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Sat 07 Jan 2017 ·  National League 3 North
Kendal
1st XV
13
19
Tries: C Harvey, A BakerConversions: C Harvey (2)Yellow Carded: R Pearl, P Lewis
Late Baker Score Avenges Home Defeat to Kendal Earlier in the Season
Andrew Broadbent9 Jan 2017 - 10:42
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Kendal once again provided stiff opposition on their home turf until a late try gave Wirral the win.
For the first game of 2017 Wirral travelled to Kendal (lying 7th) to hopefully exact revenge for the surprise defeat at home at the beginning of the season and to maintain their quest for 2nd place.
Wirral were able to recall JOE MURRAY and JAMES ANNETTS, changing the team that played Doncaster Phoenix in the last match of 2016. MATT LOON moved into the centre at the expense of SAM BROADBENT allowing ALI BAKER to resume on the left wing. The second row pairing was CHRIS TYSON and PETER LEWIS with RYAN STEAD on the bench along with CHRIS HUGHES and JOE ADNAMS, the latter returning to the first team squad after a two year absence through illness and injury.
With their first attack of the game and with good inter passing, Wirral appeared to have scored in the corner (1m from the corner flag) when CRAIG HARVEY stretched out to score only for the touch judge to indicate a foot in touch. On 4 minutes, ROB PEARL was sin binned for a tackle made not using the arms. Even at this stage Kendal were looking to kick long downfield and when Wirral ran back with the ball, two late tackles went in and no action was taken and no advantage was gained, yet even at this stage the penalty count was mounting against Wirral. A Wirral penalty from wide out hit the post.
Aided by penalties Kendal moved into the Wirral 20m area and they mauled forward but were held up over the line. From the resultant 5m scrum the Kendal No 8 picked up and fed the scrum half, James Gough, who scored from 3m out, the conversion was missed. 5-0 (20 mins). Wirral resumed on the attack and smart passing created an opening; a pass to JOE MURRAY enabled Joe to be clear only for a defender to haul him down with a high tackle. The referee awarded Wirral a penalty try with the conversion by CRAIG HARVEY. 5-7 (27 mins). Surprisingly, no action was taken by the referee despite the new directive on high tackles. However, 4 minutes later, on the half way line the referee saw fit to yellow card PAUL LEWIS for holding onto the ball on the ground.
The initiative was now with Kendal and they put pressure on Wirral with another driving maul from 23m out; however, Wirral managed to hold out with 14 players until half time and were fortunate to hold onto such a slender lead. The second half started with greater determination from Wirral and this was exemplified by a 25m run by RYAN HIGGINSON with several would be tacklers in attendance. With this possession Wirral put pressure on the Kendal defence and were held up over the line. CHRIS HUGHES came on for RYAN HIGGINSON (44 mins). With ball won from the scrum and a number of thrusts at the Kendal line, they eventually succumbed when CRAIG HARVEY crossed wide out and just failed with his conversion. 5-12 (46 mins). On 50 mins RYAN STEAD came on for PAUL LEWIS.
With continuing penalty count in Kendal’s favour they continued to apply pressure and from a 10m line out they mauled their way over the line with a second try for James Gough, but this was not converted. 10-12 (59 mins). JOE ADNAMS came on for ROB PEARL. Kendal attacked again and a short kick over the defence was caught by a Wirral player only for the referee to give a penalty to Kendal, who through Glen Weightman attempted a penalty from 45m but this went wide. On 73 minutes a penalty to Kendal was converted by Chris Park from 20m out to give Kendal a 13-12 lead and led to much dejection on the Wirral bench.
The tide then seemed to turn as Wirral were awarded consecutive penalties and with well-controlled play took themselves to the Kendal 20m area, the ball was passed left but the Kendal defence was marking well, the ball came out to ALI BAKER, 2m from the touch line, who was now faced with two defenders as they covered across, he cut inside his opposite number and made the 5m before diving over in the corner. From the touch line, a great conversion from CRAIG HARVEY gave Wirral a 13-19 lead. (77 mins). There was still time for Kendal to mount a further attack but this was subdued by Wirral and were able to play out the injury time with ease.
