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Sat 25 Oct 2014 · National League Three North
Billingham
1st XV
29
8
Tries: P LewisYellow Carded: J Yarker, M Warren
Wirral Undone by Billingham Backs
Andrew Broadbent26 Oct 2014 - 15:42
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A much-changed Wirral team return from the long trip to Billingham with nothing.
For the long away game at Billingham, Wirral were again forced to make changes following further injuries incurred in last week’s game against Sheffield Tigers. TOM PARRY made his first team debut at blindside and PAUL LEWIS started in the second row in place of TIM HODSON. The replacements were CHRIS HUGHES, ROSS PAGE and MIKE WARREN.
Billingham kicked off with the wind advantage and Wirral settled well stemming the home side’s attacks but it was Billingham who had the majority of possession, who turned down penalty opportunities to go for potential tries. On one such occasion they had created space only to drop the ball with the line at their mercy.
On one of their first attacks an astute kick from BEN BROOKS put Wirral on the attack 5m from the line but the opportunity was lost when losing the ball against the head. It was clear early on that Billingham had attacking flair in their centres and it was only keen tackling that held them at bay. The game changed in the second half when JACK YARKER was sin binned after losing his balance and falling on the wrong side. Down to 14 men, Billingham took advantage when a good move was halted but quickly moving t6he ball saw Kirkbride cross by the posts and the try converted by Evans, 7-0 (20 mins).
Three minutes later, a Billingham short kick over the Wirral defence bounced in their favour and ball was passed down the line to the Wirral 20m area, although tackled, players were on hand to carry on the move and Lumb scored close to the posts, this was also converted. 14-0 (23 mins).
ROSS PAGE came on for TOM PARRY but in his first run with the ball, he suffered a leg injury along with a reoccurrence of his nose injury from last week, thus MIKE WARREN now came on for ROSS PAGE (who was to take no further part in the game. Gradually Wirral came into the game and had Billingham pinned down on their line but could not capitalize on this position but this was short lived as another break by the Billingham centres and a long pass out to the right wing should have resulted in a try but the try was saved by an excellent tackle.
The Billingham fly half was then sin binned for not retreating 10m from a penalty and exacerbated the situation for talking back to the referee. From in front of the posts, BEN BROOKS put Wirral on the score sheet, 14-3 (38 mins).
The second half started with good play from the home side and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts- as the player came up to kick the ball it fell over, immediately he picked up the ball and attempted a drop kick, which hit the post and Wirral were scrambled the ball away.
A good period of play from Wirral saw them advance downfield to the Billingham 20m area and passing by the Wirral forwards towards the try line saw MATT BROWN stopped before the whitewash but a short pass saw PAUL LEWIS plunge over the line- the try was not converted. (14-8 54 mins). JACK YARKER came on for CHRIS HUGHES and with DAVE DONEO suffering a hamstring injury we saw MIKE WARREN moving to No.8 – a very versatile player.
Back came Billingham only for the next scoring chance failing by an excellent tackle near the corner flag, however from this position they were awarded a penalty which Evans converted to give them a 17-8 lead.
Any hope of a Wirral revival was extinguished when Lumb the Billingham second row crossed following good work by the forwards. The try was converted by Evans to extend the home sides lead to 24-8 (68 mins). Much as Wirral endeavored they could not break through the Billingham defence and it was with the last play of the game that Billingham scored their fourth try and gained a try bonus point. The try again came from their strong running centre who put in the full back Evans who raced in from 35 m out but the same player could not convert to leave the score with a home win of 29-8.
Whilst Billingham had the opportunities to score more tries, Wirral stuck to their defensive duties and could with greater penetration have run Billingham close. Wirral are now hoping that some of the players on their long injury list will be back in the weeks ahead as clearly the squad is stretched given that there were more injuries today, which puts them out of next week’s home game against Beverley, which will kick off at 2.15p.m.
Billingham kicked off with the wind advantage and Wirral settled well stemming the home side’s attacks but it was Billingham who had the majority of possession, who turned down penalty opportunities to go for potential tries. On one such occasion they had created space only to drop the ball with the line at their mercy.
On one of their first attacks an astute kick from BEN BROOKS put Wirral on the attack 5m from the line but the opportunity was lost when losing the ball against the head. It was clear early on that Billingham had attacking flair in their centres and it was only keen tackling that held them at bay. The game changed in the second half when JACK YARKER was sin binned after losing his balance and falling on the wrong side. Down to 14 men, Billingham took advantage when a good move was halted but quickly moving t6he ball saw Kirkbride cross by the posts and the try converted by Evans, 7-0 (20 mins).
Three minutes later, a Billingham short kick over the Wirral defence bounced in their favour and ball was passed down the line to the Wirral 20m area, although tackled, players were on hand to carry on the move and Lumb scored close to the posts, this was also converted. 14-0 (23 mins).
ROSS PAGE came on for TOM PARRY but in his first run with the ball, he suffered a leg injury along with a reoccurrence of his nose injury from last week, thus MIKE WARREN now came on for ROSS PAGE (who was to take no further part in the game. Gradually Wirral came into the game and had Billingham pinned down on their line but could not capitalize on this position but this was short lived as another break by the Billingham centres and a long pass out to the right wing should have resulted in a try but the try was saved by an excellent tackle.
The Billingham fly half was then sin binned for not retreating 10m from a penalty and exacerbated the situation for talking back to the referee. From in front of the posts, BEN BROOKS put Wirral on the score sheet, 14-3 (38 mins).
The second half started with good play from the home side and were awarded a penalty in front of the posts- as the player came up to kick the ball it fell over, immediately he picked up the ball and attempted a drop kick, which hit the post and Wirral were scrambled the ball away.
A good period of play from Wirral saw them advance downfield to the Billingham 20m area and passing by the Wirral forwards towards the try line saw MATT BROWN stopped before the whitewash but a short pass saw PAUL LEWIS plunge over the line- the try was not converted. (14-8 54 mins). JACK YARKER came on for CHRIS HUGHES and with DAVE DONEO suffering a hamstring injury we saw MIKE WARREN moving to No.8 – a very versatile player.
Back came Billingham only for the next scoring chance failing by an excellent tackle near the corner flag, however from this position they were awarded a penalty which Evans converted to give them a 17-8 lead.
Any hope of a Wirral revival was extinguished when Lumb the Billingham second row crossed following good work by the forwards. The try was converted by Evans to extend the home sides lead to 24-8 (68 mins). Much as Wirral endeavored they could not break through the Billingham defence and it was with the last play of the game that Billingham scored their fourth try and gained a try bonus point. The try again came from their strong running centre who put in the full back Evans who raced in from 35 m out but the same player could not convert to leave the score with a home win of 29-8.
Whilst Billingham had the opportunities to score more tries, Wirral stuck to their defensive duties and could with greater penetration have run Billingham close. Wirral are now hoping that some of the players on their long injury list will be back in the weeks ahead as clearly the squad is stretched given that there were more injuries today, which puts them out of next week’s home game against Beverley, which will kick off at 2.15p.m.
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