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Sat 18 Oct 2014 · National League Three North
1st XVSheffield Tigers
Tries: A Baker (2), C SpeedConversions: B BrooksPenalties: B Brooks
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30
Wirral caught Out by Early Tigers Blitz
Andrew Broadbent20 Oct 2014 - 13:53
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The first meeting between these two teams results in a win for the boys from Sheffield.
Firstly an apology to all those who bought a programme on Saturday and especially to our friends from Sheffield as the programme showed the Burnage team from the previous week, even the numbers on that were incorrect!
For this first ever match against Sheffield Tigers, Wirral made a number of changes following injuries incurred in the Burnage again along with some positional changes. DAVE DONEO moved to No.8 in place of KEITH MAHON with the evergreen MIKE LUDBROOK coming in at blindside, TIM HODSON was recalled to second row in place of COLIN DYER. JULIAN HAIGH and ADAM SHELDON came in for the injured MIKE WARREN (ribs) and MATT LOON (hamstring) respectively. BEN BROOKS made his home debut.
Tigers played with the wind in the first half. In the first 10 minutes, there was only 2 minutes of play as various players needed first aid treatment including MIKE LUDBROOK who had a bad cut to the forehead. After 12 minutes Wirral managed to get out of their half but Tigers came back and good passing by them allowed Josh Redfern to run in unopposed, the try was converted by Graham, 0-7 (10 mins). In the move that resulted in the try, DANNY HARVEY (back spasm) was injured and replaced by ROSS PAGE with CHRIS BURROWS to the wing with ALI BAKER to full back. Within 4 minutes, Tigers returning a kick downfield split the Wirral defence allowing Buchanan to cross for a try, which was not converted, 0-12 (14 minutes).
A further move by the Tigers from the half way line down the right touchline resulted in the third try and during the passing there was an obvious forward pass but this was not picked up, the move continued allowing Wallace to score close to the posts and duly converted. This was quickly followed up by a penalty from 20m by Graham to increase the Tigers lead to 22 points after (26 minutes).
After 30 minutes, Wirral got on the score sheet with a penalty from 25m by BEN BROOKS (his first points for the first team). During the next period of play the Tigers second row, Josh Redfern suffered a neck injury in a tackle. The physio’s and a doctor were quickly on the scene to ensure that the player did not move until he was secure in a head brace and after the necessary precautions were undertaken he was stretched off the field. It took a further two hours before an ambulance came to the club. Sunday- the Tigers web site advises that Josh Redfern is OK- good news.
When play restarted, Wirral played with great vigour and a good passage of play saw the ball move down the Wirral backs, with ALI BAKER cutting inside the full back to score, the try was not converted 8-22 (34 minutes). Another Wirral injury saw ROSS PAGE (nose injury) replaced by PAUL LEWIS. In the minutes before half time, Tigers increased their lead with an easy penalty from Graham. Thus after an injury strewn half the first period of play came to an end after 56 minutes with Tigers leading 25-8.
The second half started with a further break from Tigers to put pressure on the Wirral line, Wirral cleared to the half way line with Tigers looking to start another attack, although tackled the Tigers player released the ball only for ALI BAKER to intercept beat the opposition and then run 55m unopposed to score under the posts, BEN BROOKS converted to reduce the lead to 15-25 (46 mins). A few minutes later, ALI caught the ball some 45m out and weaved his way through the Tigers defence to be in the clear and heading for the posts only to be tap tackled by a desperate dive by a Tigers player to deny him his hat trick and to bring Wirral within 3 points. Wirral also missed a penalty opportunity.
Tigers attacked again and were back on the Wirral line and after a couple of scrums the referee controversially awarded a penalty try to Tigers as it appeared they had kicked the ball out of the scrum. Even more surprising was the conversion from in front of the posts was missed. 15-30 (67 minutes).
The rest of the game was played in the Tigers half with much pressure being applied by Wirral, twice forwards were held up over the line and the pressure told as a Tigers player was sin binned for deliberate off side. From the resultant penalty, which was taken quickly down the backs it resulted in CHRIS SPPED scoring in the corner, the conversion was missed. Wirral continued to kick for position and worked their way into try scoring opportunities and with the last play of the game, the ball was dropped with the Tigers line at the player’s mercy.
