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Sat 07 Nov 2009 · South Lancs / Cheshire 1
1st XVGlossop
Tries: S Hughes (2), P Donaldson, A Baker (4), D Harvey, S BroadbentConversions: D Harvey (6)
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Wirral Win in First Ever Meeting Against Glossop
Andrew Broadbent16 Nov 2009 - 09:58
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A comprehensive vistory at home against Glossop as Baker celebrates his return to action with 4 tries.
Following the defeat last week at Anselmians, WIRRAL were keen to defend their unbeaten 20 month home league record against Glossop, although lying in mid table had only conceded as many points as WIRRAL. This was the first ever league meeting between these sides.
Following a week of heavy rain the game was switched to the “Twickenham” pitch down the road and played with a slight wind advantage in the first half. There were a number of enforced changes from last week with Adam Stevens being unavailable, Matt Brown and Ollie Atkinson were both carrying injuries. In their places were Harvey, Chris Hughes and Ali Baker (Back after dislocating his shoulder at the end of August for his first league game of the season).
It was evident from the early exchanges that Glossop were looking to spoil Wirral’s game and may be the way they have played to prevent other teams from scoring. Glossop had the first opportunity to score with a penalty but this was pushed wide and at the other end, WIRRAL had the opportunity to score but were brought back by the referee for crossing.
The first score came after 10 minutes from a scrum some 30m out where Alistair Childs broke from the scrum on the blind side drew the winger to send Stu Hughes in from 20m. The try was converted by Harvey. 3 minutes later with pressure being exerted on the Glossop line, another scrum saw the ball passed to the right, where WIRRAL were held up on the line, the ball was passed to the left which resulted in Phil Donaldson forcing his way over close to the posts, again converted 14-0. Straight from the kick off, WIRRAL launched another attack through Ali Baker, who made good metres before joining up with the three quarter line; again he was involved before Stu Hughes had another run in from 25 m, with the try being duly converted. After 17 minutes. WIRRAL had eased into a 21-0 lead.
Glossop were finding it difficult to hold the WIRRAL side in this rampant mood but they gradually forced their way back into the game exerting pressure in the WIRRAL 20m and were awarded with a penalty in front of the posts some 20m out but this was missed. This was to prove to be their best period of the game.
The final try of the first half came after Glossop kicked downfield only for the ball to be collected by Ali Baker who set off on one of his characteristic runs, were again he lined up with the three quarters and good passing saw a pass inside to the supporting Baker, which gave him a clear run to the line for his first try of the season, again converted, 28-0 at Half Time.
After 10 minutes, Graham Phelan came on for Ben Marsh as a precaution for next week as he had a slight hand injury. Within a minute of Graham coming on WIRRAL extended their lead, when a scrum some 30m out led to Sam Broadbent dummying through the Glossop defence to pass back inside for Harvey to score under the posts, duly converted by Harvey 35-0. Within minutes, WIRRAL had an opportunity to score again but the final pass to Stu Hughes went astray. 2 minutes later (53minutes), Broadbent ran round the Glossop defence to score wide out but the conversion was missed by Harvey, score 40-0.
Further opportunities were available and it appeared that Stu Hughes was on “jug evasion” as he was not able to finish on a couple of occasions along with final passes going astray.
From our own 20m, Wirral continued to run with the ball instead of kicking for safety and following such a period of play, quick long passes created a run to the line after beating the attempted cover for Ali Baker from 60m out. After 67 minutes the score was 45-0 with the conversion missed. Straight from the kick off, WIRRAL again attacked but were unfortunate not to score when the Glossop defence got across to stop the attack.
On 74 minutes the Glossop second row was sin binned and from the resultant play with long passes a further try for Ali Baker was scored, but the try was again not converted, the last 3 conversions being all missed from the left hand side.
Father to be Ian White came on for the final 6 minutes and quickly settled into a smooth running three quarter line. On 37 minutes, good inter passing released Ali Baker who went in from 20 m to score his fourth try; quite a good start for his first game of the season, this try was converted by Harvey. Wirral were still not finished as they continued to attack Glossop and a further break by Sam just failed when the final pass went down.
The referee called matters to ahead and in what have been a good attacking Wirral side against defence which had been as tight of Wirral’s. Again it was a good all round performance by WIRRAL and the speed of their backs totally unnerved Glossop. It was good to see Ali Baker back and he was awarded with 4 tries scored by pace and defence splitting passes from his centres.
