Wirral Win Through to Cheshire Cup Semi-finals

Bradwall Road has been a bit of a “happy hunting ground” with regard to the Cheshire Cup; both times we have won the Cup it has been at this ground. This quarter-final fixture could have been a different story though – having played Sandbach here in the league and thrown away a 17-0 lead in what could arguably be called the Colts worst performance this season we didn’t want history repeating itself.
In a situation that has become all too familiar this season, the fixture was in some doubt on the preceding Friday night, Sandbach warned us that they may not have the number of players to give us a game and that currently they had no referee. On Sunday morning it was evident that we had our own issues as well; the enforced absence of Tom Bills and Jack Quinn on county squad duty was exacerbated by Sam Edgar being called into the squad as well. Further unannounced absences were evident as the team gathered so rather than travelling with the expected 21 players we travelled with 16. Fortunately on arrival at the venue the opposition had 12 players and a referee had been found.
The contest kicked off with Wirral playing 13 against Sandbach’s 12 men and hoping to use the space afforded by no opposition flankers or full back. It took less than a minute to have the first score on the board, an excellent run down the left wing by Jack Plested resulted in a score out wide for the supporting Jimmy Annetts, with the conversion missed, Wirral took a 5-0 lead. Less than 3 minutes later Jonathan Mattey exploited the space on the other wing running in a try from the half-way line which Jimmy subsequently converted. Excellent rucking and a fast break from captain, Will Flaherty, split the opposition and an inside pass to Joe Murray resulted in a score under the posts which Joe converted with a drop kick to take the score to 19-0. The game was not all one way traffic though, Sandbach had periods of sustained pressure and some slick interplay but unfortunately for them, they couldn’t break the Wirral defence; the nearest they came in the first half was a penalty kick which hit the post. The final score of the first period came when good handling between Annetts and Tom Routly resulted in the full back scoring a well taken try but missing the subsequent conversion, 24-0.
Into the second half and Wirral continue to make substitutions to give players a break and ensure everyone gets a good length of game time – this is also helped by another Sandbach player turning up so we can field 14 against their 13 men. The next score comes from James Kolokotroni who capitalised on his swap with James Reeve to come into the forwards. From a line-out 10m from the Sandbach line, Kolo catches, exploits a gap in the line and dashes through to score. Jimmy executes the kick of the match to score the conversion from the touchline, 31-0. Five minutes later the try of the game is scored by Craig Dolan; excellent handling resulted in a move where the ball was passed from Murray to Annetts to Matt Reeve, back to Annetts and on to Dolan to score. On 51 minutes Sandbach caught and drove from a 5m line-out and their excellent maul resulted in a well deserved score 36-5. As the match entered the last quarter, more rapid ball passing through hands allowed Jack Plested (now operating on the right wing), despite the attentions of 2 tacklers, to dive and spectacularly score with an outstretched hand for the last try of the day. The final attack of the day was by Sandbach who in a carbon-copy of their previous try attempted a catch and drive which this time was thwarted by the Wirral defence; subsequent superb rucking by Tom Spriggs allowed the ball to be cleared in the final act of the contest.
In summary, a comprehensive victory by Wirral over an understrength Sandbach side, our thanks go to Sandbach for their hospitality and the referee for stepping in at late notice to allow the game to go ahead. Wirral can now look forward to a semi-final contest on 21st March.