Ice cool Morris kicks Wirral through to next round

Wirral made the short journey up the M6 to face a strong Sandbach side who have made a good start in the league above. With numerous injuries to players, Wirral gratefully welcomed back Archie Manger and Alfie Kimpton into the side for their first starts of the season.

Against the strong wind in the first half, Wirral made a good start, finding their patterns of play early and restricting Sandbach of possession. However the Sandbach defence stood strong and for the first twenty minutes of the half, the game was played in the middle of the park- with a break from Alfie Kimpton being the only highlight. However with around ten minutes to go until the break, fast hands down the right hand side saw Austin Dalby run clear to give Wirral a 5 nil lead.

Wirral looked to hold this lead going into half time, but Sandbach began to go through the phrases, dictated well by their fly half and found themselves camped inside the Wirral 22. The Wirral defence stood strong, holding the ball up at over the line at one point. However the pressure eventually told when a pick and go from the base of a scrum saw Sandbach create an overlap where the winger crossed over in the corner. Conversion missed, 5-5 HT

In the second half, Wirral looked to use the wind to pin Sandbach back in their half, but Sandbach started the stronger and piled on the pressure. After a looping pass was thrown out wide, Max Smith read it like a book to get man and ball in a textbook hit, however this resulted in Max injuring his shoulder and while receiving treatment, Sandbach took advantage by throwing the ball back out wide (where Max would have been) to walk in their second try of the game. 10-5 Sandbach

For the second week running, Wirral began to pick up knocks, however their heads didn't drop and a great break from the returning Alfie Kimpton saw him sprint clear to score underneath the sticks to level the score, the try was then duly converted. 12-10

A few minutes later, Wirral were awarded a penalty just inside the ten metre line. Skipper for the day Will Morris stepped up to take the kick at goal, in which he confidently converted to extend Wirrals lead to five points. And he was back at it again 5 minutes later when this time Wirral were awarded a penalty just behind the ten metre line, in which he slotted with ease to make the score line 18-10 in Wirral's favour. Sandbach did reply with a penalty kick of their own to reduce the deficit back to 5 points.

Yet again, Wirral began to use their Rugby brain to play in the right areas and sent kicks deep into the Sandbach half, and the pressure eventually told when a turnover in the Sandbach half saw the forwards stick it up the jumper where eventually George McCann was able to reach over in the corner to score. 23-13. Will Morris then stepped up to nail his conversion out wide to extend the lead to 25-13. From here, strong Wirral defence saw them keep Sandbach out to see out the game and progress to the next round of the cup.

This was yet another impressive performance from the team, and they are becoming a great team to watch. Sandbach were also very impressive and that probably made the result all the more sweeter as yet again we have managed to beat a strong side away from home. Next week see's the Colts return to league action where they take on New Brighton in what will be a league derby. Kick off is at 12.30 and I'm sure the lads will appreciate any support.