BackSat 26 Oct 2024 ·  Regional 1 North West
Manchester
1st XV
16
31
Tries: D Harvey, W Morris, R Pearl, J Adnams, T ColeConversions: R James (3)
Wirral Get First Win at Manchester
Andrew Broadbent27 Oct 2024 - 19:52
Victory sees the 1st Team move up to 3rd in the League
This was our third game away at MANCHESTER in the past 3 seasons and we have not won (losing 21-59 and 28-33) at Grove Park previously and as we play today, MANCHESTER are ahead of Wirral on point’s difference by virtue of Wirral not getting their try bonus point against Newport last week. MANCHESTER were unbeaten at home before this game.
There were changes to the team with SAM VICKERS starting in the second row in place of MATT DALTON (injured last week) and captain, NICK HEARN returning to the back row in place of HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE (who was on the subs bench alongside DAN CARROL and CHRIS SPEED). In the backs, JIMMY ANNETTS (not available due to work commitments), thus TOM COLE played centre with veteran DAN HARVEY on the wing.
Wirral played against the beaming sun in the first half but in the opening minutes it was Wirral who had the territorial advantage, playing some good rugby to move forward and keep play in the MANCHESTER half but keen tackling by MANCHESTER kept Wirral out. Good breaks by RHYS JAMES, WILL MORRIS and TOM AKEHURST were halted short of the line but on 18 minutes after close play near the line led to DAN HARVEY collecting on a planned move and scoring under the posts giving RHYS JAMES an easy conversion, 0-7.
Wirral tackling was strong and kept MANCHESTER back and with great kicking by BEN BROOKES saw a long cross kick finding touch 15m out from the MANCHESTER line. On 25 minutes, a short kick through from MARK WILLIAMS enabled WILL MORRIS to collect and score wide out, the conversion was not made, 0-12 (25 minutes).
On 27 minutes, MANCHESTER scored a penalty through J Jones, 3-12. A couple of minutes later, MANCHESTER lost the ball 30m out and Wirral kicked through and ROB PEARL was on hand to collect and score under the posts, duly converted by RHYS JAMES to extend the Wirral lead to 3-19, 30 minutes. Wirral had play again down in the MANCHESTER half but a couple of penalties gave MANCHESTER play in the Wirral half and a period of good play by MANCHESTER saw them pass the ball well to enable them to score 15m from the posts, duly converted to leave the score at half time, 10-19.
At half time, HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE came on for NICK HEARN. The second half, started with greater emphasis from MANCHESTER with Wirral seeing little of the ball and were guilty of giving away a number of penalties. On 47 minutes, another penalty to MANCHESTER reduced the Wirral lead to 13-19 and on 51 minutes a further penalty reduced the Wirral lead to 16-19. Again Wirral were defending especially in areas 10m from the Wirral line, eventually a penalty enable Wirral to clear. I make the comment that at this stage, Wirral were giving away too many penalties and not having the chance to move the ball downfield especially bearing in mind the close score.
On 62 minutes a break by TOM COLE saw him hauled down just short of the line and even with the scrum advantage we gave away penalty enabling MANCHESTER to clear. A further attack by Wirral; saw TOM AKEHURST break through some 30m out and after going past two players unfortunately slipped on the grass spoiling the chance of what would have been at this stage an important score. NICK HEARN came on for CONNOR MOORE.
68 mins saw a great kick by BEN BROOKES enabling WIRRAL to clear from their half. CHRIS SPEED came on for ROB PEARL. From the next line out play in the corner was collected by Wirral and a good push forward saw Wirral score their bonus point try through, JOE ADNAMS in the corner, the conversion just failed 16-24. This try meant that MANCHESTER would have to score twice to win the game.
Both sides then played attacking rugby to try and win/achieve a win but the game was won by a long kick downfield by BEN BROOKS, bouncing favourably enabled TOM COLE to collect and race in from 30m to score some 20m from the posts, the conversion from RHYS JAMES enabled Wirral to win 16-31, to achieve an historic win for Wirral. TOM COLE came off allowing CHRIS SPEED to move into the backs. DAN CARROLL came on to play in the forwards.
