1st Game of a new season

For once the Captain was not ringing round on a Friday night looking for a few players ! they had all confirmed and there were three subs ! This presents its own set of issues ! Who plays where and who to take off at half time ! Should I start or one of the new, fit, fast and skilful players ? decisions, decisions ! New style of play like the 1st XV and a whole new set of Line out calls ! Now, trying to get the piano shifters up front to change their style of play can be a nightmare at the best of times but changing the line out calls as well !!! Nightmare ! especially as forwards are not known for their levels of intelligence (yes I know I'm dicing with death but I'm now a forward as well so can get away with it, hopefully).

On the first day of the season, with a bulging club house, 3 teams at home, with the 1st XV now in the National Leagues Wirral 3's welcomed Manchester 2's to the Memorial Ground. However that's where the niceties stopped, on to the pitch and let battle commence. After finishing well last season with only a couple of defeats after Xmas Wirral were looking to start with a bang. Manchester who were relegated last season were looking to start with a win.

With the Capt. dropping himself to the bench hoping to come on as an impact player (well what I really mean is, just after half time when everyone is tired I can come on and look good), and manage the team from the side. Wirral had to endure a lot of pressure from the big Manchester Forwards but like most of last year Wirral's defence held firm. After 15 mins Wirral broke away from their own line with the young Josh Stead (making his senior debut) breaking the gain line and sprinting up the pitch. The resulting rucks resulted in a penalty, that would normally have been converted in front of the posts but Josh Connolly pushed his kick wide (think it was the pressure of his dad in attendance that spooked him). Not that it mattered as he would get plenty of place kicking practice during the game anyway.

From the resulting 22 drop out that Manchester Sent long the returning Full Back Tom Heywood (Hollywood to his mates) brought the ball back and with some neat interplay with Phil Tolladay and Tom Sweeney Wirral scored the first of 11 tries. the conversion was missed from the touch line, but the team visibly relaxed after that. A further try and conversion then followed from the ever speedy Tom Sweeney, converted by Josh Connolly. 12-0 and looking good ! Unfortunately Manchester had other ideas, after Tom Heywood was helped off and Tom's younger brother Kerian came on to his favoured position at Full Back. Manchester then created a very good try from the back of a scrum and opened up Wirral's backs with the Full Back diving over under the posts. With the Conversion as well Manchester were back in the hunt, or so they thought. A quick pep talk from the Capt and Wirral started to find holes in Manchester's defence. Two further tries from newbie Josh (Blonde Josh) Stead (converted by the ginger Josh) and one from Phil Tolliday meant Wirral turned round at half time 24-7 up.

The veteran Stu Hughes came on for Phil Tolliday at half time and and then promptly scored from what he would say was 50 yards but seemed more like 80 to the old man ! Numerous tries later with two more from Tom Sweeney and two from his brother took the game away from Manchester added to the couple of conversions from the Ginger Josh. By then the Capt had decided that sitting on the bench on a sunny day would not build up a thirst after the game so had put himself on and tried to become an impact player (without much success). Further tries from Colin Hughes and one from Andy Bell (a prop lurking on the wing, what a surprise) who said it was 80 yards but was more like 35.

There was one notable c*ck up from the Wirral team, when The Blonde Josh charged down a Manchester kick deep in their own 22, the ball bounced backwards and just as the Ginger Josh was about to scoop the ball up and dive over for a try, the flying Keane (Jimmy) decided that it would be a good idea to flatten his team mate's Blondie and Ginger and try and score himself. Needless to say the keystone cops would have looked like like Shakespearian actors compared to this ! So JK DOTD for you mate !

Looking at the Manchester side who did not stop all afternoon the final whistle could not come soon enough.

Final Score Wirral 63 - Manchester 7.

One down 25 games to go !.