Back
Sat 07 Mar 2015 · National League Three North
1st XVWestoe
Tries: A Baker (3), J Annetts (3), A Sheldon, C Harvey, D Harvey (2), R PearlConversions: J Annetts (4)Yellow Carded: C Harvey
63
19
Wirral Backs Run Riot
Andrew Broadbent8 Mar 2015 - 13:29
Share via
A big crowd including many past players who had enjoyed lunch prior to the game enjoyed a feast of running rugby from the home side.
On a glorious day in ideal rugby conditions and in front of one of the biggest crowds of the season, which included many of the past players, Wirral came away with a comprehensive victory. This win lifts Wirral to 8th in the table but more importantly 19 points ahead of third bottom Morley, who have 5 matches left to play, which means that Morley will now need to win four of their remaining matches.
For the third week running, Wirral selected an unchanged squad and the only change to the starting XV was CHRIS BURROWS in place of TOM PARRY. Wirral elected to play against the wind towards the clubhouse in the first half.
Immediately from the start it was evident that the ground conditions would suit Wirral’s style of play and in the first few minutes, Wirral created opportunities but passes did not go to hand, balls were turned over etc. It took until the 9th minute for Wirral to score their first try. With play deep in the Westoe 20ms area, a 10m scrum was won and CRAIG HARVEY delayed his pass to ALI BAKER, who broke through the defence to score close to the posts, JAMES ANNETTS converted. 7-0. Continuing pressure was coming from Wirral with JAMES ANNETTS receiving the ball some 50m out with a number of Westoe players in front of him but somehow he weaved his way through to score a great individual try, the conversion was missed. 12-0 (13 minutes).
Westoe were utilising the forwards to make progress and play was concentrated in the Wirral 20m area, their attacks were stemmed a metre from the line but the referee deemed CRAIG HARVEY to have offended and given a yellow card (17 mins). The pressure built and Wirral were guilty in not clearing the ball to touch and eventually this led to Westoe‘s Luke Moffat squeezing in at the corner, the conversion was missed. 12-5 (23 minutes). Westoe had the opportunity to reduce the deficit with a straightforward penalty from 27m in front of the posts only for this to be missed.
On 30 minutes territorial pressure told as an overlap on the left, which allowed ALI BAKER a 23m run to the line, the try was not converted. 17-5 32mins, STEVE PENDERGAST came on for CHRIS HUGHES. On 36 minutes Wirral from a scrum 50m out, they passed the ball down the line, the move slowed down with a poor pass along the ground, which was picked up by ADAM SHELDON who beat his opposite number and beat the covering defenders to run 55m to score in the corner, the conversion hit the post and stayed out, 22-5 (36 mins). This try gave Wirral their try bonus point.
At the start of the second half TOM PARRY came on for CHRIS BURROWS. Wirral continued with their attacking game. Westoe cleared to 50m which was caught by JAMES ANNETTS and attacked the blindside and a series of inter passes between JAMES and CRAIG HARVEY, resulted in CRAIG touching down, the conversion was missed – 27-5 (44 minutes). Westoe were attacking in the Wirral 20m area when the away side backs dropped the ball, the ball was hacked downfield by DANNY HARVEY and good controlled kicking left him the easy task of touching down 10m from the posts. JAMES ANNETTS converted. 34-5 (55 minutes). Couple of minutes later a loose ball in mid field was picked up by JAMES ANNETTS who broke through the first tackle and from 60m cantered over for his try under the posts, which he duly converted. 41-5 (58 minutes).
Westoe continued to stick to their game plan but a dropped ball in mid field allowed, Westoe to kick forward and Lewis Hagen won the race to touch down behind the posts and this was converted by Sam Hughes. 41-12 (60 minutes).
On 63 minutes, MIKE WARREN went on for JOSH STEAD and a few minutes later, STEVE PENDERGAST went on for JACK YARKER (nose injury). The next try came from 75m out when a break from ALI BAKER is stopped 15m from the line but the ever present, ROB PEARL backing up collected the ball and touched down, JAMES ANNETTS converted. 48-12 (70 minutes). Two minutes later, ALI BAKER was released some 50m out and outstripped the defence to touchdown for his hat trick try and his 20th of the season, the conversion was missed. 53-12. ROB PEARL comes off to be substituted by RYAN STEAD.
On 75 minutes, with a scrum close to the Westoe line, the ball came out to the right and with JAMES ANNETTS in the line he outpaced the defence to score his hat trick try, the conversion was missed. On 79 minutes Wirral were back on the attack again and CRAIG HARVEY set up brother DANNY HARVEY with a delayed pass and he crossed for his second try, the conversion was missed. 63- 12. In injury time, the Westoe forwards did not give up and combined well to score a try under the posts and was converted with a drop goal to leaver the score 63-19.
