When we left Wirral, heavy rail and strong winds were prevalent, however by the time we got to Derby the weather had changed with some blue skies being seen and a strong wind. We had played there once before (April 24) in a Papa John’s match where Wirral had won 40-26.
For this match and when compared to the Stockport game there were a number of changes to the team with TOM CROFT making his debut on the wing, CHRIS SPEED at fly half alongside JOHNNY CARROL at scrum half. In the forwards, CONNOR MOORE returned from injury, GRUFF ROBERTS he like BEN BROOKS was unavailable due to work commitments. The substitutes were DAN CARROL, DAN HARVEY and making his league debut JIM LEVENE.
Wirral in their new kit played with the wind advantage in the first half and there was much merit in kicking deep on this 3G pitch in order to contain the opposition.
Wirral were doing much of the attacking but having difficulty in breaking through until the 11th minute when a pass to the right winger was intercepted by Derby’s pacy winger, who raced (50m) to score 10m from the posts, duly converted 7-0. From the kick off, Wirral followed up and the Derby clearance kick was charged down and ALFIE KIMPTON was first to react to pick up and score from 20m out, converted by RHYS JAMES to level the scores at 7-7. Still the attacking came from Wirral and from an incident close to the Derby line the ball was deliberately knocked on at a 5m penalty, the Derby player was sin binned and a penalty try awarded to Wirral 7-14 (20 minutes). A minute later another infringement led to a second Derby player being sin binned.
Wirral were now looking to push home their advantage in terms of numbers on the pitch. Wirral missed scoring in the left corner and in the scrum looked to press Derby backwards and were over the line but the try was declined and obviously disappointment at not being able to press home the advantage.
Derby make a run down their right and a missed tackle created a break for a kick over the defence and their speed beat the defence to touch down under the posts, which was easily converted to draw the sides at 14 points each. Given the attacking Wirral had done this was a disappointment to be level at this point in the game. Back came Wirral and a great run by WILL MORRIS saw him burst through to score only for the referee to decline this try and 2 others in the first half. The half ended 14 all when Wirral should have been much further ahead.
Wirral were now playing against the wind and under instruction to be careful with the ball to not allow Derby to kick long downfield. Poor play gave Derby downfield possession and missed scoring in the left hand corner but on 45 mins they scrambled over for a try from close range, duly converted to give them a 21-14 lead.
A further penalty quickly taken by Wirral enabled RHYS JAMES to pass on to ALFIE KIMPTON who went through to score his second try, the conversion was missed, 21-19 (50+ mins). On 59 mins a further attack by Wirral failed near the Derby line as the ball was knocked on. Derby powered back only to miss another opportunity to score from a kick through.
On 63 minutes, three Wirral changes, JIM LEVENE, DAN HARVEY and DAN CARROL came on for HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE, CHRIS SPEED (leg injury) and JOHN PARRY.
Pressing on their line we lost the ball when better control may have brought success. Derby themselves under our posts declined a penalty and pushed forward for a try only for this to be denied as not being touched down. Derby are pressing and being held out until a long pass to the left winger enabled him to cross in the corner (bonus point try) and well converted to give Derby a 28-19 lead on 69 minutes.
It has to be said that the Wirral forwards had the edge and were able to put the push on the Derby scrum. In the 74th minute, 5m from the line a controlled push saw DAN CARROL touch down but the conversion from wide out was missed. This came when Derby suffered their 4th Yellow card of the afternoon and in the 78th minutes this was quickly followed by their 5th Y/C, whilst Wirral may not have been happy with some of the try decisions made then Derby were certainly unhappy.
In the 80th minutes although we had assumed a further 5 minutes was needed, a further line out 5m from the line was again controlled by Wirral and the try was scored by NICK HEARN wide out and duly converted by RHYS JAMES to give Wirral a 28-31 lead and 5 points.
Extra time was being played with Derby attacking until play broke down and Wirral were able to finish the game by kicking for touch.
This was a game that Wirral should have won more easily and will need to improve before next week’s game against Huddersfield whose game on Saturday was postponed.
Richard McNeil