The match report is brief as I was not at Burton yesterday but sat in the clubhouse with 3 others
watching the video of the game.
Burton have had a good season and are sitting third in the league, this also following a win at the
Memorial Ground in 2025 where their forwards powered through to gain the game.
The Wirral forwards were the same as played against Long Eaton 2 weeks ago with HAYDEN LONG
still out with a hand injury but good to see JOE ADNAMS appearing for his second game of the
season. In the backs MARK WILLIAMS was not available so BEN BROOKS was back at fly half. The
subs were JOE FURY, DAN HARVEY and SAM VICKERS (back after a long injury).
We missed the first 20+ minutes of the game, only to find that Wirral had taken the lead which we
understand was scored by ZANE PRETORIUS with the try not being converted, 0-5 (20 minutes
approx.). The match was being played in a strong wind which blew across the pitch. On 27 minutes
Burton scrambled over for a try through their forwards, duly converted to take the lead 7-5.
Burton were applying pressure in the Wirral 20m area, which then resulted in a Burton player being
sin-binned. Subsequently Burton had a scrum 5m out but Wirral managed to prevent a try being
scored. Wirral continued to strive and a break by TOM COLE enabled him to draw the full back
before passing to MATT RINGER who raced in from 20m to score under the posts, converted by RHYS
JAMES to give Wirral the lead again; 7-12 (37 mins). In the period up to half time a penalty to Burton
enabled the home side to have a 5m line out from which the Burton forwards forced their way over
the whitewash to score, again converted to give Burton a 14-12 lead at the break.
On 42minutes, Burton had a break and a pass inside allowed Burton to score under the posts and
increase their lead to 21-12. On 58 mins, Burton scored their bonus point try in the corner to
increase their lead to 26-12, two minutes later they scored their fifth try (out of the building at the
time)- this was converted to extend their lead to 33-12 (60 minutes). Wirral continued to press and
were rewarded with a try in the corner by ALFIE KIMPTON to reduce the deficit to 33-17.
On leaving the club early to catch my lift home only to be told that Burton had scored a 6 th try to
extend their lead to 38-17.
A stern performance from Wirral in difficult weather conditions as they now gather themselves to
concentrate on their final league game at home to Rochdale (who have climbed to 7 th in the league
after a good number of wins in 2026). This match is on 11 th April with a 3.00pm kick off. Wirral seek
an encouraging crowd to cheer them on in this important game.
Richard McNeil