Wirral Hold Out for Another Victory by a Narrow Margin

The necessarily early start to the journey was delayed as the teams watched for inspiration as England defeated Scotland!! The result was similar as Wirral clung on to achieve a narrow victory.
There were a number of changes to the team following last week’s last minute win over Rochdale as SAM BROADBENT and TIM HODSON were not available. RICHARD MACMILLAN came in on the wing for his first game of the season and ROB PEARL returned to the back row allowing COLIN DYER back to the second row. JAMES ANNETTS returned to fly half with CRAIG HARVEY returning to the centre with OLLIE ATKINSON.
The ground was in excellent condition having been watered and the club has recently been refurbished to a high standard following the disastrous floods in Carlisle a couple of years ago.
This was a game of few highlights as Wirral played a defensive game to stem the thrusts of the bigger Carlisle pack, which enabled the hosts to enjoy territory and possession advantage in the first half.
After 8 mins. two Wirral players, STEVE PENDERGAST and DAVID DONEO collided with each other and both had to leave the field with blood injuries, being replaced by CHRIS HUGHES and PAUL SHERLOCK. All the pressure was coming from Carlisle and Wirral’s first foray into the Carlisle half came from an interception by OLLIE ATKINSON (again) but the Carlisle defence recovered to stem that attack after good inter-passing between DANNY HARVEY and MATT SLATER. Steve and David returned to the field having been suitably bandaged.
On 24 mins Carlisle took the lead with a well taken penalty through GLEN WEIGHTMAN from 37m out and 15m in from touch and the lead could have been doubled 4 mins later from an easier position but this chance was missed. 3-0 However pressure continued to be applied by Carlisle with the fly half, WEIGHTMAN being hauled down 3 metres from the line but from the resultant play the ball went out on the blind side and right winger MATTHEW MINNETT crossed to score wide out on 31 mins, the conversion was missed. 8-0
On 34 mins after a bout of kicking, Carlisle cleared their 20m area but the kick did not find touch having been caught by CRAIG HARVEY who put up a “Gary Owen”, which he caught himself, made ground before releasing his brother DANNY HARVEY to score 10m from the posts, which Craig converted to reduce the lead to one point. Immediately, Carlisle hit back with a long kick into the Wirral 20m area, from the line out Carlisle won the ball and pushed the Wirral pack backwards over the line with Gareth Wylie, the Carlisle No8 touching down wide out, the conversion was missed. 13-7. CHRIS HUGHES came on for MATT BROWN, who had a back injury.
In the last minute of the first half, Wirral kicked the ball down into the Carlisle 20m area and in this area won the ball, the ball went out to the backs and DANNY HARVEY made a break down the middle but was caught 10m from the line, he passed inside to ROB PEARL who crashed over by the posts with tacklers in attendance. Craig added the conversion to put Wirral into the lead at half time 14-13 and as it turned out at the final whistle.
Whilst Wirral were ahead at half time this was due to them taking advantage of their few ventures into the opposition 20m area, whilst Carlisle were guilty of not fully utilizing their territory and possession advantage. Little did we know that this was to be the final score as the second half started in the same vein, although as time went on, Wirral came more into the game and were the only team making any breaks but could not capitalize on this as the final pass or kick through did not quite go to hand.
Both teams were guilty of not kicking to space but one aspect that stood out was the tackling of the Wirral team as they now withstood the occasional pressures from Carlisle. Both teams had the chance to score through penalties but these were missed although Carlisle had the easier chance and eventually spurned kicks at goal as they kicked for touch and territory. As the minutes ticked away, Wirral were gaining control of the game and were relieved to hear the final whistle from the Australian exchange referee.
Wirral have won the last two matches by a combined total of 3 points but it shows the “steel of the team” as in previous seasons these are matches that we may have let slip previously.
Those few spectators who travelled to Carlisle agreed that the whole back row were the “men of the match” for their 80min tackling stint.
On the adjoining pitch, praise should go to the second team who played 70mins with only 14 men (one player left the field ill), without the benefit of any substitutes and with a number of young players. They stuck to their game plan and GRAEME PHELAN was proud of his team as they only lost 13-8. Even the referee commented on the spirit of this young side.
Richard McNeil