BackSat 06 Sep 2025 · Regional 1 North West
Rochdale
1st XV
24
52
Tries: J Ralph, B Brooks, C Moore (3), H Long (2), W MorrisConversions: R James (5)
Flying Winger 'Connor' Scores Hat-trick
Andrew Broadbent7 Sep - 12:19
First Game of the season was an away win at Rochdale, who were promoted from North East Division 2.
This was the first match of the 25/26 year league, which has been revised with a number of different teams in the league. Today we were away at Rochdale, who won the North East Division 2 league last season and it is noted in their programme that all today’s 18 players all came through Rochdale’s Junior Academy system- even more than Wirral. It is a number of years since we played Rochdale and in fact one of the coaching staff started his senior rugby career at Rochdale.
Wirral’s team was much improved from the trial match seen last week against Newport (Salop) and thus we were looking for a more effective game. The team had changed from last season given James Annetts and Joe Adnams had retired along with Tom Akehurst who has moved to Caldy. Some new players have joined the club and are playing in the three senior teams today.
The front row introduced a new hooker in ALEX WILLIAMS alongside props ADAM DON and JOHN RALPH, the second row was HAYDON LONG and HARRY HAWLEY, with the back row of CONNOR MOORE, HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE with captain, NICK HEARN.
In the backs we had a different combination at half back with JONATHAN CARROL at scrum half with CHRIS SPEED at fly half, the centres were BEN BROOKS and ALFIE KIMPTON, and the wingers were WILL MORRIS and GEORGE BURROWS with RHYS JAMES at full back. The substitutes were DAN CARROL (brother of Jonathan), DAN HARVEY and making a return after 2 seasons out was JAMES REEVE.
It is a number of years since we played Rochdale at first team level. The pitch was much greener than we have seen at Wirral in recent weeks and was in ideal condition for rugby. Wirral played against the breeze in the first half.
In the first minute, Rochdale had the ball and played to the left and the winger beat the Wirral player and then punted the ball over the Wirral full back, to collect the ball and score in the corner, the try was not converted from near the touch line, 5-0 (1 min). Wirral came back up-field and two penalties in their favour gave Wirral presence close to the Rochdale line. Pressure from Wirral enabled JOHN RALPH to scramble over and duly converted by RHYS JAMES to give Wirral a slender 5-7 lead (4 mins).
Both teams were playing attacking rugby from the start with Wirral showing the greater progress and an inside pass to BEN BROOKS enabled him to burst through from 25m to score under the posts, duly converted by RHYS, 5-14. Wirral had the benefit in the scrums and were able to push forward and looked to contain Rochdale in their half and were able to do this as in the first 30 minutes, Rochdale had given away a number of penalties, thus putting pressure on them. A loose ball came out to the right and CONNER MOORE picked up and weaved through the defence to score under the posts again converted to extend the lead to 5-21 (30 minutes). 35mins DAN CARROL came on for JOHN RALPH.
Rochdale put pressure on England and a kick ahead by them ran dead with their winger in pursuit. Back came Wirral and pressure on the Rochdale line resulted in HAYDEN LONG crossing from short distance (this was the try bonus point), the conversion was missed, 5-26 (37 minutes). Further play by Wirral saw good passing by Wirral down the right ended with CONNOR MOORE scoring again by running through the Rochdale defence, again converted to leave the score 5-33 at half time.
The second half started with Rochdale immediately on the attack with good passing and scored out wide but well converted to leave the score at 12-33 (42 minutes). Wirral came back and looking to attack with good running ending with a long pass from CHRIS SPEED to winger, WILL MORRIS who raced forward to cross in the corner, again well converted by RHYS JAMES from the touchline to increase the lead to 12-40, 46 minutes.
53 minutes, Rochdale continued to press and from close to the Wirral line they pressed forward to score but this was not converted, 17-40 (53 mins). Another good run by BEN BROOKS led to HAYDEN LONG scoring his second try in the left hand corner, again converted from the touch line by RHYS to extend the Wirral lead to 17-47. Both teams were continuing to play attractive rugby and were both effective in the opposition 20metre areas. Rochdale scored their 4th try (Bonus Point) from a 5m line out after a long kick to touch and from close to the line scored again, again converted to leave the score at 24-47.
