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Sat 27 Apr 2024
1st XVBurton
Tries: T Akehurst (2), H Long , R James, W MorrisConversions: B Brooks (3)Penalties: B Brooks
41
35
Wirral overcome Burton ... just!
Andrew Broadbent28 Apr - 16:30
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This was the third match in the round robin Papa John’s competition with the winner going through to the semi- finals, with the benefit of a home draw.
Burton had won both their opening games with overall scores of 77-24, whilst Wirral’s overall scores were 81-47.
The Wirral team had few changes with HAYDEN LONG starting at No8 whilst in the backs TOM COLE moved into the centre as MARK WILLIAMS was out due to injury and JIMMY ANNETTS was in the reserves. The substitutes were, DAN CARROL, SAM VICKERS, CHRIS BURROWS, CHRIS SPEED, JIMMY ANNETTS, MARK EDWARDS and GEORGE BURROWS.
Wirral played towards the main road in the first half and within two minutes Wirral were ahead when from a strong scrum push Wirral moved forward several metres before passing the ball out and DAN HARVEY came into the backs and broke the home defence before passing on to TOM AKEHURST who burst through from 30m to score close to the posts and duly converted by BEN BROOKS, 7-0 (2 mins). 2 minutes later, Wirral increased their lead to 10-0 with a penalty by BEN BROOKS.
Burton were keen on attacking and from 20m out kicked forward, however the kick was charged down and picked up by TOM AKEHURST and picked up the ball and race away to score under the posts having come inside the fullback neatly to score under the posts for his 22nd try of the season, again converted by BEN BROOKS, 17-0 (11 mins). In the next few minutes Burton were looking to put pressure on Wirral, until the ball was won by the home team and a long downfield clearance by BEN BROOKS put Burton under pressure as they were able to force a line out in the 20m area. Again pressure was exerted by Wirral with play on the Burton line, eventually after numerous forward efforts the third try was scored by DAN HARVEY from the opposite wing quite wide out, again goaled by BEN BROOKS 24-0 (17 minutes).
On 17 minutes, HAYDEN LONG was substituted by CHRIS SPEED, and 6 minutes later HAYDEN was back on in place of ADAM DON. Burton were still looking to attack and concentrated play in the Wirral 20m area was broken when the Burton fly half but a kick over the Wirral defence which was caught by centre, Will Derry who had the easy task of touching down and converted by Dom Phillips, 24-7 (25 mins). 6 minutes later good passing by Burton enabled winger, Cyrus Griffiths to score in the corner, again converted by Dom Phillips, 24-14 (31 minutes). On 35 minutes, Wirral increased their lead to 31-14 when from play close to the Burton line, HAYDEN LONG scored from close range,his 7th try of the season and converted by BEN BROOKS, 31-14 (35mins). Back came Burton as they put pressure back on Wirral in the 20m area but eventually Wirral cleared with the half-time whistle going with Wirral having a commanding lead.
At the start of the second half, Burton played with more of an attacking flair but after 46 minutes, concentrated play by Wirral saw play back into the Burton 22m when from play down the right, RHYS JAMES managed to squeeze over the line 10m from the corner flag, the conversion from Ben Brooks hit the post, 36-14 (46 minutes). GEORGE BURROWS came on for RHYS JAMES – who had a leg injury.
Burton then drop an easy pass and Wirral again had pressure on the Burton 22m area and had the ball held up over the line. On 63 minutes Wirral increase their lead to 41-14, when after good work by TOM AKEHURST led to WILL MORRIS scoring wide out, the conversion was not made.
MARK EDWARDS came on for DAN HARVEY.
On 67 minutes, the Burton centre Will Derry burst through to score after a break by the Burton forwards, again converted by Dom Phillips, 41-21. MARK EDWARDS was injured chasing back and was replaced by DAN HARVEY, with CHRIS CROWLEY also leaving the field with CHRIS BURROWS coming on to play in the backs. Wirral having to make a lot of changes to protect players from further injuries for the future matches, hopefully ahead.
On 70 minutes, the Burton winger Cyrus Griffiths waltzed through the Wirral defence to score, duly converted, 41-28. These scores were spurring Burton on as the Wirral team struggled with all these changes and on from a line out close to the Wirral line, combined play by Burton led to Will Hopwood scoring close to the posts, again converted, to bring Burton to within one score of Wirral.
The Wirral played hard to stem Burton as penalties were giving the ground to them to again come close to the Wirral line; the minutes edged on with Burton pressing but concentrated tackling by Wirral held Burton out. A final penalty to touch enabled Wirral to close out the game and put them in the semi-final against Stockport.
Next week, the game is at Wirral against another team from our league, Stockport who finished 7th in our league, we defeated them at home 28-10 but lost at Stockport 26-27- this will prove to be another interesting game.
