BackSat 01 Mar 2025 · Regional 1 North West
Blackburn
1st XV
36
41
Tries: W Morris, T Akehurst (3), J Adnams, A KimptonConversions: R James (4)Penalties: R James
Akehurst Hat-trick Leads to Double Over Blackburn
Andrew Broadbent2 Mar - 15:17
For a couple of seasons previously, Wirral have found Blackburn a difficult team to overcome but this season we have won both at home and away
There were changes to the team that had played against Rossendale two weeks ago, the only changein the forwards was CONNER MOORE coming in for ROB PEARL, whilst in the backs, MARK WILLIAMS was not available so BEN BROOKS moved up to fly half with ALFIE KIMPTON joining RHYS JAMES in the centres. The substitutes were DAN CARROL, GEORGE BURROWS and the return of MATT RINGER after his shoulder/neck injury. The Blackburn team was much changed from those we have played previously.
Wirral played against the wind and the sun in the first half enjoying a 3.00pm kick off.
In the first three minutes Wirral were on the attack and awarded a penalty in front of the posts, which they turned down and took a quick penalty through TOM AKEHURST, who was held up short- the ball went left, where the right winger, WILL MORRIS was on hand to squeeze in at the corner, the conversion by RHYS JAMES just missed, 0-5 (3 mins). Two minutes later, BB reduced the lead to 3-5 with a penalty from 28m out. From the kick off the line out was caught by BB and mauled their way over the line to score 5m from the corner flag, the conversion was missed, 8-5 (8 mins). Wirral again attacked and when pressing had a penalty awarded against the team when only 2m out. The next attacking play came from BB when an astute kick through was almost caught by BB when the ball did not bounce their way. One minute later BB extended their lead when a scrum in their favour ended with BB scoring under the posts and duly converting, 15-5 (21 mins). Two minutes later BB extended their lead to 22-5 when from a penalty 40m was taken quickly and enabled the BB player to have a clear route to the posts, duly converted to extend BB’s lead to 22-5. On 30 minutes, Wirral were awarded a penalty 5m out, quickly taken by TOM AKEHURST who scored close to the posts and duly converted by RHYS JAMES to reduce the lead to 22-12 (31 mins). Wirral came back and again had a number of penalties close to the BB line and after much pressure, Wirral scored through JOSH ADNAMS close to the posts and with a conversion from RHYS JAMES reduced the BB lead to 22-19 (33 minutes). Play was in mid-field and a penalty had been awarded when there was an altercation (not seen by myself) which resulted in the BB scrum half being red carded for throwing a punch. This was followed by half time.
At the break, Wirral made a change after an injury to the hard-working ADAM DON when MATT RINGER came on as substitute hooker. During the first half, BB had been penalised on at least 12 occasions! In the second half, Wirral had the benefit of the wind and within a couple of minutes a penalty by RHYS JAMES equalised the score at 22-22. Wirral continued the pressure down field, a long pass to WILL MORRIS saw the winger run with good pace but was hauled down 10m short of the line- this resulted in another penalty and again quickly taken by scrum half, TOM AKEHURST resulted in him scoring his second try (and club’s try bonus point) and converted by RHYS to give Wirral a 22-29 lead (47 minutes). On 51 minutes Wirral had the chance to extend their lead with another penalty but unfortunately this was missed by RHYS. BB continued to attack and a promising break was well defended by Wirral and eventually cleared with Wirral using the wind well to make progress down field. From a loose maul some 15m out the ball came loose and TOM AKEHURST was on hand to pick up and race 15m to touch down (his hat- trick), duly converted by RHYS JAMES to increase the Wirral lead to 22-36 (66 mins). These scores did not deter BB as the home team made a break by their forwards from a line out which saw BB scoring close to the posts and duly converted to make the score, 29-36 (70 minutes). Wirral were attacking again and a long pass to WILL MORRIS saw him make good progress down the right wing only to be halted 5 m from the line but a slick pass to ALFIE KIMPTON enabled ALF to score in the corner, the conversion just failed, increasing the lead to 29-41.
A change in the Wirral backs, saw GEORGE BURROWS on for TOM COLE and CONNOR MOORE (to the wing) for RHYS JAMES, saw ALFIE KIMPTON move to the centres. With virtually the last play of the game, BB came back strongly and scored close to the posts, duly converted to give BB a losing bonus point. However from the kick-off BB tried to break through again but a late penalty enabled Wirral to kick for touch to close the game.
