BackSat 13 Dec 2025 · Regional 1 North West
1st XVBlackburn
22
26
Interception Foils Wirral's Final Drive
Andrew Broadbent15 Dec 2025 - 13:09
In a close game an interception try means Blackburn come out victors
For the first of the return fixtures of the season, Wirral had to make a number of changes from the team that played against Burton and Long Eaton. Unfortunately, first team regulars HAYDEN LONG, BEN BROOKS and RHYS JAMES were not available due to injury and other commitments. In the centres ALFIE KIMPTON returned to accompany GRUFF ROBERTS. TOM CROFT who had hamstring injury last week was able to play but not able to run at 100% pace. In the pack, ADAM DON returned to the front row in place of DAN CARROL. JACK BRUCE who made his debut last week in the second row was not available thus CONNOR MOORE played there; making it one of Wirral’s smallest second
row partnership but they played well at the line outs throughout the game. The back row was NICK HEARN, HARRY CROPPER- JOYCE and JIM LEVENE. The subs were DAN CARROL, TOM SMITH and last week’s second team hero BEN LEWIS.
There was a slight wind blowing across the ground and towards the clubhouse with Wirral playing towards the main road in the first half.
Initially play was in mid-field and on 8 minutes with play in the Wirral 20m area, BB maintained the ball, moved forward and then they broke a tackle to cross close to the posts and duly converted, 0-7 (9mins). Wirral quickly replied when from a 5m line out they pressured the BB line and led to ALFIE KIMPTON running through to score close to the posts and converted by MARK WILLIAMS, 7-7 (12 mins). Given the amount of rain we have had over the past fortnight one has to comment on the good condition of the field for rugby.
On 16 mins, BB have a 5m line out and from this position they score their second try and duly converted to give BB the lead at 7-14 (18 mins). Wirral themselves then applied pressure on BB and appear to have scored but ruled out by the referee who deemed not touched down. Despite a number of penalties against BB in the 20m area and a final warning by the referee against BB, no action taken. With the penalty a 10m line out taken and despite continued pressure on the BB line, Wirral could not cross the BB line. JOHN RALPH substituted by DAN CARROL. One of the benefits demonstrated by BB was their ability to hold onto the ball and gradually move forward, whereas Wirral tried to do the same but after some time tend to lose the ball. After progress up the field, BB themselves had a try disallowed (not touched down). Wirral clear and press forward in the hope of scoring before half-time but did not succeed. BB themselves have a penalty under the posts and instead of taking a penalty BB went for a scrum with a view of pushing the Wirral pack back but managed to hold the BB attack. Half time arrived 7-14.
At the start of the second half, TOM SMITH came on for HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE. Wirral attacking with more interest and soon have a 5m line out in their favour resulted in MATT RINGER crossing after great push forward from Wirral. 5m from the touch line the conversion by MARK WILLIAMS
was made to equalise the scores at 14-14 all (43 minutes).
On 47 mins, BB scored a controversial try in the right hand corner. There was a long discussion over the verdict, consulted the BB linesman (an ex referee) who advised the try being scored. Even the BLACKBURN players advised that the player had his foot in touch by some margin. The try is given but the conversion was missed 14-19. The linesman declined to further participate in the game.
Wirral continued to press and back in the BB 20m area, a BB kick was charged down but bounced into touch rather than going over the try line. This pressure led to Wirral being awarded a penalty in front of the posts and was goaled by MARK WILLIAMS, 17-19 (54 mins).
In the 59th minute with Wirral in the 20m area led to another penalty against BB and the referee gives a yellow card to a BB player (a bit late given the number of penalties conceded by BB). From this position, Wirral press forward and are over the try line only for the referee to decline the score again. HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE comes on for TOM SMITH.
The match was then decided with Wirral on the attack and a pass down the line was intercepted by the BB full back who then had a clear 55m run to the try line thus extending the BB lead to 17-26 (62 mins).
Wirral continued to attack and a kick through by ZANE PRETORIUS was chased by WILL MORRIS with TOM CROFT behind. Pressure on the BB player resulted in the ball coming loose, the Wirral players raced forward over the try line and at first it appeared WILL MORRIS has touched down but the fact is that TOM CROFT was the scorer. The try was 5m from the touch line and the conversion just missed the posts, 22-26 (72 mins).
