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Sat 03 Jan 2015 · National League Three North
Huddersfield Y.M.C.A.
1st XV
8
24
Tries: A Baker, C Harvey, D HarveyConversions: J Annetts (3)Penalties: J Annetts
YMCA overcome by resurgent Wirral
Graeme Phelan8 Jan 2015 - 20:45
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YMCA overcome by resurgent Wirral
Happy New Year to all supporters from the first team squad and officials.
For the first match of 2015 the team were away at HYMCA where the conditions were good for open rugby notwithstanding that during the week 5 inches of snow had fallen on the pitch. Wirral were keen to win this game given that in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, HYMCA drew the game with a penalty in the last minutes of the game.
Wirral made one change from the team that lost narrowly to Cleckheaton some 3 weeks ago with KEITH MAHON not available having been injured on a New Year run. CHRIS BURROWS came into the team with the substitutes being, MIKE WARREN, TIM HODSON and MATT LOON.
Immediately on kick off Wirral were on the attack and made use of the ball by kicking deep and keeping HYMCA in their half and made progress to 5m from the opposition line only for an infringement allowing the home side to clear. The first 15 minutes saw Wirral with the majority of territory and from a line out 20m out on the right the ball came down the backs smoothly and a quick pass from DAN HARVEY to ALI BAKER saw the winger round his opposite number to score in the corner. JAMES ANNETTS converted from the touchline. 0-7 (15 mins).
From the kick off, HYMCA made progress into the Wirral 20m area but could not break through the away sides defence. TIM HODSON came on for PAUL LEWIS on 25 mins. Another penalty to the home side saw them reduce the deficit with a penalty with an easy kick by Gavin Stead from in front of the posts. 3-7 (28 mins). On 32 mins the HYMCA wing forward, Mark Whitehead was sin binned at which time MIKE WARREN came on for TOM PARRY.
A couple of penalties took Wirral up to the opposition 20m area and were awarded a scrum only for this to be changed to a penalty in Wirral’s favour as a HYMCA player expressed his opinion to the referee. JOSH STEAD took the penalty quickly and passed to CRAIG HARVEY who from 10m out forced his way over in the corner and from an identical position as the first try, JAMES ANNETTS again converted. 3-14- 34 minutes. For the remaining period of the first half play was contained to mid field.
The second half began with Wirral immediately on the attack but on losing the ball, the ball was cleared well by HYMCA. The home side were finding it difficult to break through the Wirral defence although there were odd breaks by individuals but the attacker was isolated as Wirral used 2/3 men to stop the attacks. On 51 minutes, with Wirral on the opposition 20m line, CRAIG HARVEY from midfield put in a cross kick to the right hand side where brother DAN HARVEY outleapt the home side left wing to collect and run the 5 m to the line to score in the corner. Again JAMES ANNETTS converted from the touchline, 3-21. MATT LOON came on for ADAM SHELDON. And a couple of minutes later, PAUL LEWIS came on for TIM HODSON. On 57 minutes the HYMCA second row, James Bell was requested to have a 10 minute rest. On 62 minutes, TOM PARRY came on for MIKE WARREN. On 65 minutes, Wirral were awarded a penalty some 25m out and 15m from the posts and for once JAMES ANNETTS had an easier kick for goal which he converted to increase Wirral’s lead to 3-24.
HYMCA had not given up and a concerted effort saw them progress through a penalty to the Wirral 20 area and using their forwards pinned Wirral on their line but a ball steal by MATT BROWN enabled Wirral to clear. MIKE WARREN came on for CHRIS BURROWS, who had toiled continuously for the last 70 minutes and was given a big hand by the away supporters as he left the field.
Wirral were looking to get the ball downfield and a poor decision in not kicking for touch rebounded on them as the player was tackled in possession and HYMCA passed the ball down the backs and for the first time, a tackle was missed allowing centre Alan Ryder to scramble over wide out, the conversion was missed 8-24 (72 minutes). Any thoughts of another HYMCA comeback was extinguished as Wirral pressed for that elusive 4th try and a bonus point but the game came to an end with Wirral trying to create that elusive try.
This was Wirral’s best performance of the season by virtue of their all-round performance and the efforts put in by all 18 players. The atmosphere in the changing rooms was the complete opposite of the last game against Cleckheaton and the team now need to play with this tempo in their remaining matches this season.
