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Sat 05 Apr 2014 ·  North 1 West
1st XVCarlisle
Tries: R Pearl, C Harvey, A Baker (2), J Annetts, S Broadbent, C SpeedConversions: C Harvey (3), J Annetts (3)Yellow Carded: R Pearl
47
3
Wirral Continue Unbeaten Home Run
Andrew Broadbent10 Apr 2014 - 13:05
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As the 4th team secured promotion on the adjacent pitch, the first team continued their quest for the league title with a win over Carlisle.
The final home league match of the season against Carlisle had both teams striving for points with Wirral looking to maintain their promotion challenge and Carlisle seeking points in their relegation battle as they are currently 4th from the bottom.
Wirral made two changes from the team which played at Warrington with MIKE WARREN returning at scrum half in place of the unfortunate JULIAN HAIGH and JACK YARKER playing at hooker in place of the unavailable JASON GREEN. The substitutes were, CHRIS BURROWS, PAUL LEWIS and DAVID DONEO.
The game started at a fast pace and as early as the 2nd minute, the veteran Carlisle No 8 Lee Brumpton was sin binned for foul play. On restart, Wirral moved the ball right which led to an overlap and it was assumed by the large crowd that DAN HARVEY had scored in the corner only to find that there was a foot in touch. On 13 minutes, Wirral took the led after good interplay between a number of players, eventually saw ROSS PAGE put in ROB PEARL for his 19th try of the season, the conversion hit the post. 5-0. Carlisle came back strongly using the wind advantage to gain ground and were rewarded with a long distance penalty from Glen Weightman. 5-3 (20 minutes).
Both teams were trying to find gaps in each other defences and play was being contained in mid field. At this stage Carlisle were well in this game and could have taken the lead but a penalty went wide. On 30 minutes, ROB PEARL was sin binned and ironically this was a catalyst for a try scoring spree from the home side. Carlisle dropped the ball in the middle of the pitch and this was collected by ALI BAKER who rounded his opposite number down the left wing before drawing the full back and putting CRAIG HARVEY in for an unopposed run to the line. Craig converted. 12-3 (36 minutes). From the kick off, Wirral were back on the score sheet when the break came from a combination of forward play through, COLIN DYER, MATT BROWN , RYAN STEAD and JACK YARKER before passing on to CRAIG HARVEY who repaid the complement and gave ALI BAKER an easy run in, again converted by CRAIG. 19-3 (37 mins). Carlisle again kicked off and for a short period play was in mid field until a break by JAMES ANNETTS split the defence before accelerating past the Carlisle full back to score a fine individual try; this was also converted by CRAIG. This gave Wirral their try bonus point and a commanding 26-3 half time lead.
Early in the second half, CRAIG HARVEY was replaced by CHRIS BURROWS, brother Dan moved to fly half. Further replacements were seen at 47 minutes when DAVE DONEO came on for JOE ADNAMS, with DAVE making an immediate impact with a line breaking attack which took lay up to the Carlisle 20m area. There then followed sustained pressure from the Wirral forwards as they pounded the Carlisle line, eventually the ball went out left where good passing allowed ALI BAKER to cross unchallenged for his 25th try of the season, converted by JAMES ANNETTS from the touchline. 33-3 (52 minutes). PAUL LEWIS came on for ROSS PAGE.
Wirral were now playing some of the best rugby and the breaks were coming but on a number of occasions the final pass did not go quite to hand although Carlisle played well in defence to keep the score down. In the 60th minute, Wirral scored their cheekiest try of the season, when a long pass some 60m out by DAN HARVEY found emergency winger, CHRIS BURROWS who ran some 50m before passing inside as the touchline came into play, the pass did not go to hand and was retrieved by a Carlisle player running back and was tackled over the line by SAM BROADBENT, the Carlisle player lost control of the ball and Sam merely touched down, JAMES ANNETTS then again converted from the touchline to increase the lead to 40-3 (60 mins). On 70 minutes, JOE ADNAMS came on for ROB PEARL and ROSS PAGE on for COLIN DYER both players receiving a warm applause from the larger than average crowd for their efforts.
Wirral continued to threaten on a number of occasions but could not break through a defence that battled through for the full 80 minutes. It was virtually the last play of the game when another searing break by JAMES ANNETTS saw him draw the full back and pass to CHRIS SPEED who held off a number of would be tacklers to score under the posts and JAMES ANNETTS again converted. 47-3 (79 mins).
With the League Secretary at the match, we soon heard that Birkenhead Park had overcome Vale of Lune 28-7 and obtained a try scoring bonus point. The position thus remains the same with Wirral still holding a slender one point lead and the outcome of the automatic promotion place comes down to the last game of the season. Wirral are away at Kendal (4th in the table) where they will be taking a big following. A bonus point win will guarantee them automatic promotion whilst Birkenhead Park are away at Warrington.
The players would wish to thank all supporters through this column for the tremendous support they have received this season both home and away.