Back came Wirral and missed scoring on the left when the opportunity was there. Wirral continued to apply pressure and a further attack resulted in wing forward CONNOR MOORE out on the wing to score in the corner for his third try and the last conversion kick of the game failed and thus ended the game.
A pleasing win for Wirral given the number of changes in the team and reorganisation in training this next week should improve play for next week’s game away at Blackburn. The second half ended 19 each.
Richard McNeil
Wirral’s team was much improved from the trial match seen last week against Newport (Salop) and thus we were looking for a more effective game. The team had changed from last season given James Annetts and Joe Adnams had retired along with Tom Akehurst who has moved to Caldy. Some new players have joined the club and are playing in the three senior teams today.
The front row introduced a new hooker in ALEX WILLIAMS alongside props ADAM DON and JOHN RALPH, the second row was HAYDON LONG and HARRY HAWLEY, with the back row of CONNOR MOORE, HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE with captain, NICK HEARN.
In the backs we had a different combination at half back with JONATHAN CARROL at scrum half with CHRIS SPEED at fly half, the centres were BEN BROOKS and ALFIE KIMPTON, and the wingers were WILL MORRIS and GEORGE BURROWS with RHYS JAMES at full back. The substitutes were DAN CARROL (brother of Jonathan), DAN HARVEY and making a return after 2 seasons out was JAMES REEVE.
It is a number of years since we played Rochdale at first team level. The pitch was much greener than we have seen at Wirral in recent weeks and was in ideal condition for rugby. Wirral played against the breeze in the first half.
In the first minute, Rochdale had the ball and played to the left and the winger beat the Wirral player and then punted the ball over the Wirral full back, to collect the ball and score in the corner, the try was not converted from near the touch line, 5-0 (1 min). Wirral came back up-field and two penalties in their favour gave Wirral presence close to the Rochdale line. Pressure from Wirral enabled JOHN RALPH to scramble over and duly converted by RHYS JAMES to give Wirral a slender 5-7 lead (4 mins).
Both teams were playing attacking rugby from the start with Wirral showing the greater progress and an inside pass to BEN BROOKS enabled him to burst through from 25m to score under the posts, duly converted by RHYS, 5-14. Wirral had the benefit in the scrums and were able to push forward and looked to contain Rochdale in their half and were able to do this as in the first 30 minutes, Rochdale had given away a number of penalties, thus putting pressure on them. A loose ball came out to the right and CONNER MOORE picked up and weaved through the defence to score under the posts again converted to extend the lead to 5-21 (30 minutes). 35mins DAN CARROL came on for JOHN RALPH.
Rochdale put pressure on England and a kick ahead by them ran dead with their winger in pursuit. Back came Wirral and pressure on the Rochdale line resulted in HAYDEN LONG crossing from short distance (this was the try bonus point), the conversion was missed, 5-26 (37 minutes). Further play by Wirral saw good passing by Wirral down the right ended with CONNOR MOORE scoring again by running through the Rochdale defence, again converted to leave the score 5-33 at half time.
The second half started with Rochdale immediately on the attack with good passing and scored out wide but well converted to leave the score at 12-33 (42 minutes). Wirral came back and looking to attack with good running ending with a long pass from CHRIS SPEED to winger, WILL MORRIS who raced forward to cross in the corner, again well converted by RHYS JAMES from the touchline to increase the lead to 12-40, 46 minutes.
53 minutes, Rochdale continued to press and from close to the Wirral line they pressed forward to score but this was not converted, 17-40 (53 mins). Another good run by BEN BROOKS led to HAYDEN LONG scoring his second try in the left hand corner, again converted from the touch line by RHYS to extend the Wirral lead to 17-47. Both teams were continuing to play attractive rugby and were both effective in the opposition 20metre areas. Rochdale scored their 4th try (Bonus Point) from a 5m line out after a long kick to touch and from close to the line scored again, again converted to leave the score at 24-47.
Back came Wirral and missed scoring on the left when the opportunity was there. Wirral continued to apply pressure and a further attack resulted in wing forward CONNOR MOORE out on the wing to score in the corner for his third try and the last conversion kick of the game failed and thus ended the game.
A pleasing win for Wirral given the number of changes in the team and reorganisation in training this next week should improve play for next week’s game away at Blackburn. The second half ended 19 each.
Richard McNeil
Further reading