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Sat 21 Oct 2017 ·  Northern Premier
1st XVSandal
Tries: R Pearl, P Lewis, T Parry, M Loon (2)Conversions: J AnnettsYellow Carded: R Higginson
27
17
Wirral Forwards Power to Victory
Andrew Broadbent22 Oct 2017 - 16:25
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With wet and windy conditions Wirral win in a forwards dominated game.
With a return to league action following the Cup game last week, Wirral reverted to their first choice picks for the game against Sandal. STUART GRATTON returned to hooker in place of JASON GREEN, KEITH MAHON started at No.8 with DAN HARVEY moving to centre and MARK WILLIAMS on the wing. The subs were STEVE PENDERGAST, JAMES REEVE and JAMIE THOMPSON.
The game kicked off in a drizzle but as the match progressed the rain got heavier and the heavy conditions combined with the strong wind of which Wirral had the advantage in the first half led to defences being in control for long periods of the game.
From the start Wirral were immediately on the attack and from a line out 10m from the Sandal line this led to Wirral progressing before ROB PEARL powered over in the corner with JAMES ANNETTS executing a great conversion. 7-0 (3 minutes). The Wirral forwards were well in control along with long raking kicks to touch kept the pressure on Sandal but it was not until the 23rd minute that they were able to add to their score. From a line out some 20m out the ball was gathered and some of the backs joined in the push towards the Sandal line which resulted in PAUL LEWIS touching down, the conversion was missed, 12-0.
Through a series of penalties, Sandal were able to get a foothold in the Wirral 20m area, the home defence held out, RYAN HIGGINSON retaliated to a finger in the eye and was yellow carded on 30 minutes. At the next scrum, STEVE PENDERGAST joined the front row and DAN HARVEY was sacrificed giving Sandal an advantage. Still the Wirral defence held out until the away side put a kick in behind the Wirral backs, the Sandal winger missed the ball and JAMES ANNETTS touched down only for the referee to controversially award a try to Sandal, which was converted by Greg Wood. Even the Sandal coaching team agreed it was not a try- oh for film cameras to be there!
In the period up to half time further pressure was applied by Wirral only for the ball to be lost close to the Sandal whitewash. Half time came and the players quickly retreated to the changing rooms with Wirral of the opinion they perhaps should have made greater use of the wind advantage.
With the elements in their favour in the second half, Sandal had the territorial advantage in the third quarter but could not make any progress against a solid Wirral defence; the frustration was shown with an attempted drop kick (54 mins) from 45m which barely rose 1m from the ground. RYAN HIGGINSON came on for STEVE PENDERGAST and shortly afterwards JAMIE THOMPSON came on for PAUL LEWIS (dead leg). At this stage it was a rear guard action by Wirral. Gradually Wirral made progress downfield utilising their forwards and their control and passing needs to be complemented. Such pressure on the Sandal line ended when TOM PARRY picked up a loose ball and drove over the line, the conversion was missed. 17-7 (63 minutes). JAMES REEVE came on for KEITH MAHON.
Sandal’s desperation showed through when they resorted to a penalty kick from 40m which was converted by Greg Wood (70 mins) and gave them a potential losing bonus point or possibly more given they had the wind advantage. Wirral’s determination and strong defence forced errors in the Sandal attack and play was now concentrated in the Sandal 20m area and this time the Sandal defence held firm but a ball out to the backs saw DAN HARVEY put in a cross kick with both MATT LOON and MARK WILLIAMS racing for the touchdown which was awarded to MATT, again the conversion was missed- but more importantly it was the try bonus point. 22-10 (73 minutes). 4 minutes later a ball from the scrum went blind and the backs combined to send MATT LOON on a powerful run to the line to score his second try in the corner, not converted- 27-10.
Still playing in the 46th minute of the half, Sandal made their first telling break of the game, which saw centre, Elliot Munelly cross half way out and duly converted by Greg Wood. Wirral then played out the remaining minutes of the game until the whistle went.
In such difficult conditions coach, MATT CAIRNS was pleased with the maximum points as Wirral retained their unbeaten home run and the defence performance of the whole team against a bigger pack. Next week Wirral are again at home against Ilkley for the last of the 3.00 kick offs.
The game kicked off in a drizzle but as the match progressed the rain got heavier and the heavy conditions combined with the strong wind of which Wirral had the advantage in the first half led to defences being in control for long periods of the game.
From the start Wirral were immediately on the attack and from a line out 10m from the Sandal line this led to Wirral progressing before ROB PEARL powered over in the corner with JAMES ANNETTS executing a great conversion. 7-0 (3 minutes). The Wirral forwards were well in control along with long raking kicks to touch kept the pressure on Sandal but it was not until the 23rd minute that they were able to add to their score. From a line out some 20m out the ball was gathered and some of the backs joined in the push towards the Sandal line which resulted in PAUL LEWIS touching down, the conversion was missed, 12-0.
Through a series of penalties, Sandal were able to get a foothold in the Wirral 20m area, the home defence held out, RYAN HIGGINSON retaliated to a finger in the eye and was yellow carded on 30 minutes. At the next scrum, STEVE PENDERGAST joined the front row and DAN HARVEY was sacrificed giving Sandal an advantage. Still the Wirral defence held out until the away side put a kick in behind the Wirral backs, the Sandal winger missed the ball and JAMES ANNETTS touched down only for the referee to controversially award a try to Sandal, which was converted by Greg Wood. Even the Sandal coaching team agreed it was not a try- oh for film cameras to be there!
In the period up to half time further pressure was applied by Wirral only for the ball to be lost close to the Sandal whitewash. Half time came and the players quickly retreated to the changing rooms with Wirral of the opinion they perhaps should have made greater use of the wind advantage.
With the elements in their favour in the second half, Sandal had the territorial advantage in the third quarter but could not make any progress against a solid Wirral defence; the frustration was shown with an attempted drop kick (54 mins) from 45m which barely rose 1m from the ground. RYAN HIGGINSON came on for STEVE PENDERGAST and shortly afterwards JAMIE THOMPSON came on for PAUL LEWIS (dead leg). At this stage it was a rear guard action by Wirral. Gradually Wirral made progress downfield utilising their forwards and their control and passing needs to be complemented. Such pressure on the Sandal line ended when TOM PARRY picked up a loose ball and drove over the line, the conversion was missed. 17-7 (63 minutes). JAMES REEVE came on for KEITH MAHON.
Sandal’s desperation showed through when they resorted to a penalty kick from 40m which was converted by Greg Wood (70 mins) and gave them a potential losing bonus point or possibly more given they had the wind advantage. Wirral’s determination and strong defence forced errors in the Sandal attack and play was now concentrated in the Sandal 20m area and this time the Sandal defence held firm but a ball out to the backs saw DAN HARVEY put in a cross kick with both MATT LOON and MARK WILLIAMS racing for the touchdown which was awarded to MATT, again the conversion was missed- but more importantly it was the try bonus point. 22-10 (73 minutes). 4 minutes later a ball from the scrum went blind and the backs combined to send MATT LOON on a powerful run to the line to score his second try in the corner, not converted- 27-10.
Still playing in the 46th minute of the half, Sandal made their first telling break of the game, which saw centre, Elliot Munelly cross half way out and duly converted by Greg Wood. Wirral then played out the remaining minutes of the game until the whistle went.
In such difficult conditions coach, MATT CAIRNS was pleased with the maximum points as Wirral retained their unbeaten home run and the defence performance of the whole team against a bigger pack. Next week Wirral are again at home against Ilkley for the last of the 3.00 kick offs.
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