Back
Sat 31 Jan 2015 · National League Three North
1st XVBurnage
Tries: D Harvey, C HarveyConversions: J Annetts
12
6
Harvey Brothers Tries Win it for Wirral
Andrew Broadbent1 Feb 2015 - 13:23
Share via
On a bitterly cold day with defences being dominant tries from Craig and Dan win it for Wirral
There was a minute’s silence before the game in honour of Derek Parry who had died in the previous 24 hours. Our thoughts are with Derek’s family given the difficulties Derek has endured for many years following his rugby injury.
For the match against Burnage, Wirral were looking to avenge the defeat suffered at the South Manchester side earlier in the season when they lost 35-23 having assisted Burnage by allowing them to intercept two passes which resulted in the home side scoring 14 points.
Wirral made only one change from the victory at Lymm with ADAM SHELDON not being available, MATT LOON came back into the side and DANNY FURLONG being added to the substitute’s bench.
The home side elected to play against the strong cross field wind and it was Burnage who were first on the attack with a well worked backs move taking play into the Wirral 20 area. It then took the home side 10 minutes before they managed to cross the half way line. Wirral remained in this half for some 15 minutes aided by a number of penalties in their favour and the charging down of two Burnage clearance kicks. Clearly frustration was setting in on the Burnage bench as after 20 minutes, the Burnage fly half was replaced. In this period Wirral had a number of opportunities to score but could get over the whitewash as the Burnage defence held firm. In the backs the ball was proving difficult to handle as the strength of the wind made long passing difficult.
In the closing minutes of the first half Burnage enjoyed territorial advantage and were rewarded with a penalty opportunity from in front of the posts which James Hodder converted to give the away side a 0-3 lead which they maintained until half time. At the break, Wirral made two changes with MIKE WARREN and TOM PARRY coming on for KEITH MAHON and CHRIS BURROWS respectively.
Early play in the second half saw Burnage with the territory and through their forwards exerted pressure on the Wirral line but the attacks were repelled. Burnage then had the benefit of a penalty opportunity which Hodder took from close to the posts to give them a 0-6 lead after 45 minutes.
With Wirral using the wind to greater advantage than Burnage play was now concentrated in the Burnage half and with possession were pounding the Burnage line but could not get that vital breakthrough. An incident close to the line resulted in the away side No 8 Ralph Lawson being sent to the sin bin and Wirral declined the penalty opportunity. Whilst still pressing took another quick free kick only to be hampered by another Burnage player not being 10m back and this resulted in Burnage being reduced to 13 men for 10 minutes as James Knight joined his colleague. Again the penalty was declined as Wirral went for the scrum option which paid dividends as on winning the ball the ball came out to the backs and CRAIG HARVEY advanced to the right and put his brother DAN HARVEY in for a try 10m from the corner. The try was well converted by JAMES ANNETTS as he kicked directly into the strong cross wind. 7-6 (55 minutes).
From the kick off the away side came back into the game and had the opportunity to take the lead again but a penalty from Hodder drifted wide from 5 m left of the post. Wirral returned to the Burnage half and further pressure resulted in the away side losing another played to the sin bin when hooker, Peter O’Sullivan transgressed on 68 minutes, back down to 14 men. With 7 men in the scrum the Burnage pack was struggling to hold the Wirral pack, they were pinned on the try line and were inching forward, the referee deemed that MIKE WARREN had not touched down inches from the line then Captain, CRAIG HARVEY picked up and placed the ball down. The conversion was missed but the lead had been extended to 12-6 (70 minutes).
Thereafter Burnage tried to pass the ball down the backs to use their strong running centres as they looked for that elusive score but a combination of continued robust tackling by Wirral and ball control allowed the home side to see out the final 10 minutes. This win moves Wirral to within 1 point of Burnage and now lie in 9th position. Comment should be made in the fact that the Wirral front row have now played 4 matches without being substituted which is an unusual feature in today’s modern game.
Next week, Wirral are away at 3rd placed Sheffield Tigers and those wishing to travel on the coach please contact Rugby Section committee for details as to departure etc.
Richard McNeil
For the match against Burnage, Wirral were looking to avenge the defeat suffered at the South Manchester side earlier in the season when they lost 35-23 having assisted Burnage by allowing them to intercept two passes which resulted in the home side scoring 14 points.
Wirral made only one change from the victory at Lymm with ADAM SHELDON not being available, MATT LOON came back into the side and DANNY FURLONG being added to the substitute’s bench.
The home side elected to play against the strong cross field wind and it was Burnage who were first on the attack with a well worked backs move taking play into the Wirral 20 area. It then took the home side 10 minutes before they managed to cross the half way line. Wirral remained in this half for some 15 minutes aided by a number of penalties in their favour and the charging down of two Burnage clearance kicks. Clearly frustration was setting in on the Burnage bench as after 20 minutes, the Burnage fly half was replaced. In this period Wirral had a number of opportunities to score but could get over the whitewash as the Burnage defence held firm. In the backs the ball was proving difficult to handle as the strength of the wind made long passing difficult.
In the closing minutes of the first half Burnage enjoyed territorial advantage and were rewarded with a penalty opportunity from in front of the posts which James Hodder converted to give the away side a 0-3 lead which they maintained until half time. At the break, Wirral made two changes with MIKE WARREN and TOM PARRY coming on for KEITH MAHON and CHRIS BURROWS respectively.
Early play in the second half saw Burnage with the territory and through their forwards exerted pressure on the Wirral line but the attacks were repelled. Burnage then had the benefit of a penalty opportunity which Hodder took from close to the posts to give them a 0-6 lead after 45 minutes.
With Wirral using the wind to greater advantage than Burnage play was now concentrated in the Burnage half and with possession were pounding the Burnage line but could not get that vital breakthrough. An incident close to the line resulted in the away side No 8 Ralph Lawson being sent to the sin bin and Wirral declined the penalty opportunity. Whilst still pressing took another quick free kick only to be hampered by another Burnage player not being 10m back and this resulted in Burnage being reduced to 13 men for 10 minutes as James Knight joined his colleague. Again the penalty was declined as Wirral went for the scrum option which paid dividends as on winning the ball the ball came out to the backs and CRAIG HARVEY advanced to the right and put his brother DAN HARVEY in for a try 10m from the corner. The try was well converted by JAMES ANNETTS as he kicked directly into the strong cross wind. 7-6 (55 minutes).
From the kick off the away side came back into the game and had the opportunity to take the lead again but a penalty from Hodder drifted wide from 5 m left of the post. Wirral returned to the Burnage half and further pressure resulted in the away side losing another played to the sin bin when hooker, Peter O’Sullivan transgressed on 68 minutes, back down to 14 men. With 7 men in the scrum the Burnage pack was struggling to hold the Wirral pack, they were pinned on the try line and were inching forward, the referee deemed that MIKE WARREN had not touched down inches from the line then Captain, CRAIG HARVEY picked up and placed the ball down. The conversion was missed but the lead had been extended to 12-6 (70 minutes).
Thereafter Burnage tried to pass the ball down the backs to use their strong running centres as they looked for that elusive score but a combination of continued robust tackling by Wirral and ball control allowed the home side to see out the final 10 minutes. This win moves Wirral to within 1 point of Burnage and now lie in 9th position. Comment should be made in the fact that the Wirral front row have now played 4 matches without being substituted which is an unusual feature in today’s modern game.
Next week, Wirral are away at 3rd placed Sheffield Tigers and those wishing to travel on the coach please contact Rugby Section committee for details as to departure etc.
Richard McNeil
Further reading
Team Sponsors
