG player under the posts, penalty to Wirral but should it have been a penalty try?- however a third PG player was sin binned the winger! Or did the referee get the wrong player? A quickly taken penalty was spun left and JAMES ANNETTS was on hand to dive over 15m from the posts, the conversion was missed. 24-19 (70 minutes).
A couple of decisions left the Wirral support pondering when in possession, firstly barely had a Wirral player been tackled before the referee blew for not release, this allowed PG to kick for touch. From this position, PG moving forward appeared to drop the ball and Wirral kicked on, a penalty was awarded to PG which they kicked from 35m through WILL HUNT to deny Wirral a losing bonus point at that stage. In the 76th minute with play outside the Wirral 20m area, PG made progress through their big forwards with Matt Lamprey crossing and converted by Will Hunt to give PG a flattering 34-19 win. Immediately referee called for time having not played the full 40 minutes!
This was a creditable performance against a well organised, experienced and professional side that will be in the mix at the end of the season. Wirral will need to put in another outstanding performance next week against recently relegated Harrogate next week at the Memorial Ground, kick off 3.00pm.

Richard McNeil