This was a hard fought victory by Wirral who had to dig deep into their reserves to beat a resilient Kendal side. Wirral maintain 3rd place and next week face Billingham at home, which should prove to be another competitive match.
Wirral were able to recall JOE MURRAY and JAMES ANNETTS, changing the team that played Doncaster Phoenix in the last match of 2016. MATT LOON moved into the centre at the expense of SAM BROADBENT allowing ALI BAKER to resume on the left wing. The second row pairing was CHRIS TYSON and PETER LEWIS with RYAN STEAD on the bench along with CHRIS HUGHES and JOE ADNAMS, the latter returning to the first team squad after a two year absence through illness and injury.
With their first attack of the game and with good inter passing, Wirral appeared to have scored in the corner (1m from the corner flag) when CRAIG HARVEY stretched out to score only for the touch judge to indicate a foot in touch. On 4 minutes, ROB PEARL was sin binned for a tackle made not using the arms. Even at this stage Kendal were looking to kick long downfield and when Wirral ran back with the ball, two late tackles went in and no action was taken and no advantage was gained, yet even at this stage the penalty count was mounting against Wirral. A Wirral penalty from wide out hit the post.
Aided by penalties Kendal moved into the Wirral 20m area and they mauled forward but were held up over the line. From the resultant 5m scrum the Kendal No 8 picked up and fed the scrum half, James Gough, who scored from 3m out, the conversion was missed. 5-0 (20 mins). Wirral resumed on the attack and smart passing created an opening; a pass to JOE MURRAY enabled Joe to be clear only for a defender to haul him down with a high tackle. The referee awarded Wirral a penalty try with the conversion by CRAIG HARVEY. 5-7 (27 mins). Surprisingly, no action was taken by the referee despite the new directive on high tackles. However, 4 minutes later, on the half way line the referee saw fit to yellow card PAUL LEWIS for holding onto the ball on the ground.
The initiative was now with Kendal and they put pressure on Wirral with another driving maul from 23m out; however, Wirral managed to hold out with 14 players until half time and were fortunate to hold onto such a slender lead. The second half started with greater determination from Wirral and this was exemplified by a 25m run by RYAN HIGGINSON with several would be tacklers in attendance. With this possession Wirral put pressure on the Kendal defence and were held up over the line. CHRIS HUGHES came on for RYAN HIGGINSON (44 mins). With ball won from the scrum and a number of thrusts at the Kendal line, they eventually succumbed when CRAIG HARVEY crossed wide out and just failed with his conversion. 5-12 (46 mins). On 50 mins RYAN STEAD came on for PAUL LEWIS.
With continuing penalty count in Kendal’s favour they continued to apply pressure and from a 10m line out they mauled their way over the line with a second try for James Gough, but this was not converted. 10-12 (59 mins). JOE ADNAMS came on for ROB PEARL. Kendal attacked again and a short kick over the defence was caught by a Wirral player only for the referee to give a penalty to Kendal, who through Glen Weightman attempted a penalty from 45m but this went wide. On 73 minutes a penalty to Kendal was converted by Chris Park from 20m out to give Kendal a 13-12 lead and led to much dejection on the Wirral bench.
The tide then seemed to turn as Wirral were awarded consecutive penalties and with well-controlled play took themselves to the Kendal 20m area, the ball was passed left but the Kendal defence was marking well, the ball came out to ALI BAKER, 2m from the touch line, who was now faced with two defenders as they covered across, he cut inside his opposite number and made the 5m before diving over in the corner. From the touch line, a great conversion from CRAIG HARVEY gave Wirral a 13-19 lead. (77 mins). There was still time for Kendal to mount a further attack but this was subdued by Wirral and were able to play out the injury time with ease.
This was a hard fought victory by Wirral who had to dig deep into their reserves to beat a resilient Kendal side. Wirral maintain 3rd place and next week face Billingham at home, which should prove to be another competitive match.
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