The second XV were due to play Burton but the game was cancelled. The thirds had to play New Brighton seconds (although some of their first team players played) but the Wirral team won 31-29, with many of the players not aware of how close the score was. This result leaves the thirds, second in their league at the end of this season, well done to the team.
Richard McNeil
The Wirral team had few changes with HAYDEN LONG starting at No8 whilst in the backs TOM COLE moved into the centre as MARK WILLIAMS was out due to injury and JIMMY ANNETTS was in the reserves. The substitutes were, DAN CARROL, SAM VICKERS, CHRIS BURROWS, CHRIS SPEED, JIMMY ANNETTS, MARK EDWARDS and GEORGE BURROWS.
Wirral played towards the main road in the first half and within two minutes Wirral were ahead when from a strong scrum push Wirral moved forward several metres before passing the ball out and DAN HARVEY came into the backs and broke the home defence before passing on to TOM AKEHURST who burst through from 30m to score close to the posts and duly converted by BEN BROOKS, 7-0 (2 mins). 2 minutes later, Wirral increased their lead to 10-0 with a penalty by BEN BROOKS.
Burton were keen on attacking and from 20m out kicked forward, however the kick was charged down and picked up by TOM AKEHURST and picked up the ball and race away to score under the posts having come inside the fullback neatly to score under the posts for his 22nd try of the season, again converted by BEN BROOKS, 17-0 (11 mins). In the next few minutes Burton were looking to put pressure on Wirral, until the ball was won by the home team and a long downfield clearance by BEN BROOKS put Burton under pressure as they were able to force a line out in the 20m area. Again pressure was exerted by Wirral with play on the Burton line, eventually after numerous forward efforts the third try was scored by DAN HARVEY from the opposite wing quite wide out, again goaled by BEN BROOKS 24-0 (17 minutes).
On 17 minutes, HAYDEN LONG was substituted by CHRIS SPEED, and 6 minutes later HAYDEN was back on in place of ADAM DON. Burton were still looking to attack and concentrated play in the Wirral 20m area was broken when the Burton fly half but a kick over the Wirral defence which was caught by centre, Will Derry who had the easy task of touching down and converted by Dom Phillips, 24-7 (25 mins). 6 minutes later good passing by Burton enabled winger, Cyrus Griffiths to score in the corner, again converted by Dom Phillips, 24-14 (31 minutes). On 35 minutes, Wirral increased their lead to 31-14 when from play close to the Burton line, HAYDEN LONG scored from close range,his 7th try of the season and converted by BEN BROOKS, 31-14 (35mins). Back came Burton as they put pressure back on Wirral in the 20m area but eventually Wirral cleared with the half-time whistle going with Wirral having a commanding lead.
At the start of the second half, Burton played with more of an attacking flair but after 46 minutes, concentrated play by Wirral saw play back into the Burton 22m when from play down the right, RHYS JAMES managed to squeeze over the line 10m from the corner flag, the conversion from Ben Brooks hit the post, 36-14 (46 minutes). GEORGE BURROWS came on for RHYS JAMES – who had a leg injury.
Burton then drop an easy pass and Wirral again had pressure on the Burton 22m area and had the ball held up over the line. On 63 minutes Wirral increase their lead to 41-14, when after good work by TOM AKEHURST led to WILL MORRIS scoring wide out, the conversion was not made.
MARK EDWARDS came on for DAN HARVEY.
On 67 minutes, the Burton centre Will Derry burst through to score after a break by the Burton forwards, again converted by Dom Phillips, 41-21. MARK EDWARDS was injured chasing back and was replaced by DAN HARVEY, with CHRIS CROWLEY also leaving the field with CHRIS BURROWS coming on to play in the backs. Wirral having to make a lot of changes to protect players from further injuries for the future matches, hopefully ahead.
On 70 minutes, the Burton winger Cyrus Griffiths waltzed through the Wirral defence to score, duly converted, 41-28. These scores were spurring Burton on as the Wirral team struggled with all these changes and on from a line out close to the Wirral line, combined play by Burton led to Will Hopwood scoring close to the posts, again converted, to bring Burton to within one score of Wirral.
The Wirral played hard to stem Burton as penalties were giving the ground to them to again come close to the Wirral line; the minutes edged on with Burton pressing but concentrated tackling by Wirral held Burton out. A final penalty to touch enabled Wirral to close out the game and put them in the semi-final against Stockport.
Next week, the game is at Wirral against another team from our league, Stockport who finished 7th in our league, we defeated them at home 28-10 but lost at Stockport 26-27- this will prove to be another interesting game.
The second XV were due to play Burton but the game was cancelled. The thirds had to play New Brighton seconds (although some of their first team players played) but the Wirral team won 31-29, with many of the players not aware of how close the score was. This result leaves the thirds, second in their league at the end of this season, well done to the team.
Richard McNeil
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