Tuesday 22nd- Club night, all members and non-members welcome, bar open for refreshments from 6.00pm.
7.00pm-Senior men’s rugby training @ Chester RUFC

Wednesday 23rd- club open from 6.30pm
7.00pm-Wirral Tigers touch training
7.00pm-Senior rugby meeting (lounge)

Thursday 24th- Club open from 7.00pm
7.00pm-Wirral RUFC senior men’s training
7.00pm-Wirral RUFC senior ladies training.

Friday 25th-Claire House staff Xmas PARTY!!
7.00pm @ Caldy RUFC- Wirral Tigers touch rugby festival

Saturday 26th- Club open for food and refreshments from 11.30pm

2.15pm-Wirral RFC 1st XV @ home to Macclesfield RFC (Regional 1 NW)
12.30pm-Wirral RFC 2nd XV @ Chester RFC (Halbro Premier Division)
2.15pm-Wirral RFC 3rd XV @ Winnington Park RFC (Halbro 3rd Division South )

5.15pm-North Factory-LIVE BAND

On TV @ 3.15pm Wales v Australia (Autumn Internationals)
On TV @ 5.30pm England v South Africa (Autumn Internationals) in the Lounge only until the band have finished

Sunday 27th- club open for food/breakfast and refreshments from 9.00am.
9.00am onwards- Mini`s `and Junior`s

Senior Rugby Update

No rugby at the club this week, but back to it this week, so let`s get down to the club and give the boys a boost with some vociferous support. Macclesfield are bringing a big contingent of fans and with the match being of such importance at this stage of the season, we need you all to attend.
Both our 2`s and 3`s travel, good luck to all concerned and let`s hope for 3 big wins this Saturday.
Message to all players: Great Band on Saturday, so all WAGS expected to attend, for what should be a great day of rugby and music. The only 2 things that are important, well on a Saturday anyway!!

Touch Rugby Update

This is going from strength to strength, and we know have over 25 players committed to the team, Tony`s hard work and dedication over the past year is paying massive dividends.
Friday 25th sees us go to Caldy RUFC in the first of a festival of matches to play against other local teams. We will be hosting a similar event in the New Year, so a big shout out to all the players attending Friday. Tony I need a great report next week of our success at the festival.

Junior Rugby update

Fantastic, Brilliant, Amazing, a Sunday that returned to the halcyon days of junior rugby at the club. A packed clubhouse saw all teams victorious and playing some fantastic rugby. Players, coaches and supporters together after their games enjoying excellent friendship and a few bevvies, with one conversation, grass roots rugby at its best.

Wirral Snr Colts v Kendal Snr Colts 20/11/2022

The first and only time this fixture has been played at Wirral Memorial Ground for this set of lads. The now, Wirral Senior Colts, toured and were made very welcome, by Kendal RUFC when the lads were under 11’s but they’ve changed a bit since then. At the time a Wirral under 11 confused Columbia with Cumbria so Bogota was right out. The Dads have changed a bit too but Foie Gras Mike still won’t go to bed if there is brandy about. What didn’t change was the company of the Kendal Coaches and Supporters / Parents. Cracking bunch of people and we hope they enjoyed their time at our Club.
A rainy day with Wirral playing away from the Clubhouse saw Kendal dominate possession for the first 20 minutes and the pressure resulted in a couple of kickable penalties which Kendal turned down. Wirral’s defence held firm but with Wirral intent on playing territory kicked back to Kendal. Kendal came to play and with the ball in hand went through their phases well keeping Wirral pinned in their own 22. Against the run of play, Wirral forwards turned the ball over and a relieving kick down the middle of the pitch saw a couple of bounces with Wirral hacking it on twice. Wirral dot down. 5 -0 conversion missed.
Kendal kept to their game plan and got a shot for 3 points which just shaded the post. A let off for Wirral.
Kendal continued to attack strongly with the ball going down their back line into the Wirral 22. A try looked certain (3 on 1) but great communication in defence as in “name you man” our Winger came across from the far side in sweeping defence and ran past the ball carrier trusting his centre to make the tackle, the Kendal offload saw Wirral’s defence stretched, but not breached as the winger got tackled.
Still dominating possession Kendal kept Wirral in their 22 and some good forward pops and passes marshalled very well by the scrum half saw them drive over the line. 5 – 5 Conversion missed.
The Kendal pack clearly fancied their chances and did the same again. Great mauling, communication, pop passes and forwards running great channels, taking the ball at pace and crashing over 5 - 10. Converted 5 – 12. Kendal had their tails up and Darren was only on his 3rd pint. HT
Playing towards the Clubhouse Wirral got the message from our Head Coach and Ange got her camera out.
After a bit of aerial ping pong, Wirral ended up on the Kendal 22 and sustained phases for the first time in the game from Wirral (the first half we didn’t get above 4 phases) saw a cheeky / cute / class offload and Wirral piled over. Duly converted 12 – 12.
The Wirral pack then started to come into their own and won some hard fought possession. Good fitness from the pack saw a promising attack from Wirral stopped by a great tackle from Kendal and after the stoppage the Kendal lad played on.
There was no lack of commitment from either side.
Going into the final quarter the sun shone down on the first team pitch (and with a rainbow over the Clubhouse, Mum’s noticed) Wirral managed to get the ball to the wing for the 1st time in the game and scored. Who knew wingers are fast? To be fair we did have a 7 on the wing but it went down the line. 17 – 12. Conversion missed and not too fat, not too thin, just a little bit skinny is a pound down on his touch line betting scam calling the game at 12 – 12. Cheapskate.
Kendal came straight back and camped in Wirral’s 22 very close to the try line, but our scrum just had the edge in defence. Wirral with a clearing kick from a penalty made territory and the resulting lineout won, drove their way into the Kendal 22. A clean break through the centre of the back line following Wirral sucking in the Kendal defence saw Wirral run in under the sticks.
Try converted. 24 -12.
Kendal never wavered. They played their game and where right back in the Wirral 22. More strong drives from the Kendal forwards saw them power over to make the score 24 – 19. Conversion missed. FT
Thanks to Kendal RUFC, great bunch of people and a strong, disciplined rugby side who are a credit to the club (apart from the lad in budgie smugglers and nipple tassles).
Thanks to the Ref, Ray, Windsors Mazda our Sponsers and Izzy behind the bar.
Addendum: In what was an awful day in terms of the rain and wind, with a slippery ball and lots of Gary Owens it is a testament to the skill of all the players today that there was only 2 dropped balls in the first half – one from Kendal – one from Wirral. Both teams clearly coached well. Brendan would be proud.

