Wirral Lose Out in a Game of Two Halves

This match against Cleckheaton is the first of the reverse games this season and Wirral are now benefitting from having a bigger squad from which to select after a number of injuries. CRAIG HARVEY came in at fly half after a two month layoff replacing BEN BROOKS. ALI BAKER returned to the left wing at the expense of MARK GIDMAN with DAN HARVEY reverting to centre. TOM PARRY came in at blindside and the subs were CHRIS BURROWS, MIKE WARREN and STEVE PENDERGAST.
Wirral kicked off towards the clubhouse with a slight breeze in their favour and were immediately on the attack and had Cleckheaton pinned in their 22, after crossing the whitewash and deemed as being held up, Wirral had a 5m scrum and following further pressure, MATT BROWN and ADAM SHELDON went over the line with the ball and ADAM was deemed to have scored. The conversion was missed from wide out. 5-0 (2 minutes).
From the kick off, Wirral were caught in their own half and could not get a kick away to relieve the pressure. On 12 minutes, an opposition player grabbed CRAIG HARVEY in an awkward place and was pushed away only for the referee to give a yellow card to the Wirral player. With 14 men Wirral stuck to their task and eventually broke out of their half and on the 17th minute were given a penalty, which JAMES ANNETTS duly slotted over 8-0. With the possession they were enjoying the backs were making progress on each occasion with good runs being seen from fullback JAMES ANNETTS.
On 25 mins Wirral had possession from a scrum some 20m out and good running from CRAIG to DAN HARVEY who came into the line late and an immediate pass to ADAM SHELDON saw him dive over in the corner for a well taken try, from the touchline this was converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 15-0. Four minutes later another break by JAMES ANNETTS split the Cleckheaton defence, draw the full back before putting in CRAIG HARVEY for a try near the posts, which JAMES duly converted. 22-0.
Gradually Cleckheaton came into the game and having possession some 15m out, the combined forces of their pack mauled their way over the line for skipper, Richard Piper to touch down, and this was converted from the touchline by Ollie Ackroyd. 22-7. In the minutes leading up to half time, Wirral had further half chances which could have led to scores and given them the try bonus point before half time.
The second half commenced with Wirral not able to clear the ball any great distance and with Cleckheaton in possession they used their forwards and centres to drive through the Wirral defence. On 44 minutes with Wirral caught up in defensive positions the ball came right where Cleckheaton had an overlap and full back Cameron Burnhill went over unopposed in the corner. The try was not converted 22-12.
A long clearance from Cleckheaton was collected by Wirral and a kick downfield was taken by the Cleckheaton full back only for him to be caught in possession by Ali Baker. From this situation, Wirral had a scrum and pushed the away side pack back, Wirral were virtually on the line when the referee awarded Cleckheaton the scrum as we had turned the scrum 90 degrees! Why would we seek to turn the scrum as we were moving forward? The opportunity was lost.
Cleckheaton were now back in the Wirral half and their forwards were making progress in mid field and putting pressure on the Wirral line and this led to wing forward Danny Vento scoring, but the conversion was missed. 22-17.
In the 59th minute, CHRIS BURROWS replaced KEITH MAHON. ROB PEARL was then the victim of a punch from a Cleckheaton player against a player who was in no position to defend himself. ROB has broken his nose and the full damage will have to be assessed. The players are aware of the culprit as do the Cleckheaton officials and trust that suitable action is taken. The referee was in close proximity but appears not to have seen the incident!! KEITH MAHON re-joined the fray and two minutes later, young TOM PARRY received a head injury and was replaced by MIKE WARREN.
Seven minutes after all this, Cleckheaton took the lead with a pushover try under the Wirral posts and this was awarded to Ben Thrower and the conversion was made by ACKROYD. 22-24
Wirral came back and their enterprise was rewarded with a penalty from some 30m out which JAMES ANNETTS slotted over to give the home side a 25-24 lead. However this was not going to be the ending the way the home crowd hoped for when the referee had the final say in awarding Cleckheaton a penalty from in front of the posts.
In my years of following the first team, I have not seen such a quiet and dejected changing room not just because of the loss but the injury incurred by ROB.
The first team now have a break until January 3rd when they are away at Huddersfield YMCA.
Richard McNeil