This match was played with a strong wind blowing and Wirral played against the wind in the first
half, playing towards the main road.
Comment was made that MCR had many changes to their side compared to those who played
against Wirral 12 months ago, Wirral themselves had changes from 12 months ago. Following last
week’s small defeat at Leek, Wirral were able to bring back MATT RINGER at hooker, JOHNNY
CARROL resumed at scrum half. BEN BROOKS swapped with CHRIS SPEED to play at fly half. On the
subs bench, two players were making their debuts, SPENCER GRAHAM (Backs) and TOM SMITH
(Back row); the other sub was JOHN RALPH.
The game in the first few minutes was played much in the Wirral half with MCR looking very
promising with hard running players including their HONG KONG player centre Nick Bett. On 6
minutes a 15m line out led to a scrum with MCR going wide enabling their fly half to score and duly
converted, 0-7. Wirral kicked well downfield, where possible to play down in the MCR half but could
not break through the strong MCR defence. On 27 minutes, SPENCER GRAHAM (debutant) came on
in his debut in place of CHRIS SPEED. On 28 minutes, MCR scored again when Wirral did not cover all
the backs enabling MCR to score their second try, the try was not converted, 0-12. TOM SMITH
(debutant) came on for HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE.
MCR kicked long and instead of bouncing dead hit the corner flag and although Wirral cleared some
15 m, however from the line out MCR passed left and find space enabling them to score 15m from
the posts and the conversion is missed to leave MCR leading 0-17 after 38 minutes. In the next play,
Wirral make a half break and maintain play in the MCR half. There follows a yellow card to a MCR
player and from this position, the Wirral forwards edged forward with JAMES REEVE touching down
and well converted by RHYS JAMES against the wind from wide out. This was the last play of the first
half and this score gave Wirral the impetus for progress in the second half. At the start of the second
half, JOHN RALPH came on for DAN CARROL.
The start of the second half, Wirral had play in the 20m area and the forwards pushed forward
enabling JAMES REEVE to score his second try, the conversion was missed, 12-17 (46 mins). Wirral
were now playing with more vigour and a long kick downfield from RHYS JAMES gave the home side
play 15m out, the forwards collected the ball from the line out and moved forward for MATT RINGER
to score, the try was converted by RHYS JAMES 19-17 (52 mins).
The next try followed a couple of minutes later when a Wirral move some 40m out went for a kick
forward along the ground, the ball hit a MCR player and ricocheted in the air and was caught by WILL
MORRIS who ran some 20m down the touchline before passing inside to NICK HEARN, who then had
a clear run to the line (try bonus point), the conversion was missed with the ball hitting the upright,
24-17. This enterprising play from Wirral was then rewarded when a move by the backs down the
left led to ALFIE KIMPTON passing onto TOM COLE who ran into score 10m from the posts, duly
converted by RHYS to extend the lead to 31-17- (63 minutes).
Wirral then made 3 changes, HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE, DAN CARROL and CHRIS SPEED for TOM
SMITH, JOHN RALPH and TOM COLE (muscle injury). Wirral again attacked and the forwards moved
towards the MCR line and a further scorer emerged, it was JAMES REEVE again, giving him a hat-trick
on the day, again converted by RHYS to leave the score at 38-17. On 68 minutes, JOHN RALPH was

recalled to the side in view of an injury to DAN CARROL. On 68 minutes, captain NICK HEARN was
replaced by TOM SMITH.
On 72 minutes, MCR scored a try when their right winger was given space to run through the Wirral
defence to score, the conversion was missed, 38-22-giving MCR a try bonus point. The next piece of
play saw MCR back down in the Wirral 20m area, where the MCR forwards merged to force their
way over the white line near the posts to score a converted try 38-29 (75 minutes).
Wirral retaliated and took play down to the MCR 20m, on the 3 rd scrum after errors by MCR, the ball
came out and JOHNNY CARROL fed BEN BROOKS who weaved his way through the MCR defence to
run 15m to score under the posts, duly converted by RHYS to leave the score 45-29 and the end of
the game. A good response from Wirral in the second half given the difficulties they had faced in the
first half.
The second team had lost 21-48 to Fylde but remain 8 th in their league. The third team defeated
Prenton 2nds 55-7 and are now top of their league. The third team game was refereed by Angus
Southern aged 20years who was looking after his 4th game and the teams were pleased with this
addition to the Liverpool Referees Society.
Richard McNeil