Match report: Tony Brennan (who actually took a pound off me for a bet!

Junior Colts

Sunday 20th November 2022: Memorial Ground.

The small number of teams in the Junior Colts League meant that Wirral’s first game in the Plate competition was also a Quarter Final. The peninsula men were set to welcome Garstang’s Junior Colts for the second time this season, having beaten the visitors 44-8 in the league last month.

However, on arrival, the Garstang head coach discovered that he had been let down by numerous players who had promised their availability – consequently, the Quarter Final was conceded by Garstang, and Wirral progressed to the Semi Finals without a ball being kicked.

Keen to not waste the journey down the M6 made by those Garstang players who did travel, it was agreed to play a friendly match on the 2nd XV pitch, with Mr Andy Day officiating. Wirral would provide players to Garstang to make up their shortfall. The home Junior Colts team also comprised four Wirral U16 players for the first time – with Archie, Josef, Matty and Liam stepping up an age group. The home side were captained on the day by back-rower Josh Gregory.

The game was a lively, albeit one-sided affair. Wirral scored 10 tries; Ben Foran (2), Joseph O’Loughlin (2), Jacob Jenkins, Matthew Baker, Liam Walker, Josh Gregory, Archie Axon, Charlie Smith. Four of the tries were converted by scrum-half Dominic Crockford, one by Josh Gregory, and one by Liam Walker.

Wirral travel to Garstang in January for the away league fixture.

Match reporter: Lee Vickers, a very unhappy Welshman on Sunday after a tough encounter against the mighty Georgia saw the unfortunate Welsh lose with a last gasp kick. Commiserations to all our Welsh friends.

U16`s

Wirral U16s took on local rivals Hoylake in 15-a-side contact match for the first time since the Sunday before the national lockdown. Wirral were able to put out a full squad of 21 players while Hoylake arrived with 16.
The match started well for Wirral with energetic forward play keeping the ball moving and creating space for the backs with an early run down the wing only being stopped by a last gasp covering tackle. This was a pattern was repeated throughout the first half but Wirral were able to break through and score four tries helped by the extra space created by both teams dropping to 14 men as Hoylake suffered a couple of injuries finishing the half 20-0 up.
At half time four of the starting U16s left to join the Junior Colts for their match with Garstang and one of Hoylake’s injured lads had recovered sufficiently to restore the match to 15-a-side. The disruption brought about by the change in personnel meant that the second half was a much scrappier affair. A few niggles and gripes from both teams were allowed to fester and the team lost its focus. A misplaced pass from the back of a scrum into the empty Wirral in goal area allowed Hoylake to touch down for an easy try giving them hope and motivation.
Fortunately, Wirral were able to recover focus sufficiently to be able to send a winger over soon after to restore the gap. The match finished with a lesson for the Wirral pack that moving the ball back in a catch and drive from a line out will result in an accidental offside if the opposition don’t engage thus denying a try and producing the final whistle at 27-5. A satisfying result but much to learn from.

Match report: John Phythian, first report from John, so much appreciated on what has been a very successful season so far for the U16`s.

Club

Once again, we are pleased to welcome back the staff from Claire House for their annual Xmas get together, they had a fantastic time last year and deserve all the fun they can have at this time of year. We are very grateful that they use the club as a venue, and I can only say the club and its members thank you massively for the unbelievable work you do at Claire House. Happy Christmas to all the staff from Wirral Club XX

Christmas Raffle (draw will be on Tuesday 20th December)

Beverley has asked me to remind everybody that it is that time of year again, Xmas raffle. This earns the club a lot of money, all of which goes to the development of facilities. The Executive Committee are currently looking at improvements everywhere including audio facilities, clubhouse & toilet refurbishment and outside BBQ area, however we need your support. The raffle is an excellent way to do this.
Tickets will be on sale in the coming week @£5 a book, tickets can be purchased remotely, and payment made by BACS, Bev will then allocated your number to you.
Prizes donated so far include
• £200
• Art School Prix Fixe Lunch & wine for 2
• Wheatsheaf meal for 2
• Neuyou Beauty Salon vouchers
• Hampers and prizes from
o Mere Brook House
o Fuel 10K
o Emma’s Tropic Wirral (facebook)
o Constables Estate agents
If you can donate a prize or would like to purchase tickets, please contact
Beverley_mckinney@yahoo.co.uk (underscore mckinney) or on mobile number
07939924679

This starts a month of some great events, and the club is buzzing again, if you cannot get down to the club, please donate something to the Xmas raffle. This is a wonderful club with so many great people who are or have been involved, onwards and upwards as Mr Tony O`Brien would say.

Kind regards
Andy “skinny” McKinney
Wirral Club Manager
amckinneywrufc@yahoo.co.uk