Yarker Scores His Annual Try

For the long away game at Beverley, Wirral were able to field the side that commenced against Billingham with the substitutes being, STEVE PENDERGAST, CHRIS BURROWS and JOE ADNAMS.
With the front row setting a target at the beginning of the season of each scoring a try, it took until the 21st game for JACK YARKER to be the final member of the front row to achieve this target. This came as early as the 3rd minute following a long kick downfield by DANNY HARVEY. The chance to kick for goal was turned down and a kick to touch resulted in a 5m line out. A good catch and drive and the forwards crossed over the whitewash with JACK YARKER being awarded the touchdown. The conversion from wide out was missed.
Beverley were keen to see their eagerness with a good break ending in the Wirral 20m area but the ball was eventually cleared and a double penalty to Wirral left JAMES ANNETTS with an easy 22m penalty kick, duly converted to give Wirral a 0-8 lead after 12 minutes. This did not deter Beverley first having a long range penalty falling short and then using the wind kicking to one metre from the Wirral line. At this stage Wirral were able to control any Beverley attack. At this stage Wirral were doing all the attacking but the correct options were not always been taken. A break and kick downfield by DANNY HARVEY took play down into the Beverley 20m area where the pressure was built and after a series of thrusts it resulted in MIKE WARREN crossing over 10m from the posts with JAMES ANNETTS converting , 0-15 (30 minutes). Immediately from the kick off, Wirral caught the ball in their 20m area and attacked down the blindside, captain CRAIG HARVEY close to the touchline but in an astute 10m grubber kick which was collected by ALI BAKER who embarked on a 60m run, outpacing the defence and cutting inside the full back to touch down for a well-executed try. The conversion was missed. 0-20 (31 minutes). STEVE PENDERGAST came on for CHRIS HUGHES at this stage.
In the final 4 minutes of the first half, Beverley came back into the game, first with a long range penalty from Ryan Murray and then pressure from Beverley on the Wirral line, the home side passed the ball wide and with a 3 on 1 overlap, second row Rhys Powell had crossed for a try and this was duly converted to leave the score at half time 10-20. At this juncture, JOE ADNAMS and CHRIS BURROWS came on for PAUL LEWIS and TOM PARRY respectively.
Beverley started the second half with greater purpose buoyed by the scoring before half time and despite playing against the wind they made good ground with long raking kicks. Wirral could not gain possession and were obviously having a problem with the scrummage along with the confidence flowing through the home side. To try and arrest this scrum problem, CHRIS HUGHES came on for STEVE PENDERGAST. A series of lapses and penalties against Wirral saw Beverley with the majority of possession and territory. A long kick to the corner was allowed to bounce with the player assuming it was going dead but this was not the case as it crossed the touchline close to the corner. Wirral could not clear and after a series of scrums with the Wirral scrum not able to hold back Beverley, resulted in a penalty try being awarded. This reduced the lead to 17-20 (47 minutes). Urged on by the home ground, Beverley were in sight of a rare home win and were attacking at every opportunity.
It was not until 55 minutes that Wirral managed to get out of their half but then developed their game and were now camped on the Beverley line only to give away a penalty. They cleared and from the line out a catch and drive resulted in the forwards mauling the way to the half way line where they were rewarded with another penalty. However a blatant shoulder charge by the Beverley No 8 James Mackay led to a yellow card. Within 2 minutes, Wirral regained the initiative and after good work from the forwards, ALI BAKER following up gathered and from 15m out was able to weave his way through to touch down and gain the try bonus point. JAMES ANNETTS converted the try. 17-27 (62 mins).
Wirral were back in attacking mode, with SAM BROADBENT, JASON GREEN and JOSH STEAD breaking the first tackle and making progress, a break by ROB PEARL was stopped 5m from the line. Continuing pressure on the Beverley line resulted in MIKE WARREN crossing for his second try, the conversion was missed.17-32 (69 minutes). PAUL LEWIS came on for RYAN STEAD. It was now all Wirral who missed a number of opportunities to add to their score but added a sixth try when a good pick up by ADAM SHELDON set up the opportunity for ROB PEARL to crash over, the conversion was missed 17-37 (77 minutes).
In the final minute of the match, CRAIG HARVEY was sin binned for an attempted high tackle,
On reflection Wirral made hard work of this win and with greater control and precision could have had a more convincing win. Nonetheless this was an important 5 point win and lifts Wirral to 9th climbing above Lymm and Burnage. Next week the first team have their penultimate home game of the season against Westoe and the first team look forward to your support as they look to extend their successful start to 2015, having won 6 of their 7 matches in the New Year.
Richard McNeil