Burnage Take Advantage of Wirral Errors

Now that we have had time to reflect on this game, it was one that Wirral should have won given the errors that Wirral incurred when in attacking positions.
For the game on the Burnage 3G pitch in ideal conditions and with no wind, Wirral gave 18 year old BEN BROOKS his debut in the place of CRAIG HARVEY (knee injury) and CHRIS BURROWS came in for ROSS PAGE, with the latter on the subs bench along with CHRIS HUGHES and PAUL LEWIS.
After a cagey start by both sides with kicking for position to the fore, Wirral were awarded a penalty 40m out, which DANNY HARVEY converted to give Wirral an early lead 0-3 (5 mins). On 11 mins with Wirral again in possession and attacking, a long pass out was intercepted by Burnage centre Stuart Oldham 45m out and was almost tackled as he scored in the corner, the conversion was missed. 5-3
Wirral were on the attack again when a quickly taken free kick by SAM BROADBENT passed on to JACK YARKER was stopped yards from the line but keeping pressure on Burnage in their 20m area was rewarded when MIKE WARREN stepped inside a would be tackler to dive over close to the posts, the try was converted by DANNY HARVEY 5-10 (21 mins). As a result of being tackled, MIKE suffered an injury to the ribs and had to be replaced 7 minutes later by PAUL LEWIS, who took his place at scrum half (surely the biggest scrum half in the league!!). At this stage there had been a number of injuries to both sides with much time being added on to the half.
On 32 mins Wirral increased their lead to 5-13 with a well taken penalty from 41m by DANNY HARVEY. Burnage responded putting pressure on the Wirral line but a ball steal by CHRIS BURROWS relieved the pressure with a good clearance to half way by BEN BROOKS. From possession 60m out, Burnage centre Steve Oldham, after a number of unsuccessful efforts to get through the Wirral line, eventually broke the first line and despite a number of would be tacklers managed to cross in the corner despite ALI BAKER’s last gasp effort to tackle him into touch. The conversion was missed. 10-13 (37 mins). In the final minutes before half time each side exchanged penalties through DANNY HARVEY and Adam Knight, 13-16 at the break.
Immediately after the break, Burnage kept Wirral penned in their 20m area and after a number of thrusts at the Wirral line the ball was swung left quickly which left Burnage with a 3 to 1 overlap and Sam Boyd was able to cross unopposed, the conversion was missed. 18-16 (42 mins). On 46 mins ROSS PAGE came on for MATT LOON (hamstring twinge), with CHRIS BURROWS going to the wing and CHRIS HUGHES on for JACK YARKER.
Wirral were attacking the Burnage line and passing the ball left and right and with a try on the cards, the last pass was intercepted by Burnage scrum half , James Hodder, who ran 95m unopposed to score under the posts. Adam Knight converted to extend the lead to 25-16 (54 mins). KEITH MAHON (leg and shoulder injury) was replaced by JACK YARKER. With these disruptions to the team, the balance of the team was not right allowing Burnage prop replacement Nick Scholes the opportunity to force his way over from short range, the try was converted by Adam Knight to increase the Burnage lead to 16 points, 32-16 (60 mins).
Following this try Wirral played their best rugby of the game and put pressure on Burnage who were reduced to 14 men when a forward was deliberately interfering from an offside position. On 63 minutes, MIKE WARREN returned to action duly bandaged up in place of COLIN DYER with PAUL LEWIS now reverting to the second row. Pressure eventually told after Wirral were held up over the line on two occasions and had repeated efforts stopped yards from the line when from a position under the posts, ROSS PAGE forced his way over and was converted by DANNY HARVEY, 32-23 (68 mins). Wirral continued with the pressure as they sought to achieve one more score to at least get a bonus losing point.
Burnage managed to clear and on a rare attack in this period, a pass was almost intercepted by DANNY HARVEY and on looking to catch the ball was deliberately obstructed by a Burnage player, but the referee deemed it to be a yellow card offence, much to the surprise of those present. Burnage took advantage of the penalty to increase their lead to 35-23 through Adam Knight on 68 minutes.
Wirral with 14 men continued to press Burnage but could not get that vital try and points to get something out of this game, which they deserved. There was even time for Wirral to be restored to 15 men and exert more pressure put the breakthrough did not come. Without their self-imposed errors this is a match that Wirral could and should have won but must give the squad confidence for the matches ahead.
Richard McNeil