Sefton Junior Colts 10 Wirral Junior Colts 26

Wirral Junior Colts produced their best rugby of the season to comprehensively defeat an ever improving Sefton team. On a very warm Semptember Sunday Wirral travelled over to Sefton for their first away fixture of the season. Without injured captain Lewis Beamish the team took a few minutes to settle and Sefton had the better of the first 10 minutes, taking the lead with a penalty which despite not going between the sticks was awarded following some confusion between the ref and a spectator behind the posts - as the spectator was this report author enough said about that I think!!

Wirral quickly got their act together and started to play their trademark fast flowing rugby to put Sefton under pressure which resulted in two well taken penalties from Tyler-Holland - Sefton 3 Wirral 6. Despite Wirral making a complete dogs breakfast for the 3rd of the the restart they established territory in Seftons half and a speculative kick downfield by Wirral resulted in Seftons fullback having his kick charged down. The charge down was very well gathered by Wirrals fullback who managed to stay on his feet and in field despite a very strong tackle and have the awareness to slip the ball to McGuigan who strolled over unopposed for the first try, conversion missed Sefton 3 Wirral 11.

During the half time interval the Wirral coaches made a couple of tactical changes to refresh the team and the game restarted with Wirral very quickly putting Sefton under pressure playing fast open rugby. A third penalty goal success for Tyler-Holland to make it Sefton 3 Wirral 14 seemed to act as a hammer blow for Sefton who started to tire in the heat and lose their previously excellent shape. Wirral capitalised this to score two very well taken tries from Tyler-Holland following a quick tap penalty and Drury following superb continuity play. Sefton 3 Wirral 26. To the credit of Sefton they never gave in and came back a Wirral with some ferocious forward play and having speeed out wide they made in-roads into Wirrals resolute defence. A final passage of play in Wirrals half resulted in a try for Sefton which was converted - the game ended Sefton 10 Wirral 26.

Thanks to Sefton for a excellent game they never gave in and have a fine team developing which will only get stronger as they get to know eachother. Thanks also to referee Phil Stokes who kept the game going very nicely.

This was a fine performance from the entire Wirral squad all the players contributed to the win with the lads who came off the bench bringing renewed strength and energy to the team which was an important factor on such a hot afternoon. Strength in depth will prove vital for Wirral as the season progresses.

So four wins out of four and joint top of the table - next week Altrincham Kersall at home.

Andy McKenzie