Next week the first team are at home to Morley who are just behind Wirral in the league and the club are looking for a big turn out from the home spectators for this important game.
Richard McNeil
For the first match of 2015 the team were away at HYMCA where the conditions were good for open rugby notwithstanding that during the week 5 inches of snow had fallen on the pitch. Wirral were keen to win this game given that in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, HYMCA drew the game with a penalty in the last minutes of the game.
Wirral made one change from the team that lost narrowly to Cleckheaton some 3 weeks ago with KEITH MAHON not available having been injured on a New Year run. CHRIS BURROWS came into the team with the substitutes being, MIKE WARREN, TIM HODSON and MATT LOON.
Immediately on kick off Wirral were on the attack and made use of the ball by kicking deep and keeping HYMCA in their half and made progress to 5m from the opposition line only for an infringement allowing the home side to clear. The first 15 minutes saw Wirral with the majority of territory and from a line out 20m out on the right the ball came down the backs smoothly and a quick pass from DAN HARVEY to ALI BAKER saw the winger round his opposite number to score in the corner. JAMES ANNETTS converted from the touchline. 0-7 (15 mins).
From the kick off, HYMCA made progress into the Wirral 20m area but could not break through the away sides defence. TIM HODSON came on for PAUL LEWIS on 25 mins. Another penalty to the home side saw them reduce the deficit with a penalty with an easy kick by Gavin Stead from in front of the posts. 3-7 (28 mins). On 32 mins the HYMCA wing forward, Mark Whitehead was sin binned at which time MIKE WARREN came on for TOM PARRY.
A couple of penalties took Wirral up to the opposition 20m area and were awarded a scrum only for this to be changed to a penalty in Wirral’s favour as a HYMCA player expressed his opinion to the referee. JOSH STEAD took the penalty quickly and passed to CRAIG HARVEY who from 10m out forced his way over in the corner and from an identical position as the first try, JAMES ANNETTS again converted. 3-14- 34 minutes. For the remaining period of the first half play was contained to mid field.
The second half began with Wirral immediately on the attack but on losing the ball, the ball was cleared well by HYMCA. The home side were finding it difficult to break through the Wirral defence although there were odd breaks by individuals but the attacker was isolated as Wirral used 2/3 men to stop the attacks. On 51 minutes, with Wirral on the opposition 20m line, CRAIG HARVEY from midfield put in a cross kick to the right hand side where brother DAN HARVEY outleapt the home side left wing to collect and run the 5 m to the line to score in the corner. Again JAMES ANNETTS converted from the touchline, 3-21. MATT LOON came on for ADAM SHELDON. And a couple of minutes later, PAUL LEWIS came on for TIM HODSON. On 57 minutes the HYMCA second row, James Bell was requested to have a 10 minute rest. On 62 minutes, TOM PARRY came on for MIKE WARREN. On 65 minutes, Wirral were awarded a penalty some 25m out and 15m from the posts and for once JAMES ANNETTS had an easier kick for goal which he converted to increase Wirral’s lead to 3-24.
HYMCA had not given up and a concerted effort saw them progress through a penalty to the Wirral 20 area and using their forwards pinned Wirral on their line but a ball steal by MATT BROWN enabled Wirral to clear. MIKE WARREN came on for CHRIS BURROWS, who had toiled continuously for the last 70 minutes and was given a big hand by the away supporters as he left the field.
Wirral were looking to get the ball downfield and a poor decision in not kicking for touch rebounded on them as the player was tackled in possession and HYMCA passed the ball down the backs and for the first time, a tackle was missed allowing centre Alan Ryder to scramble over wide out, the conversion was missed 8-24 (72 minutes). Any thoughts of another HYMCA comeback was extinguished as Wirral pressed for that elusive 4th try and a bonus point but the game came to an end with Wirral trying to create that elusive try.
This was Wirral’s best performance of the season by virtue of their all-round performance and the efforts put in by all 18 players. The atmosphere in the changing rooms was the complete opposite of the last game against Cleckheaton and the team now need to play with this tempo in their remaining matches this season.
Next week the first team are at home to Morley who are just behind Wirral in the league and the club are looking for a big turn out from the home spectators for this important game.
Richard McNeil
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