Wirral remain in 4th pending next week’s game at home to Anselmians where we expect to see a large crowd, the highest of the season. With Rossendale losing at Manchester, they have to play at Eastham on March 22 d , which may be the league decider for this season.
On a pleasing note, it was good to see the second team win (33-31) against Blackburn after being down by 20 points and a last minute kick gave them victory and remain 10th in this difficult league.
Richard McNeil
Wirral played against the wind and the sun in the first half enjoying a 3.00pm kick off.
In the first three minutes Wirral were on the attack and awarded a penalty in front of the posts, which they turned down and took a quick penalty through TOM AKEHURST, who was held up short- the ball went left, where the right winger, WILL MORRIS was on hand to squeeze in at the corner, the conversion by RHYS JAMES just missed, 0-5 (3 mins). Two minutes later, BB reduced the lead to 3-5 with a penalty from 28m out. From the kick off the line out was caught by BB and mauled their way over the line to score 5m from the corner flag, the conversion was missed, 8-5 (8 mins). Wirral again attacked and when pressing had a penalty awarded against the team when only 2m out. The next attacking play came from BB when an astute kick through was almost caught by BB when the ball did not bounce their way. One minute later BB extended their lead when a scrum in their favour ended with BB scoring under the posts and duly converting, 15-5 (21 mins). Two minutes later BB extended their lead to 22-5 when from a penalty 40m was taken quickly and enabled the BB player to have a clear route to the posts, duly converted to extend BB’s lead to 22-5. On 30 minutes, Wirral were awarded a penalty 5m out, quickly taken by TOM AKEHURST who scored close to the posts and duly converted by RHYS JAMES to reduce the lead to 22-12 (31 mins). Wirral came back and again had a number of penalties close to the BB line and after much pressure, Wirral scored through JOSH ADNAMS close to the posts and with a conversion from RHYS JAMES reduced the BB lead to 22-19 (33 minutes). Play was in mid-field and a penalty had been awarded when there was an altercation (not seen by myself) which resulted in the BB scrum half being red carded for throwing a punch. This was followed by half time.
At the break, Wirral made a change after an injury to the hard-working ADAM DON when MATT RINGER came on as substitute hooker. During the first half, BB had been penalised on at least 12 occasions! In the second half, Wirral had the benefit of the wind and within a couple of minutes a penalty by RHYS JAMES equalised the score at 22-22. Wirral continued the pressure down field, a long pass to WILL MORRIS saw the winger run with good pace but was hauled down 10m short of the line- this resulted in another penalty and again quickly taken by scrum half, TOM AKEHURST resulted in him scoring his second try (and club’s try bonus point) and converted by RHYS to give Wirral a 22-29 lead (47 minutes). On 51 minutes Wirral had the chance to extend their lead with another penalty but unfortunately this was missed by RHYS. BB continued to attack and a promising break was well defended by Wirral and eventually cleared with Wirral using the wind well to make progress down field. From a loose maul some 15m out the ball came loose and TOM AKEHURST was on hand to pick up and race 15m to touch down (his hat- trick), duly converted by RHYS JAMES to increase the Wirral lead to 22-36 (66 mins). These scores did not deter BB as the home team made a break by their forwards from a line out which saw BB scoring close to the posts and duly converted to make the score, 29-36 (70 minutes). Wirral were attacking again and a long pass to WILL MORRIS saw him make good progress down the right wing only to be halted 5 m from the line but a slick pass to ALFIE KIMPTON enabled ALF to score in the corner, the conversion just failed, increasing the lead to 29-41.
A change in the Wirral backs, saw GEORGE BURROWS on for TOM COLE and CONNOR MOORE (to the wing) for RHYS JAMES, saw ALFIE KIMPTON move to the centres. With virtually the last play of the game, BB came back strongly and scored close to the posts, duly converted to give BB a losing bonus point. However from the kick-off BB tried to break through again but a late penalty enabled Wirral to kick for touch to close the game.
Wirral remain in 4th pending next week’s game at home to Anselmians where we expect to see a large crowd, the highest of the season. With Rossendale losing at Manchester, they have to play at Eastham on March 22 d , which may be the league decider for this season.
On a pleasing note, it was good to see the second team win (33-31) against Blackburn after being down by 20 points and a last minute kick gave them victory and remain 10th in this difficult league.
Richard McNeil
Further reading