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Sat 28 Oct 2017 · Northern Premier
1st XVIlkley
Tries: D HarveyConversions: C HarveyPenalties: J Annetts (2)
18
15
Wirral 'Cook' Up a Win
Andrew Broadbent29 Oct 2017 - 17:37
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In another fiercely competitive game between these two sides, Wirral win with the last kick of the game.
Wirral’s selected team showed one change from last week as JAMIE THOMPSON came in for the injured TOM PARRY. On the subs bench were STEVE PENDERGAST, JAMES REEVE and RYAN STEAD. However 10 minutes before kick- off, MARK WILLIAMS went over on his ankle and the only registered backs player at the club was KIERAN COOK who was about to turn out for the 4ths and was drafted into the team on the left wing.
Wirral played against the wind in the first half and towards the main road.
A kick to 10m from the Wirral line gave Ilkley the advantage and from the scrum which was wheeled, the Ilkley No.8 picked up and fed the scrum half, Jack Maplesden who scored close to the corner flag and this was well converted by Ben Magee. 0-7 (5 mins). Gradually with possession, Wirral were looking to work their way downfield but play was interrupted by a couple of incidents of foul play, which were not seen by the referee. A penalty kick was missed by Ilkley, who continued to put pressure on Wirral and whilst in the home team 20m area there was another flare up, which resulted in the Ilkley wing forward Joe Lowes being red carded (22 minutes). STEVE PENDERGAST went on for RYAN HIGGINSON.
Gradually Wirral were subduing Ilkley and had a number of half chances but could not capitalise on them. From play in the Ilkley 20m the line out was won and Wirral mauled the ball to the try line but the Ilkley defence held out until the ball was spun out to the backs where CRAIG HARVEY gave his brother Dan a crash ball 6 m out and the centre stretched out to score under the posts, the try was converted by Craig (7-7 32 minutes). Despite playing against the wind, Wirral were now enjoying the territorial advantage and were rewarded with a penalty in the 38th minute and with JAMES ANNETTS now recovered from an earlier knock converted to give Wirral a 10-7 lead. With such a lead against the wind, Wirral were full of optimism for the second half.
At the start of the second half Wirral were applying pressure on Ilkley with their long raking kicks downfield but as in the first half the Ilkley defence held firm and occasional break outs from their strong running centres were causing the home defence problems. On 50 minutes RYAN HIGGINSON and JAMES REEVE came on for STEVE PENDERGAST and KEITH MAHON respectively and 5 minutes later RYAN STEAD came on for JAMIE THOMPSON with MATT DALTON switching to blindside.
On 60 minutes after some time in the Ilkley 20m area and series of scrums which saw the Ilkley scrum collapsing on a couple of occasions, Wirral were over the line but deemed to be held up. From the scrum the ball was spun wide with MATT LOON scoring in the corner only to be brought back for a forward pass. A break from Ilkley through their centre, Luke Frear took play into the Wirral 20m area, where a penalty was eventually conceded giving Ben Magee the opportunity to level the scores, 10-10 (67 minutes). Back came Wirral and play was contained again in the Ilkley half and defences again on top contained play in this area. A scrum 15m out which had been a good feature of the home sides game was won and spun to the blindside where the final pass saw late replacement, KIERAN COOK run in from 15m to score wide out, the conversion was missed 15-10 (72 minutes).
Wirral then set out to defend the slender lead and contain ILKLEY high up the field until a half break and speculative grubber kick downfield which was missed by the Wirral player covering, allowed the Ilkley winger to collect and score, the conversion was missed, back to being all square 15-15 (76 minutes).
At this stage both teams were looking to win the game and Ilkley looking to win for the second year running at the Memorial Ground. A kick downfield by Wirral forced Ilkley to kick for touch, which they found some 45m from their own line. The line out was taken and the Wirral second row, MATT DALTON was fouled in the act of catching – a penalty awarded to Wirral. The referee advised that the penalty was to be the last play of the game and from 45m wide out JAMES ANNETTS converted to win the game for Wirral 18-15.
Despite this win, Wirral slipped down a place to 6th as all the teams above them had try bonus wins. Next week, Wirral are on the road where they visit Hull and those who wish to travel on the coach please look at the noticeboard for the time of departure.
Wirral played against the wind in the first half and towards the main road.
A kick to 10m from the Wirral line gave Ilkley the advantage and from the scrum which was wheeled, the Ilkley No.8 picked up and fed the scrum half, Jack Maplesden who scored close to the corner flag and this was well converted by Ben Magee. 0-7 (5 mins). Gradually with possession, Wirral were looking to work their way downfield but play was interrupted by a couple of incidents of foul play, which were not seen by the referee. A penalty kick was missed by Ilkley, who continued to put pressure on Wirral and whilst in the home team 20m area there was another flare up, which resulted in the Ilkley wing forward Joe Lowes being red carded (22 minutes). STEVE PENDERGAST went on for RYAN HIGGINSON.
Gradually Wirral were subduing Ilkley and had a number of half chances but could not capitalise on them. From play in the Ilkley 20m the line out was won and Wirral mauled the ball to the try line but the Ilkley defence held out until the ball was spun out to the backs where CRAIG HARVEY gave his brother Dan a crash ball 6 m out and the centre stretched out to score under the posts, the try was converted by Craig (7-7 32 minutes). Despite playing against the wind, Wirral were now enjoying the territorial advantage and were rewarded with a penalty in the 38th minute and with JAMES ANNETTS now recovered from an earlier knock converted to give Wirral a 10-7 lead. With such a lead against the wind, Wirral were full of optimism for the second half.
At the start of the second half Wirral were applying pressure on Ilkley with their long raking kicks downfield but as in the first half the Ilkley defence held firm and occasional break outs from their strong running centres were causing the home defence problems. On 50 minutes RYAN HIGGINSON and JAMES REEVE came on for STEVE PENDERGAST and KEITH MAHON respectively and 5 minutes later RYAN STEAD came on for JAMIE THOMPSON with MATT DALTON switching to blindside.
On 60 minutes after some time in the Ilkley 20m area and series of scrums which saw the Ilkley scrum collapsing on a couple of occasions, Wirral were over the line but deemed to be held up. From the scrum the ball was spun wide with MATT LOON scoring in the corner only to be brought back for a forward pass. A break from Ilkley through their centre, Luke Frear took play into the Wirral 20m area, where a penalty was eventually conceded giving Ben Magee the opportunity to level the scores, 10-10 (67 minutes). Back came Wirral and play was contained again in the Ilkley half and defences again on top contained play in this area. A scrum 15m out which had been a good feature of the home sides game was won and spun to the blindside where the final pass saw late replacement, KIERAN COOK run in from 15m to score wide out, the conversion was missed 15-10 (72 minutes).
Wirral then set out to defend the slender lead and contain ILKLEY high up the field until a half break and speculative grubber kick downfield which was missed by the Wirral player covering, allowed the Ilkley winger to collect and score, the conversion was missed, back to being all square 15-15 (76 minutes).
At this stage both teams were looking to win the game and Ilkley looking to win for the second year running at the Memorial Ground. A kick downfield by Wirral forced Ilkley to kick for touch, which they found some 45m from their own line. The line out was taken and the Wirral second row, MATT DALTON was fouled in the act of catching – a penalty awarded to Wirral. The referee advised that the penalty was to be the last play of the game and from 45m wide out JAMES ANNETTS converted to win the game for Wirral 18-15.
Despite this win, Wirral slipped down a place to 6th as all the teams above them had try bonus wins. Next week, Wirral are on the road where they visit Hull and those who wish to travel on the coach please look at the noticeboard for the time of departure.
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