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Sat 23 Sep 2017 · Northern Premier
Lymm
1st XV
33
13
Tries: R PearlConversions: J AnnettsPenalties: J Annetts (2)
Injuries Thwart Wirral at Lymm
Andrew Broadbent24 Sep 2017 - 17:55
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Hopes of Wirral building on a promising start were dashed when injuries and the league leaders excellent rugby led to defeat.
Wirral travelled to league leaders Lymm (3 wins with bonus points) with the same starting XV as last week, the only change was on the subs bench with MATT DALTON replacing JAMIE THOMPSON (unavailable). This was CHRIS CROWLEY’s last game before he flies out to Australia for his gap year.
Wirral played up the slope but with the slight wind in their favour in the first half. From the kick off, Wirral put Lymm under pressure. The relieving kick to touch was charged down and the home side had to kick the ball dead. From the first scrum, Wirral had the advantage, penalty, scrum reformed and the Wirral pack eased the Lymm scrum over the whitewash and ROB PEARL was on hand for his easiest touchdown of the season, JAMES ANNETTS converted from in front of the posts. 0-7 (5 minutes).
Gradually Lymm came more into the game and were looking to use their ball playing forwards and then release the ball to their backs, a very similar game plan to that of Wirral. One such attack was broken up some 30m out but at a cost to Wirral as ROB PEARL and MARK WILLIAMS were both injured. Rob was in no condition to continue so JAMES REEVE came on. Mark had suffered a dead leg and although he tried to play on he eventually had to succumb to his injury some 20 minutes later but in the intervening period was not mobile enough to effectively contribute to the game.
Two minutes after the injury, Lymm were putting pressure on the Wirral line but eventually Wirral cleared but this led to a counter charge from Lymm and slick passing and missed tackles led to captain, Adam Bray with a 25m run to the line, the try was converted by Cormac Nolan- 7-7 (17 mins). Further pressure came from Lymm but the full back was deemed to be held up over the line and then lost the scrum having had the put in. On 23 mins Lymm missed a penalty from 23m out.
At this stage both teams looking to kick long for territory as they were at this stage cancelling each other out. Wirral in the Lymm 20m area were awarded a penalty which JAMES ANNETTS converted to give Wirral the lead once again in the 37th minute, 7-10. At this stage MARK WILLIAMS left the field to be replaced by MATT DALTON with KEITH MAHON having to move into the centre. STEVE PENDERGAST came on for RYAN HIGGINSON. Lymm took play down into the Wirral 20m area and applied pressure on the Wirral line and scrum half, Andy Davies managed to work his way over to touchdown and again converted by Nolan to give the home side a 14-10 lead at the break.
Immediately after half time, Lymm scored in the corner through substitute Tom Brady and was converted by Nolan (unfortunately filling water bottles – did not see the try). 21-10 (41 minutes). The arrears were reduced after 47 minutes with a 35m penalty from JAMES ANNETTS, 21-13. The Lymm captain, Adam Bray was then sin binned but even when down to 14, No 8 Oli Higginson was on hand to crash over from close range, to give Lymm the all-important try bonus point and the conversion extended the lead to 28-13, thus Wirral would have to score 3 times to achieve a win.
Without two key members of the team it was becoming increasingly difficult for Wirral to make progress, not helped when line out balls were not awarded to the right side. In the final minutes a further penalty kick by Lymm from 45m was missed but from the 25m drop out they retained the ball and centre, James Kimber shrugged off a tackle and crossed wide out, the conversion was missed. 33-13. Lymm had time to mount one more attack which Wirral were able to contain before the referee blew for time.
On reflection, the score line would indicate a heavy defeat but with the right personnel playing 80 minutes and given the performance in the first half, Wirral could have run Lymm much closer. Is there not a case for 5 substitutes as we had no cover for an injury to the backs given we are deemed to have a sub prop and without question another has be another forward? With Lymm’s brand of rugby they will be contesting the top 4 in this highly competitive league. With the injuries incurred by Wirral there will be a number of changes to the team when they turn out next Saturday against Morley at home (3.00pm kick off).
Richard McNeil
Wirral played up the slope but with the slight wind in their favour in the first half. From the kick off, Wirral put Lymm under pressure. The relieving kick to touch was charged down and the home side had to kick the ball dead. From the first scrum, Wirral had the advantage, penalty, scrum reformed and the Wirral pack eased the Lymm scrum over the whitewash and ROB PEARL was on hand for his easiest touchdown of the season, JAMES ANNETTS converted from in front of the posts. 0-7 (5 minutes).
Gradually Lymm came more into the game and were looking to use their ball playing forwards and then release the ball to their backs, a very similar game plan to that of Wirral. One such attack was broken up some 30m out but at a cost to Wirral as ROB PEARL and MARK WILLIAMS were both injured. Rob was in no condition to continue so JAMES REEVE came on. Mark had suffered a dead leg and although he tried to play on he eventually had to succumb to his injury some 20 minutes later but in the intervening period was not mobile enough to effectively contribute to the game.
Two minutes after the injury, Lymm were putting pressure on the Wirral line but eventually Wirral cleared but this led to a counter charge from Lymm and slick passing and missed tackles led to captain, Adam Bray with a 25m run to the line, the try was converted by Cormac Nolan- 7-7 (17 mins). Further pressure came from Lymm but the full back was deemed to be held up over the line and then lost the scrum having had the put in. On 23 mins Lymm missed a penalty from 23m out.
At this stage both teams looking to kick long for territory as they were at this stage cancelling each other out. Wirral in the Lymm 20m area were awarded a penalty which JAMES ANNETTS converted to give Wirral the lead once again in the 37th minute, 7-10. At this stage MARK WILLIAMS left the field to be replaced by MATT DALTON with KEITH MAHON having to move into the centre. STEVE PENDERGAST came on for RYAN HIGGINSON. Lymm took play down into the Wirral 20m area and applied pressure on the Wirral line and scrum half, Andy Davies managed to work his way over to touchdown and again converted by Nolan to give the home side a 14-10 lead at the break.
Immediately after half time, Lymm scored in the corner through substitute Tom Brady and was converted by Nolan (unfortunately filling water bottles – did not see the try). 21-10 (41 minutes). The arrears were reduced after 47 minutes with a 35m penalty from JAMES ANNETTS, 21-13. The Lymm captain, Adam Bray was then sin binned but even when down to 14, No 8 Oli Higginson was on hand to crash over from close range, to give Lymm the all-important try bonus point and the conversion extended the lead to 28-13, thus Wirral would have to score 3 times to achieve a win.
Without two key members of the team it was becoming increasingly difficult for Wirral to make progress, not helped when line out balls were not awarded to the right side. In the final minutes a further penalty kick by Lymm from 45m was missed but from the 25m drop out they retained the ball and centre, James Kimber shrugged off a tackle and crossed wide out, the conversion was missed. 33-13. Lymm had time to mount one more attack which Wirral were able to contain before the referee blew for time.
On reflection, the score line would indicate a heavy defeat but with the right personnel playing 80 minutes and given the performance in the first half, Wirral could have run Lymm much closer. Is there not a case for 5 substitutes as we had no cover for an injury to the backs given we are deemed to have a sub prop and without question another has be another forward? With Lymm’s brand of rugby they will be contesting the top 4 in this highly competitive league. With the injuries incurred by Wirral there will be a number of changes to the team when they turn out next Saturday against Morley at home (3.00pm kick off).
Richard McNeil
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