The team played with great heart after the opening onslaught and praise should be given to those players who have come into the team and played with such determination as they nearly caused a surprise.
Richard McNeil
For this first ever match against Sheffield Tigers, Wirral made a number of changes following injuries incurred in the Burnage again along with some positional changes. DAVE DONEO moved to No.8 in place of KEITH MAHON with the evergreen MIKE LUDBROOK coming in at blindside, TIM HODSON was recalled to second row in place of COLIN DYER. JULIAN HAIGH and ADAM SHELDON came in for the injured MIKE WARREN (ribs) and MATT LOON (hamstring) respectively. BEN BROOKS made his home debut.
Tigers played with the wind in the first half. In the first 10 minutes, there was only 2 minutes of play as various players needed first aid treatment including MIKE LUDBROOK who had a bad cut to the forehead. After 12 minutes Wirral managed to get out of their half but Tigers came back and good passing by them allowed Josh Redfern to run in unopposed, the try was converted by Graham, 0-7 (10 mins). In the move that resulted in the try, DANNY HARVEY (back spasm) was injured and replaced by ROSS PAGE with CHRIS BURROWS to the wing with ALI BAKER to full back. Within 4 minutes, Tigers returning a kick downfield split the Wirral defence allowing Buchanan to cross for a try, which was not converted, 0-12 (14 minutes).
A further move by the Tigers from the half way line down the right touchline resulted in the third try and during the passing there was an obvious forward pass but this was not picked up, the move continued allowing Wallace to score close to the posts and duly converted. This was quickly followed up by a penalty from 20m by Graham to increase the Tigers lead to 22 points after (26 minutes).
After 30 minutes, Wirral got on the score sheet with a penalty from 25m by BEN BROOKS (his first points for the first team). During the next period of play the Tigers second row, Josh Redfern suffered a neck injury in a tackle. The physio’s and a doctor were quickly on the scene to ensure that the player did not move until he was secure in a head brace and after the necessary precautions were undertaken he was stretched off the field. It took a further two hours before an ambulance came to the club. Sunday- the Tigers web site advises that Josh Redfern is OK- good news.
When play restarted, Wirral played with great vigour and a good passage of play saw the ball move down the Wirral backs, with ALI BAKER cutting inside the full back to score, the try was not converted 8-22 (34 minutes). Another Wirral injury saw ROSS PAGE (nose injury) replaced by PAUL LEWIS. In the minutes before half time, Tigers increased their lead with an easy penalty from Graham. Thus after an injury strewn half the first period of play came to an end after 56 minutes with Tigers leading 25-8.
The second half started with a further break from Tigers to put pressure on the Wirral line, Wirral cleared to the half way line with Tigers looking to start another attack, although tackled the Tigers player released the ball only for ALI BAKER to intercept beat the opposition and then run 55m unopposed to score under the posts, BEN BROOKS converted to reduce the lead to 15-25 (46 mins). A few minutes later, ALI caught the ball some 45m out and weaved his way through the Tigers defence to be in the clear and heading for the posts only to be tap tackled by a desperate dive by a Tigers player to deny him his hat trick and to bring Wirral within 3 points. Wirral also missed a penalty opportunity.
Tigers attacked again and were back on the Wirral line and after a couple of scrums the referee controversially awarded a penalty try to Tigers as it appeared they had kicked the ball out of the scrum. Even more surprising was the conversion from in front of the posts was missed. 15-30 (67 minutes).
The rest of the game was played in the Tigers half with much pressure being applied by Wirral, twice forwards were held up over the line and the pressure told as a Tigers player was sin binned for deliberate off side. From the resultant penalty, which was taken quickly down the backs it resulted in CHRIS SPPED scoring in the corner, the conversion was missed. Wirral continued to kick for position and worked their way into try scoring opportunities and with the last play of the game, the ball was dropped with the Tigers line at the player’s mercy.
The team played with great heart after the opening onslaught and praise should be given to those players who have come into the team and played with such determination as they nearly caused a surprise.
Richard McNeil
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