First Win at Heywood Road

In perfect conditions for playing open rugby these two unbeaten teams in the league met at Heywood Road on Saturday.

Wirral had a number of enforced changes with Martin Hodgson and Phil Donaldson making their first appearances of the season in the first team. Ian White came in for Ali Childs at scrum half and our close season recruit from Widnes, Ollie Atkinson playing on the wing.

There was no wind advantage and thus the game proceeded with Wirral taking an early lead from what was their first concerted attack with the ball being passed through the three- quarters creating an overlap for the winger,O.Atkinson to run in from 20 metres for his first try for Wirral, this has easily converted by Sam Broadbent. At this stage both teams were playing open attractive rugby and felt that at this stage that Sale had a number of good runners but they were being halted by Wirral's good tackling all round the ground which stunted the oppositions progress.

After 12 minutes from 30 metres out their scrumhalf put in a high kick from the base of a maul and whilst Wirral had two players in attendance they allowed the ball to bounce allowing their winger to run through and catch the ball on the bounce to score 15 metres from the post, however the conversion was missed. A score which could easily have been prevented. If anything this was a wake up call to the Wirral side and immediately Wirral replied with a try under the posts from Ali Stevens following good ball from the scrum and a half break from Sam Broadbent, the latter converted. 14-5.

Then followed a period of each side attacking but more so from Wirral with a couple of penalty chances being turned down from the 40 metre range as Wirral looked to capitalise on the possession they were enjoying from line outs and scrums. However an easier chance came along in the 30th minute from which Sam obliged. From the kick off, Wirral again took play down into the Sale half and in the 32nd minute there was a good phase of inter passing amongst the forwards which left Ross Page with a "stroll" to the line from 20 metres and again Sam converted.

This left the score at Half time 24-5, which left the large contingent of Wirral supporters highly contented in what had been Wirral's best first half performance this season.

It was apparent in the second half that Sale had been given fresh impetus by their coaching staff and more of the play was in the Wirral half of the game and after persistent pressure their centre Moorhouse in the 50th min crashed over from 5 metres out which provided them with an easy conversion. Six minutes later after further pressure and poor play from Wirral their hooker received the ball some 40 metres out and beat the outstanding cover to score, again converted. This made the score 24-19.

The game had changed round and spectators were aware that another converted try would put Sale in the lead. Wirral were still playing and defending well but gradually got themselves back into the game. A penalty opportunity was missed before Sam scored a penalty from some 38 metres out, which gave Wirral an increased lead of 27-19 and meaning that Sale had to score twice to win the game. Both teams fully realised the intense situation with the game switching from end to end.

In the end the Wirral defence held out and much relief when the final whistle was blown. We had not won at Sale since they came into our league some 3 years ago. Spectators from both sides agreed that it had been an absorbing match and given Sale's second half performance the result was always in doubt although the Wirral spectators were confident after that first half performance.

It would be unfair to pick out any one player as been outstanding as this was a good team performance and Coach Andy McKinney has got the team playing together and more importantly supporting each other and a belief in themselves.