Wirral continued to apply pressure but BB just held onto the ball ploughing up the middle with their forwards until the final whistle.
At the final whistle it was disappointing from a Wirral point of view in so much as two tries were declined, a try awarded which should have been declined and the final blow being the interception.
Next week, Wirral are away at Stockport.
The second team, much weaker this week were well beaten at Chester, whilst the third team against Ellesmere Port 2nds won 49-30 to retain their strong position in the league.
Richard McNeil
row partnership but they played well at the line outs throughout the game. The back row was NICK HEARN, HARRY CROPPER- JOYCE and JIM LEVENE. The subs were DAN CARROL, TOM SMITH and last week’s second team hero BEN LEWIS.
There was a slight wind blowing across the ground and towards the clubhouse with Wirral playing towards the main road in the first half.
Initially play was in mid-field and on 8 minutes with play in the Wirral 20m area, BB maintained the ball, moved forward and then they broke a tackle to cross close to the posts and duly converted, 0-7 (9mins). Wirral quickly replied when from a 5m line out they pressured the BB line and led to ALFIE KIMPTON running through to score close to the posts and converted by MARK WILLIAMS, 7-7 (12 mins). Given the amount of rain we have had over the past fortnight one has to comment on the good condition of the field for rugby.
On 16 mins, BB have a 5m line out and from this position they score their second try and duly converted to give BB the lead at 7-14 (18 mins). Wirral themselves then applied pressure on BB and appear to have scored but ruled out by the referee who deemed not touched down. Despite a number of penalties against BB in the 20m area and a final warning by the referee against BB, no action taken. With the penalty a 10m line out taken and despite continued pressure on the BB line, Wirral could not cross the BB line. JOHN RALPH substituted by DAN CARROL. One of the benefits demonstrated by BB was their ability to hold onto the ball and gradually move forward, whereas Wirral tried to do the same but after some time tend to lose the ball. After progress up the field, BB themselves had a try disallowed (not touched down). Wirral clear and press forward in the hope of scoring before half-time but did not succeed. BB themselves have a penalty under the posts and instead of taking a penalty BB went for a scrum with a view of pushing the Wirral pack back but managed to hold the BB attack. Half time arrived 7-14.
At the start of the second half, TOM SMITH came on for HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE. Wirral attacking with more interest and soon have a 5m line out in their favour resulted in MATT RINGER crossing after great push forward from Wirral. 5m from the touch line the conversion by MARK WILLIAMS
was made to equalise the scores at 14-14 all (43 minutes).
On 47 mins, BB scored a controversial try in the right hand corner. There was a long discussion over the verdict, consulted the BB linesman (an ex referee) who advised the try being scored. Even the BLACKBURN players advised that the player had his foot in touch by some margin. The try is given but the conversion was missed 14-19. The linesman declined to further participate in the game.
Wirral continued to press and back in the BB 20m area, a BB kick was charged down but bounced into touch rather than going over the try line. This pressure led to Wirral being awarded a penalty in front of the posts and was goaled by MARK WILLIAMS, 17-19 (54 mins).
In the 59th minute with Wirral in the 20m area led to another penalty against BB and the referee gives a yellow card to a BB player (a bit late given the number of penalties conceded by BB). From this position, Wirral press forward and are over the try line only for the referee to decline the score again. HARRY CROPPER-JOYCE comes on for TOM SMITH.
The match was then decided with Wirral on the attack and a pass down the line was intercepted by the BB full back who then had a clear 55m run to the try line thus extending the BB lead to 17-26 (62 mins).
Wirral continued to attack and a kick through by ZANE PRETORIUS was chased by WILL MORRIS with TOM CROFT behind. Pressure on the BB player resulted in the ball coming loose, the Wirral players raced forward over the try line and at first it appeared WILL MORRIS has touched down but the fact is that TOM CROFT was the scorer. The try was 5m from the touch line and the conversion just missed the posts, 22-26 (72 mins).
Wirral continued to apply pressure but BB just held onto the ball ploughing up the middle with their forwards until the final whistle.
At the final whistle it was disappointing from a Wirral point of view in so much as two tries were declined, a try awarded which should have been declined and the final blow being the interception.
Next week, Wirral are away at Stockport.
The second team, much weaker this week were well beaten at Chester, whilst the third team against Ellesmere Port 2nds won 49-30 to retain their strong position in the league.
Richard McNeil
Further reading