It would be remiss of me if I did not mention the 4th team who were playing on the adjacent pitch and won their match to claim promotion after only two years in the league system. What is even more remarkable they are playing in a league where many of the teams they are playing are 2nd and 3rd teams of well-established clubs. It proves there is game for all ages as those playing span an age gap of 44 years from the oldest at 61 to young JOSH CONNOLLY at 17.
Richard McNeil
Wirral made two changes from the team which played at Warrington with MIKE WARREN returning at scrum half in place of the unfortunate JULIAN HAIGH and JACK YARKER playing at hooker in place of the unavailable JASON GREEN. The substitutes were, CHRIS BURROWS, PAUL LEWIS and DAVID DONEO.
The game started at a fast pace and as early as the 2nd minute, the veteran Carlisle No 8 Lee Brumpton was sin binned for foul play. On restart, Wirral moved the ball right which led to an overlap and it was assumed by the large crowd that DAN HARVEY had scored in the corner only to find that there was a foot in touch. On 13 minutes, Wirral took the led after good interplay between a number of players, eventually saw ROSS PAGE put in ROB PEARL for his 19th try of the season, the conversion hit the post. 5-0. Carlisle came back strongly using the wind advantage to gain ground and were rewarded with a long distance penalty from Glen Weightman. 5-3 (20 minutes).
Both teams were trying to find gaps in each other defences and play was being contained in mid field. At this stage Carlisle were well in this game and could have taken the lead but a penalty went wide. On 30 minutes, ROB PEARL was sin binned and ironically this was a catalyst for a try scoring spree from the home side. Carlisle dropped the ball in the middle of the pitch and this was collected by ALI BAKER who rounded his opposite number down the left wing before drawing the full back and putting CRAIG HARVEY in for an unopposed run to the line. Craig converted. 12-3 (36 minutes). From the kick off, Wirral were back on the score sheet when the break came from a combination of forward play through, COLIN DYER, MATT BROWN , RYAN STEAD and JACK YARKER before passing on to CRAIG HARVEY who repaid the complement and gave ALI BAKER an easy run in, again converted by CRAIG. 19-3 (37 mins). Carlisle again kicked off and for a short period play was in mid field until a break by JAMES ANNETTS split the defence before accelerating past the Carlisle full back to score a fine individual try; this was also converted by CRAIG. This gave Wirral their try bonus point and a commanding 26-3 half time lead.
Early in the second half, CRAIG HARVEY was replaced by CHRIS BURROWS, brother Dan moved to fly half. Further replacements were seen at 47 minutes when DAVE DONEO came on for JOE ADNAMS, with DAVE making an immediate impact with a line breaking attack which took lay up to the Carlisle 20m area. There then followed sustained pressure from the Wirral forwards as they pounded the Carlisle line, eventually the ball went out left where good passing allowed ALI BAKER to cross unchallenged for his 25th try of the season, converted by JAMES ANNETTS from the touchline. 33-3 (52 minutes). PAUL LEWIS came on for ROSS PAGE.
Wirral were now playing some of the best rugby and the breaks were coming but on a number of occasions the final pass did not go quite to hand although Carlisle played well in defence to keep the score down. In the 60th minute, Wirral scored their cheekiest try of the season, when a long pass some 60m out by DAN HARVEY found emergency winger, CHRIS BURROWS who ran some 50m before passing inside as the touchline came into play, the pass did not go to hand and was retrieved by a Carlisle player running back and was tackled over the line by SAM BROADBENT, the Carlisle player lost control of the ball and Sam merely touched down, JAMES ANNETTS then again converted from the touchline to increase the lead to 40-3 (60 mins). On 70 minutes, JOE ADNAMS came on for ROB PEARL and ROSS PAGE on for COLIN DYER both players receiving a warm applause from the larger than average crowd for their efforts.
Wirral continued to threaten on a number of occasions but could not break through a defence that battled through for the full 80 minutes. It was virtually the last play of the game when another searing break by JAMES ANNETTS saw him draw the full back and pass to CHRIS SPEED who held off a number of would be tacklers to score under the posts and JAMES ANNETTS again converted. 47-3 (79 mins).
With the League Secretary at the match, we soon heard that Birkenhead Park had overcome Vale of Lune 28-7 and obtained a try scoring bonus point. The position thus remains the same with Wirral still holding a slender one point lead and the outcome of the automatic promotion place comes down to the last game of the season. Wirral are away at Kendal (4th in the table) where they will be taking a big following. A bonus point win will guarantee them automatic promotion whilst Birkenhead Park are away at Warrington.
The players would wish to thank all supporters through this column for the tremendous support they have received this season both home and away.
It would be remiss of me if I did not mention the 4th team who were playing on the adjacent pitch and won their match to claim promotion after only two years in the league system. What is even more remarkable they are playing in a league where many of the teams they are playing are 2nd and 3rd teams of well-established clubs. It proves there is game for all ages as those playing span an age gap of 44 years from the oldest at 61 to young JOSH CONNOLLY at 17.
Richard McNeil
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