Match Preview

After the lengthy trip to Billingham last week Wirral have their first home league game of the season against familiar opposition; Rossendale.

The team from Rawtenstall, like Wirral, have been playing at this level for several seasons now and kicked off this seasons campaign with a good win against Alnwick at home. They will be hoping that they fair better against us than they did last year where they were on the losing side both at home and away. At Marl Pits Wirral's forwards made the biggest contribution to a tight 8-14 win on a particularly windy day (why does it always seem to be windy at Marl Pits?). For last season's version of this fixture Wirral dominated for 60 minutes of the game but then Rossendale came back into it in the final quarter when Wirral seemed unable to get their hands on the ball. It was a relieved Wirral that eventually won 41-31.

Alnwick's comments on the game last week included comments about Rossendale's 'weighty pack, solid back line and speedy backs' so any thoughts Wirral may have about life in this league getting easier after their game last week need to be forgotten. Add these capabilities to the ever-reliable boot of Lancashire County full-back Lewis Allen and Wirral coach, Simon Verbickas, will be wanting his charges to maintain good discipline and (unlike last year) play for the full 80 mins.