Next week WIRRAL are in the Isle of Man against Vagabonds and the team go with our full support. After this weeks games Wirral have consolidated their 2nd position in the league following Anselmians defeat at Widnes.
Following a week of heavy rain the game was switched to the “Twickenham” pitch down the road and played with a slight wind advantage in the first half. There were a number of enforced changes from last week with Adam Stevens being unavailable, Matt Brown and Ollie Atkinson were both carrying injuries. In their places were Harvey, Chris Hughes and Ali Baker (Back after dislocating his shoulder at the end of August for his first league game of the season).
It was evident from the early exchanges that Glossop were looking to spoil Wirral’s game and may be the way they have played to prevent other teams from scoring. Glossop had the first opportunity to score with a penalty but this was pushed wide and at the other end, WIRRAL had the opportunity to score but were brought back by the referee for crossing.
The first score came after 10 minutes from a scrum some 30m out where Alistair Childs broke from the scrum on the blind side drew the winger to send Stu Hughes in from 20m. The try was converted by Harvey. 3 minutes later with pressure being exerted on the Glossop line, another scrum saw the ball passed to the right, where WIRRAL were held up on the line, the ball was passed to the left which resulted in Phil Donaldson forcing his way over close to the posts, again converted 14-0. Straight from the kick off, WIRRAL launched another attack through Ali Baker, who made good metres before joining up with the three quarter line; again he was involved before Stu Hughes had another run in from 25 m, with the try being duly converted. After 17 minutes. WIRRAL had eased into a 21-0 lead.
Glossop were finding it difficult to hold the WIRRAL side in this rampant mood but they gradually forced their way back into the game exerting pressure in the WIRRAL 20m and were awarded with a penalty in front of the posts some 20m out but this was missed. This was to prove to be their best period of the game.
The final try of the first half came after Glossop kicked downfield only for the ball to be collected by Ali Baker who set off on one of his characteristic runs, were again he lined up with the three quarters and good passing saw a pass inside to the supporting Baker, which gave him a clear run to the line for his first try of the season, again converted, 28-0 at Half Time.
After 10 minutes, Graham Phelan came on for Ben Marsh as a precaution for next week as he had a slight hand injury. Within a minute of Graham coming on WIRRAL extended their lead, when a scrum some 30m out led to Sam Broadbent dummying through the Glossop defence to pass back inside for Harvey to score under the posts, duly converted by Harvey 35-0. Within minutes, WIRRAL had an opportunity to score again but the final pass to Stu Hughes went astray. 2 minutes later (53minutes), Broadbent ran round the Glossop defence to score wide out but the conversion was missed by Harvey, score 40-0.
Further opportunities were available and it appeared that Stu Hughes was on “jug evasion” as he was not able to finish on a couple of occasions along with final passes going astray.
From our own 20m, Wirral continued to run with the ball instead of kicking for safety and following such a period of play, quick long passes created a run to the line after beating the attempted cover for Ali Baker from 60m out. After 67 minutes the score was 45-0 with the conversion missed. Straight from the kick off, WIRRAL again attacked but were unfortunate not to score when the Glossop defence got across to stop the attack.
On 74 minutes the Glossop second row was sin binned and from the resultant play with long passes a further try for Ali Baker was scored, but the try was again not converted, the last 3 conversions being all missed from the left hand side.
Father to be Ian White came on for the final 6 minutes and quickly settled into a smooth running three quarter line. On 37 minutes, good inter passing released Ali Baker who went in from 20 m to score his fourth try; quite a good start for his first game of the season, this try was converted by Harvey. Wirral were still not finished as they continued to attack Glossop and a further break by Sam just failed when the final pass went down.
The referee called matters to ahead and in what have been a good attacking Wirral side against defence which had been as tight of Wirral’s. Again it was a good all round performance by WIRRAL and the speed of their backs totally unnerved Glossop. It was good to see Ali Baker back and he was awarded with 4 tries scored by pace and defence splitting passes from his centres.
Next week WIRRAL are in the Isle of Man against Vagabonds and the team go with our full support. After this weeks games Wirral have consolidated their 2nd position in the league following Anselmians defeat at Widnes.
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