First League Game of Season Results in an Away Win for Wirral

For the first league game of the season, Wirral made a number of changes to the team unfortunately beaten by Anselmians last week by one point. Joe Murray and Sam Broadbent coming into the side at scrum half and full back respectively, with Dan Harvey and Matt Slater moving to the centre and wing.
The team was Hughes, Green, Brown, Hodson, Doneo, Ludbrook, Pearl, Edgar, Murray, Annetts, Gidman, Harvey C, Harvey D., Slater and Broadbent S. The substitutes were Mattey, Dyer, and Pendergast.
Within the first two minutes, Craig Harvey had the opportunity to put Wirral in the lead with a penalty from inside his own half but this just fell short. Widnes attacked and Joe Murray had to scramble a kick through dead, which gave Widnes early pressure and they looked to move the ball down the line only for Danny Harvey to intercept and make ground to the half way area but support was not there. This was all in the first 6 minutes and the crowd assumed an open and fast game- this was not to be the case.
On 10 mins Wirral gave away a double penalty which left Widnes in front of the posts but they declined the 3 points, to run the play but their attempts to score failed. This was followed by Wirral’s best period of the game with pressure on the Widnes line but could not find a way through, the pressure came to nothing when a cross kick was easily caught and marked by the Widnes right winger when there was a definite overlap available. On 20mins.Wirral took the lead when the former Bowden fly half, Capewell did not release and Craig Harvey scored the first of his 3 penalties. 5 mins later Wirral doubled the lead from some 48m out. 0-6
Widnes came into the game and could have scored a couple of tries through interceptions and were frustrated by being brought back for infringements. Wirral counterattacked and James Annetts made a small break near to the Widnes line before passing onto Mark Gidman who was held up over the line near the upright. This was the last of the potential scoring opportunities in the first half. 0-6
The second half saw greater pressure being exerted by Widnes and after a period of play, Widnes had the opportunity to reduce the lead with a penalty from 30m but this was missed. After 12 mins of the second half, a crunching tackle on Danny Harvey resulted in the ball going free, the Widnes backs picked up and Capewell sent the Widnes right centre away who just squeezed in at the corner as the Wirral defence came across. The conversion was missed 5-6.
On re set, Wirral received the ball and Robbie Pearl made good progress into the Widnes 20m area and Wirral were awarded a penalty, which was missed as the ball bounced off the upright. One minute later good play by the forwards left Wirral with the ball and on passing back to James Annetts, he slotted over a drop goal from some 23m out. 5-9 At this stage the substitutes for Wirral came on: Dyer, Pendergast and Mattey coming on for Edgar, Hughes and Gidman respectively. Whilst play was scrappy there were signs that Wirral were beginning to get their game together, with Joe Murray prominent. From another break by the scrum half, Wirral were awarded a penalty and Craig obliged to give Wirral a 5-12 lead. This was then followed by a good period of possession by Wirral with a number of drives by the forwards who were looking to eat up time whilst getting over the advantage line, before the ball came back to James Annetts who scored his second drop kick of the game and leave Wirral with a 10 point advantage.
However, Widnes again attacked and Leadbetter scored a penalty from 30m out to make the final few minutes anxious but a knock on by Widnes when pressing ended the game. 8 -15
Wirral just shaded this game through the endeavours of their hard working forwards and this gives them a good start to the season. Next week they play Aspatria at home who have been promoted from the North Lancs./ Cumbria league, with the game being played down the road due to cricket commitments.

Richard Mcneil