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Sat 24 Sep 2011 · North One West
1st XVRochdale
Tries: D Harvey, P SherlockConversions: C HarveyPenalties: C HarveyYellow Carded: O Atkinson
17
15
Last Gasp Win for Wirral
Andrew Broadbent25 Sep 2011 - 22:03
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Despite several enforced changes from the side that lost last week at Sandbach, Wirral emerge victorious against the league newcomers.
Following the injuries incurred at Sandbach last week, Wirral had to make a number of changes for the match against Rochdale. JAMES ANNETTS, SAM EDGAR and PHIL DONALDSON were all missing through injury and this was coupled with ROB PEARL not being available, thus MARTIN BENNETT came into the side with OLLIE ATKINSON making a new centre partnership and captain, CRAIG HARVEY moving to fly half. In the pack TIM HODSON formed a second row partnership with CHRIS TYSON leaving COLIN DYER and DAVID DONEO moving into the back row, with the latter playing No 8.
From the outset, it was clear that Rochdale were to play open rugby and after 6 mins they had their first penalty opportunity from 33m out but fly half James pushed wide. Rochdale were having a greater share of the ball and territory and after 12 mins they took the lead when the ball was passed down the backs to the right winger, James Flitcroft who shrugged off two weak tackles to cross in the corner, the conversion was missed. 0-5. Seven minutes later, fly half James increased the lead to 0-8 from in front of the posts when Wirral were caught off side.
In the early stages of this game Wirral were only able to progress down field with a series of penalties awarded against Rochdale but pressure was all coming from the away side. The lead was increased on 25 mins when pressure from Rochdale allowed fly half James to put in a short grubber which allowed centre Joe McNicholas to touch down before the Wirral defenders, the conversion was tacked on to extend the lead to 0-15.
Wirral gradually came back into the game with breaks from DANNY HARVEY and OLLIE ATKINSON but we could not finish them off with passes not quite going to hand but gave the crowd some confidence that they had the capacity to test Rochdale. With 2 mins to half time, Rochdale had another penalty opportunity but this was missed. The half time score was 0-15.
Rochdale started the second half with another attack and were pressing the Wirral line and passing the ball down the line, one of the passes was intercepted by OLLIE ATKINSON who set on a 100 m run for the line (Hamstring permitting) but was called back and sin binned for being deliberately being off side. With another penalty 5 m from the posts, James the Rochdale fly half missed on the near side, although one linesman put his flag up this was over ruled by the referee. At this stage STEVE PENDERGAST came on for MATT BROWN.
Gradually Wirral came more into the game and using their backs were now testing their opposite numbers but the final pass was not going to hand, but at least play was being contained in the Rochdale half. On 58 mins Wirral brought on PAUL SHERLOCK in the place of CHRIS TYSON and from a scrum 30m out, JOE MURRAY went blind and made some progress before passing to PAUL SHERLOCK, who split the Rochdale with a powerful run to score 20m from the posts- an inspired substitution!!. Craig converted 7-15, the revival had started. Whilst the ascendancy was now with Wirral they could not break through again..
Wirral were awarded a penalty with some 5 mins to go some 38 m out and the decision was made to take the kick as it would give Wirral the chance of a losing bonus point. Craig obliged with an excellent kick 10-15. MARK GIDMAN came on for MATT SLATER.
Wirral continued to attack urged on by the crowd and with 1 min to go the forwards make the ball available for the backs on the blind side and a pass to DANNY HARVEY saw the full back cut through from some 15 m out to score 20m from the post. It was then left to his brother Craig to convert, which he duly did 17-15.
Rochdale had time to kick off and make some progress down field until a dropped pass allowed the referee to blow for time for a relieved Wirral side. The man of the match was given to a player, playing out of position and was for his overall work rate during the game went to DAVID DONEO.
This was a good result for Wirral, given the number of changes they had to make coupled with the need to get last week’s result out of the system. As coach ANDY MCKINNEY indicated this was a better result than the last easy home victory against Aspatria.
Richard McNeil
From the outset, it was clear that Rochdale were to play open rugby and after 6 mins they had their first penalty opportunity from 33m out but fly half James pushed wide. Rochdale were having a greater share of the ball and territory and after 12 mins they took the lead when the ball was passed down the backs to the right winger, James Flitcroft who shrugged off two weak tackles to cross in the corner, the conversion was missed. 0-5. Seven minutes later, fly half James increased the lead to 0-8 from in front of the posts when Wirral were caught off side.
In the early stages of this game Wirral were only able to progress down field with a series of penalties awarded against Rochdale but pressure was all coming from the away side. The lead was increased on 25 mins when pressure from Rochdale allowed fly half James to put in a short grubber which allowed centre Joe McNicholas to touch down before the Wirral defenders, the conversion was tacked on to extend the lead to 0-15.
Wirral gradually came back into the game with breaks from DANNY HARVEY and OLLIE ATKINSON but we could not finish them off with passes not quite going to hand but gave the crowd some confidence that they had the capacity to test Rochdale. With 2 mins to half time, Rochdale had another penalty opportunity but this was missed. The half time score was 0-15.
Rochdale started the second half with another attack and were pressing the Wirral line and passing the ball down the line, one of the passes was intercepted by OLLIE ATKINSON who set on a 100 m run for the line (Hamstring permitting) but was called back and sin binned for being deliberately being off side. With another penalty 5 m from the posts, James the Rochdale fly half missed on the near side, although one linesman put his flag up this was over ruled by the referee. At this stage STEVE PENDERGAST came on for MATT BROWN.
Gradually Wirral came more into the game and using their backs were now testing their opposite numbers but the final pass was not going to hand, but at least play was being contained in the Rochdale half. On 58 mins Wirral brought on PAUL SHERLOCK in the place of CHRIS TYSON and from a scrum 30m out, JOE MURRAY went blind and made some progress before passing to PAUL SHERLOCK, who split the Rochdale with a powerful run to score 20m from the posts- an inspired substitution!!. Craig converted 7-15, the revival had started. Whilst the ascendancy was now with Wirral they could not break through again..
Wirral were awarded a penalty with some 5 mins to go some 38 m out and the decision was made to take the kick as it would give Wirral the chance of a losing bonus point. Craig obliged with an excellent kick 10-15. MARK GIDMAN came on for MATT SLATER.
Wirral continued to attack urged on by the crowd and with 1 min to go the forwards make the ball available for the backs on the blind side and a pass to DANNY HARVEY saw the full back cut through from some 15 m out to score 20m from the post. It was then left to his brother Craig to convert, which he duly did 17-15.
Rochdale had time to kick off and make some progress down field until a dropped pass allowed the referee to blow for time for a relieved Wirral side. The man of the match was given to a player, playing out of position and was for his overall work rate during the game went to DAVID DONEO.
This was a good result for Wirral, given the number of changes they had to make coupled with the need to get last week’s result out of the system. As coach ANDY MCKINNEY indicated this was a better result than the last easy home victory against Aspatria.
Richard McNeil
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