Wirral’s score turned out to be the highest score in the league this week and leaves the team with 10 wins, 10 losses and 2 draws but more importantly, 7 wins out of the last 8. There is no match next week for the first team (6 Nations weekend) and next play at Waterloo on the 21st where I am sure there will be a large crowd for this derby match.
Richard McNeil
For the third week running, Wirral selected an unchanged squad and the only change to the starting XV was CHRIS BURROWS in place of TOM PARRY. Wirral elected to play against the wind towards the clubhouse in the first half.
Immediately from the start it was evident that the ground conditions would suit Wirral’s style of play and in the first few minutes, Wirral created opportunities but passes did not go to hand, balls were turned over etc. It took until the 9th minute for Wirral to score their first try. With play deep in the Westoe 20ms area, a 10m scrum was won and CRAIG HARVEY delayed his pass to ALI BAKER, who broke through the defence to score close to the posts, JAMES ANNETTS converted. 7-0. Continuing pressure was coming from Wirral with JAMES ANNETTS receiving the ball some 50m out with a number of Westoe players in front of him but somehow he weaved his way through to score a great individual try, the conversion was missed. 12-0 (13 minutes).
Westoe were utilising the forwards to make progress and play was concentrated in the Wirral 20m area, their attacks were stemmed a metre from the line but the referee deemed CRAIG HARVEY to have offended and given a yellow card (17 mins). The pressure built and Wirral were guilty in not clearing the ball to touch and eventually this led to Westoe‘s Luke Moffat squeezing in at the corner, the conversion was missed. 12-5 (23 minutes). Westoe had the opportunity to reduce the deficit with a straightforward penalty from 27m in front of the posts only for this to be missed.
On 30 minutes territorial pressure told as an overlap on the left, which allowed ALI BAKER a 23m run to the line, the try was not converted. 17-5 32mins, STEVE PENDERGAST came on for CHRIS HUGHES. On 36 minutes Wirral from a scrum 50m out, they passed the ball down the line, the move slowed down with a poor pass along the ground, which was picked up by ADAM SHELDON who beat his opposite number and beat the covering defenders to run 55m to score in the corner, the conversion hit the post and stayed out, 22-5 (36 mins). This try gave Wirral their try bonus point.
At the start of the second half TOM PARRY came on for CHRIS BURROWS. Wirral continued with their attacking game. Westoe cleared to 50m which was caught by JAMES ANNETTS and attacked the blindside and a series of inter passes between JAMES and CRAIG HARVEY, resulted in CRAIG touching down, the conversion was missed – 27-5 (44 minutes). Westoe were attacking in the Wirral 20m area when the away side backs dropped the ball, the ball was hacked downfield by DANNY HARVEY and good controlled kicking left him the easy task of touching down 10m from the posts. JAMES ANNETTS converted. 34-5 (55 minutes). Couple of minutes later a loose ball in mid field was picked up by JAMES ANNETTS who broke through the first tackle and from 60m cantered over for his try under the posts, which he duly converted. 41-5 (58 minutes).
Westoe continued to stick to their game plan but a dropped ball in mid field allowed, Westoe to kick forward and Lewis Hagen won the race to touch down behind the posts and this was converted by Sam Hughes. 41-12 (60 minutes).
On 63 minutes, MIKE WARREN went on for JOSH STEAD and a few minutes later, STEVE PENDERGAST went on for JACK YARKER (nose injury). The next try came from 75m out when a break from ALI BAKER is stopped 15m from the line but the ever present, ROB PEARL backing up collected the ball and touched down, JAMES ANNETTS converted. 48-12 (70 minutes). Two minutes later, ALI BAKER was released some 50m out and outstripped the defence to touchdown for his hat trick try and his 20th of the season, the conversion was missed. 53-12. ROB PEARL comes off to be substituted by RYAN STEAD.
On 75 minutes, with a scrum close to the Westoe line, the ball came out to the right and with JAMES ANNETTS in the line he outpaced the defence to score his hat trick try, the conversion was missed. On 79 minutes Wirral were back on the attack again and CRAIG HARVEY set up brother DANNY HARVEY with a delayed pass and he crossed for his second try, the conversion was missed. 63- 12. In injury time, the Westoe forwards did not give up and combined well to score a try under the posts and was converted with a drop goal to leaver the score 63-19.
Wirral’s score turned out to be the highest score in the league this week and leaves the team with 10 wins, 10 losses and 2 draws but more importantly, 7 wins out of the last 8. There is no match next week for the first team (6 Nations weekend) and next play at Waterloo on the 21st where I am sure there will be a large crowd for this derby match.
Richard McNeil
Further reading
Team Sponsors
