Sandal Control of the Second Half Sees Off Wirral

Following injuries incurred last week against Waterloo, there were a number of changes to the team, JACK YARKER (pulled calf muscle) and CHRIS SPEED (broken thumb and shoulder injury) were obviously not available. CHRIS HUGHES and ALI BAKER replaced those players with MATT LOON coming in on the wing, CHRIS BURROWS moved into the blind side. The substitutes were MIKE WARREN, DAVE DONEO and STEVE PENDERGAST.
From the kick off, Wirral collected and immediately drove the Sandal forwards back 30m an aspect that we were to see throughout the match. During the first 20 minutes Sandal rarely visited the Wirral half and on one occasion they were driven back downfield by a superb kick from JOSH STEAD.
Wirral were in the ascendancy assisted by many penalties in their favour, which resulted in prop, Luke Norbury having a 10 minute rest. Despite being down to 14 men, Sandal repelled Wirral as they attacked the Sandal line.
On 23 minutes with play in the Wirral half, the Sandal backs got quick ball in open space and with the ball in hand a quick pass inside broke the defence and Dave Martin put in winger, Simon Frewin in the corner for a try, the conversion was missed. 0-5 (23 mins).
To Wirral’s credit with improved discipline they did not give away their first penalty until the 27th minute. Mark Pease took a kick from this penalty some 38m out but missed. DAVE DONEO came on for PAUL LEWIS. Still Wirral pressed and although they continued to receive penalties, none were in kickable positions. Towards the end of the half, SAM BROADBENT made a break down the right but was tackled 10m short with no one in support to carry on the attack.
At the start of the second half, Sandal had the territory and possession and thus applied pressure and they switched the ball from wing to wing, eventually finding an opening where Luke Norbury crashed over near the posts, with Mark Pease converting.(0-12 43 mins).STEVE PENDERGAST came on for CHRIS HUGHES
With ball in open play, Sandal were full of running and a series of quick passes saw Simon Frewin crossing in the corner for his second try. This was well converted from the touchline by Mark Pease. MIKE WARREN came on for CHRIS BURROWS.
Although Wirral continued to attack a well-constructed run with a kick over the sandal defence almost put Wirral in for a score but the bounce was not in favour of the home team. Back came Sandal and although they were held on the Wirral line for many tackles, clever play by their scrum half who delayed the pass to send in James Briscoe with a crash ball close to the line, again this was converted giving Sandal their try bonus point. (0-26, 70 mins).
The final Sandal try came when they took a short throw at the front of the line out which caught the home side off guard and some 30m were made. Again Wirral held out for some time before the big prop, Luke Norbury crashed over from a couple of meters out, again converted. 0 33 -76 mins.
To some extent the score somewhat flattered sandal given the pressure that Wirral had exerted during the game but in the closing minute they put together a move, which saw ADAM SHELDON make progress down the right before passing inside and ROB PEARL delivered the final pass to MATT LOON who scored in the corner. The conversion was missed. 5-33.
A disappointing result for Wirral given the pressure exerted in the first half and the half chances they created, whilst Sandal took full advantage of their chances, an aspect which Wirral must learn and start converting these chances into tangible points.
This Saturday, the first team is away at Sale FC, another team vying for that elusive promotion spot. This is one of the closest teams to come and see an away match in this league.
Richard McNeil