In the league with Blackburn and Manchester both losing, Wirral climb to 3rd place in the league, 5 points and 6 points behind Anselmians and Rossendale respectively but 5 points ahead of Blackburn. The next league match is away at Rossendale on November 9th.
Richard McNeil
Photo: Adam Don - Man of the Match
There were changes to the team with SAM VICKERS starting in the second row in place of MATT DALTON (injured last week) and captain, NICK HEARN returning to the back row in place of HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE (who was on the subs bench alongside DAN CARROL and CHRIS SPEED). In the backs, JIMMY ANNETTS (not available due to work commitments), thus TOM COLE played centre with veteran DAN HARVEY on the wing.
Wirral played against the beaming sun in the first half but in the opening minutes it was Wirral who had the territorial advantage, playing some good rugby to move forward and keep play in the MANCHESTER half but keen tackling by MANCHESTER kept Wirral out. Good breaks by RHYS JAMES, WILL MORRIS and TOM AKEHURST were halted short of the line but on 18 minutes after close play near the line led to DAN HARVEY collecting on a planned move and scoring under the posts giving RHYS JAMES an easy conversion, 0-7.
Wirral tackling was strong and kept MANCHESTER back and with great kicking by BEN BROOKES saw a long cross kick finding touch 15m out from the MANCHESTER line. On 25 minutes, a short kick through from MARK WILLIAMS enabled WILL MORRIS to collect and score wide out, the conversion was not made, 0-12 (25 minutes).
On 27 minutes, MANCHESTER scored a penalty through J Jones, 3-12. A couple of minutes later, MANCHESTER lost the ball 30m out and Wirral kicked through and ROB PEARL was on hand to collect and score under the posts, duly converted by RHYS JAMES to extend the Wirral lead to 3-19, 30 minutes. Wirral had play again down in the MANCHESTER half but a couple of penalties gave MANCHESTER play in the Wirral half and a period of good play by MANCHESTER saw them pass the ball well to enable them to score 15m from the posts, duly converted to leave the score at half time, 10-19.
At half time, HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE came on for NICK HEARN. The second half, started with greater emphasis from MANCHESTER with Wirral seeing little of the ball and were guilty of giving away a number of penalties. On 47 minutes, another penalty to MANCHESTER reduced the Wirral lead to 13-19 and on 51 minutes a further penalty reduced the Wirral lead to 16-19. Again Wirral were defending especially in areas 10m from the Wirral line, eventually a penalty enable Wirral to clear. I make the comment that at this stage, Wirral were giving away too many penalties and not having the chance to move the ball downfield especially bearing in mind the close score.
On 62 minutes a break by TOM COLE saw him hauled down just short of the line and even with the scrum advantage we gave away penalty enabling MANCHESTER to clear. A further attack by Wirral; saw TOM AKEHURST break through some 30m out and after going past two players unfortunately slipped on the grass spoiling the chance of what would have been at this stage an important score. NICK HEARN came on for CONNOR MOORE.
68 mins saw a great kick by BEN BROOKES enabling WIRRAL to clear from their half. CHRIS SPEED came on for ROB PEARL. From the next line out play in the corner was collected by Wirral and a good push forward saw Wirral score their bonus point try through, JOE ADNAMS in the corner, the conversion just failed 16-24. This try meant that MANCHESTER would have to score twice to win the game.
Both sides then played attacking rugby to try and win/achieve a win but the game was won by a long kick downfield by BEN BROOKS, bouncing favourably enabled TOM COLE to collect and race in from 30m to score some 20m from the posts, the conversion from RHYS JAMES enabled Wirral to win 16-31, to achieve an historic win for Wirral. TOM COLE came off allowing CHRIS SPEED to move into the backs. DAN CARROLL came on to play in the forwards.
In the league with Blackburn and Manchester both losing, Wirral climb to 3rd place in the league, 5 points and 6 points behind Anselmians and Rossendale respectively but 5 points ahead of Blackburn. The next league match is away at Rossendale on November 9th.
Richard McNeil
Photo: Adam Don - Man of the Match
Further reading