BackSat 13 Sep 2025 · Regional 1 North West
Blackburn
1st XV
31
22
Tries: G ROBERTS (2), A KimptonConversions: R James (2)Penalties: R James
Wirral Attack Blunted by Blackburn Defence
Andrew Broadbent14 Sep - 15:10
Wirral lose to their most Northerly opponents
This away match at Blackburn marked Wirral’s most “northerly” visit this season (as Penrith are in the North East league this season) as we arrived at BB to be faced with strong winds and occasional showers. The BB pitch was in immaculate condition and ready for rugby played in front of the usual vociferous BB crowd.
For this match Wirral made changes to the team which played last Saturday and then in the last 24/48 hours there were further changes to the team and thus the team that played had not played as a team previously, due to injuries and unavailability due to work commitments. In the front row, hooker ALEX WILLIAMS was injured so MATT RINGER came in and after last week’s game try scorer CONNOR MOORE was also injured, thus newcomer GRUFF ROBERTS (Dr) came on for his debut. Due to work, CHRIS SPEED was unavailable so BEN BROOKS moved up to fly half with TOM COLE coming into the centres. The substitutes were DAN CARROL, DAN HARVEY and ex old-boy CHRIS BATHE.
Wirral played against the wind in the first half and were soon on the attack and a pass to the Wirral left winger was dropped when a chance showed.
After 9 minutes a missed tackle in mid field allowed BB to move downfield where an astute kick along the ground was after a 30m chase touched down by BB player wide out but converted to set up a 7-0 lead for the home side.
Wirral played much of the game in the BB half but had difficulty breaking down the BB defence. During this half Wirral had a number of penalties in the BB half but continued to kick for touch when perhaps 2 or 3 kickable penalties could have been taken from in front of the posts, having said that chances came from 5m line outs but despite pressure from the Wirral pack, could not break down the BB defence. BB extended their lead to 10-0 with a penalty from 30m (34 mins). On 38 mins, Wirral take a penalty through RHYS JAMES to reduce the lead to 10-3.
On the kick off, the ball was hit too strongly by BB, which Wirral caught instead of letting it go dead and take play back to the half way line. This gave BB pressure in the Wirral 20m area and from a scrum close to the line, BB got a push over try and duly converted to give BB a 17-3 lead in the last seconds of the half.
Wirral had the benefit of the wind in the second half; again early on penalties were not being taken until the 47th minute when debutant GRUFF ROBERTS beat the defence to score close to the posts and duly converted by RHYS JAMES to reduce the BB lead to 17-10. Could now have seen Wirral coming away with a win! Pressure from BB saw them having a try disallowed for being held up over the line. DAN CARROL came on for JOHN RALPH on 55 mins. A break by Wirral saw the backs moving the ball downfield and potential score only for the final pass to be judged forward. On 61 mins, JOHN RALPH came on for ADAM DON (injured).
Wirral had a 15m line out but lost the ball, BB spun the ball down the line which resulted in BB’s left winger run some 75m through a number of tacklers to run through and score under the posts, easily converted to the home team a 24-10 lead.
Wirral made a further two changes with DAN HARVEY and CHRIS BATHE coming on for GEORGE BURROWS and HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE on 64 minutes, which occurred at the time of a yellow card to a BB player. Wirral had the opportunity to put pressure on BB and working hard, back rower GRUFF ROBERTS crossed over for his second try of the game, the conversion was missed leaving the score at 24-15.
Good inter passing by BB enabled them to score their bonus point try to again score under the posts to give them an uncatchable lead of 31-15 (76 minutes). Wirral continuing attacking and put pressure on the BB line and were rewarded with ALFIE KIMPTON crossing wide out and duly converted by RHYS JAMES to leave score 31—22 at the end of the game.
A game on reflection that Wirral could have won if they had taken their opportunities but we need to bear in mind that this team had not played together previously. Next week, Wirral are at home to Stockport, which will provide Wirral with a difficult game against one of the stronger teams in the league.
Richard McNeil
For this match Wirral made changes to the team which played last Saturday and then in the last 24/48 hours there were further changes to the team and thus the team that played had not played as a team previously, due to injuries and unavailability due to work commitments. In the front row, hooker ALEX WILLIAMS was injured so MATT RINGER came in and after last week’s game try scorer CONNOR MOORE was also injured, thus newcomer GRUFF ROBERTS (Dr) came on for his debut. Due to work, CHRIS SPEED was unavailable so BEN BROOKS moved up to fly half with TOM COLE coming into the centres. The substitutes were DAN CARROL, DAN HARVEY and ex old-boy CHRIS BATHE.
Wirral played against the wind in the first half and were soon on the attack and a pass to the Wirral left winger was dropped when a chance showed.
After 9 minutes a missed tackle in mid field allowed BB to move downfield where an astute kick along the ground was after a 30m chase touched down by BB player wide out but converted to set up a 7-0 lead for the home side.
Wirral played much of the game in the BB half but had difficulty breaking down the BB defence. During this half Wirral had a number of penalties in the BB half but continued to kick for touch when perhaps 2 or 3 kickable penalties could have been taken from in front of the posts, having said that chances came from 5m line outs but despite pressure from the Wirral pack, could not break down the BB defence. BB extended their lead to 10-0 with a penalty from 30m (34 mins). On 38 mins, Wirral take a penalty through RHYS JAMES to reduce the lead to 10-3.
On the kick off, the ball was hit too strongly by BB, which Wirral caught instead of letting it go dead and take play back to the half way line. This gave BB pressure in the Wirral 20m area and from a scrum close to the line, BB got a push over try and duly converted to give BB a 17-3 lead in the last seconds of the half.
Wirral had the benefit of the wind in the second half; again early on penalties were not being taken until the 47th minute when debutant GRUFF ROBERTS beat the defence to score close to the posts and duly converted by RHYS JAMES to reduce the BB lead to 17-10. Could now have seen Wirral coming away with a win! Pressure from BB saw them having a try disallowed for being held up over the line. DAN CARROL came on for JOHN RALPH on 55 mins. A break by Wirral saw the backs moving the ball downfield and potential score only for the final pass to be judged forward. On 61 mins, JOHN RALPH came on for ADAM DON (injured).
Wirral had a 15m line out but lost the ball, BB spun the ball down the line which resulted in BB’s left winger run some 75m through a number of tacklers to run through and score under the posts, easily converted to the home team a 24-10 lead.
Wirral made a further two changes with DAN HARVEY and CHRIS BATHE coming on for GEORGE BURROWS and HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE on 64 minutes, which occurred at the time of a yellow card to a BB player. Wirral had the opportunity to put pressure on BB and working hard, back rower GRUFF ROBERTS crossed over for his second try of the game, the conversion was missed leaving the score at 24-15.
Good inter passing by BB enabled them to score their bonus point try to again score under the posts to give them an uncatchable lead of 31-15 (76 minutes). Wirral continuing attacking and put pressure on the BB line and were rewarded with ALFIE KIMPTON crossing wide out and duly converted by RHYS JAMES to leave score 31—22 at the end of the game.
A game on reflection that Wirral could have won if they had taken their opportunities but we need to bear in mind that this team had not played together previously. Next week, Wirral are at home to Stockport, which will provide Wirral with a difficult game against one of the stronger teams in the league.
Richard McNeil
Further reading