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Sat 14 Sep 2019 · North Premier
1st XVRossendale
Tries: J Reeve, H Long , J ConnollyConversions: J Annetts (2)Penalties: J Annetts
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27
Wirral Lose Out in the Last Minute
Andrew Broadbent17 Sep 2019 - 08:12
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An error-strewn performance by Wirral result in losing the first home game of the season.
For the first home league game of the season, Wirral had to make a number of changes to the team that played at Billingham. ROB PEARL, TOM PARRY and JOSH STEAD were not available for various personal reasons and CHRIS CROWLEY was still recovering from the rib injury he received last week. RYAN HIGGINSON started in the front row with CHRIS HUGHES on the subs benches. The back-row was therefore MATT DALTON, MATT RINGER and JAMES REEVE. The backs were, JOE MURRAY, DAVE MORLEY, MARK GIDMAN, CRAIG HARVEY, SAM BROADBENT, CHRIS SPEED and JAMES ANNETTS. The subs were, CHRIS HUGHES, MIKE WARREN and JOSH CONNOLLY.
Wirral played towards the road into the breeze and from the first penalty, Lewis Allan put Ross into the lead with a penalty from some 40m. In the first 10 mins Ross lost their flanker Phil Mills to a knee injury. Twice Wirral had put the ball down the line only for passes to not find their man as the Ross defence came up quickly and put them under pressure. The away side took play into the Wirral 20m area and built up pressure before passing wide giving fly half, Lewis Allen an easy catch and touchdown, the try was converted. 0-10 (10 mins).
Wirral in possession saw JAMES ANNETTS make a half break down the right wing only to be “coat hangered” by the ex Sale player, Chris Mayor- an instant yellow card- personally I thought it should have been red. The home team were gradually working their way into the game as they controlled possession and exerting pressure on the Ross line, which eventually led to JAMES REEVE crossing 10m from the posts and duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 7-10 (24 minutes). CHRIS SPEED went off with a knee injury and was replaced by JOSH CONNOLLY, who went to full back with JAMES ANNETTS moving to wing. A grubber kick from CRAIG HARVEY almost caught Ross out as JAMES ANNETTS reached the ball at the same time as the opposition player, a catch would have seen a clear run to the line. However position downfield allowed Wirral to build pressure, JAMES REEVE was held up over the line but from the next thrust, HAYDEN LONG managed to get over the whitewash and was awarded the touchdown, the try was well converted by JAMES ANNETTS from near the touchline. 14-10 (32 minutes).
In the minutes before half time, Wirral lost the ball in midfield and a quick counter attack allowed Ross centre, Tom Bedlow to have a clear run to the Wirral line and with the conversion, Ross retake the lead 14-17 (38 minutes). From the kick off, Ross drop the ball and picked up by a player in an offside position gave Wirral the penalty to take play deep in the Ross 20m area. Another penalty which was quickly taken allowed JOSH CONNOLLY to score his first try for the first team in the corner. The conversion was missed but gave Wirral a 19-17 lead at half-time. CHRIS HUGHES came on for JACK YARKER.
Both teams were making progress when in possession but tended to lose the ball when in a threatening position. This all changed in the 48th minute when a Wirral player was caught off-side in front of the posts, which was easily converted by Ross full back, Brad Cave to give the away side the lead once again 19-20 (48 minutes). RYAN HIGGINSON came off with a slight shoulder injury to be replaced by JACK YARKER 55mins. Wirral take the lead again with an easy penalty for JAMES ANNETTS 22-20 (55 minutes). Wirral used the breeze to take play downfield with a view to containing Ross in their own half. Wirral had possession in the Ross 20m area and a number of thrusts were repelled; the ball came out right and SAM BROADBENT forced his way over in the corner only for the touch judge to raise his flag and deny Wirral the try- 57 minutes.
Wirral were keeping Ross at bay and the away team where now getting anxious when taking a penalty from 50m out against the wind and somewhat later tried a drop goal, which did not rise above the crossbar. Wirral relieved pressure with a good run out of defence by MATT RINGER making some 40m. From this position Wirral kept play in the Ross half and this looked possible as the minutes passed by with every tackle being cheered by the small crowd until one missed tackle allowed Ross to mount an attack, which split the Wirral defence, JAMES ANNETTS got back to tackle but a pass enabled Tom Waring to cross unopposed close to the posts, duly converted, 22-27- 78 minutes. Wirral make a late substitution with the mercurial MIKE WARREN coming on for PAUL LEWIS. The final couple of minutes saw the ROSS forwards keep possession between them until the final whistle went.
This was a game Wirral should have won as looking back on the game, the Ross tries all came from mistakes by Wirral and this coupled with the loss of the ball when in good positions did not help their cause . Game management needs to improve when more use of the breeze in the second half would have enabled Wirral to have applied more pressure.
Next week, Wirral are away at “neighbours” Lymm with a 3.00pm kick off.
Richard McNeil
Wirral played towards the road into the breeze and from the first penalty, Lewis Allan put Ross into the lead with a penalty from some 40m. In the first 10 mins Ross lost their flanker Phil Mills to a knee injury. Twice Wirral had put the ball down the line only for passes to not find their man as the Ross defence came up quickly and put them under pressure. The away side took play into the Wirral 20m area and built up pressure before passing wide giving fly half, Lewis Allen an easy catch and touchdown, the try was converted. 0-10 (10 mins).
Wirral in possession saw JAMES ANNETTS make a half break down the right wing only to be “coat hangered” by the ex Sale player, Chris Mayor- an instant yellow card- personally I thought it should have been red. The home team were gradually working their way into the game as they controlled possession and exerting pressure on the Ross line, which eventually led to JAMES REEVE crossing 10m from the posts and duly converted by JAMES ANNETTS. 7-10 (24 minutes). CHRIS SPEED went off with a knee injury and was replaced by JOSH CONNOLLY, who went to full back with JAMES ANNETTS moving to wing. A grubber kick from CRAIG HARVEY almost caught Ross out as JAMES ANNETTS reached the ball at the same time as the opposition player, a catch would have seen a clear run to the line. However position downfield allowed Wirral to build pressure, JAMES REEVE was held up over the line but from the next thrust, HAYDEN LONG managed to get over the whitewash and was awarded the touchdown, the try was well converted by JAMES ANNETTS from near the touchline. 14-10 (32 minutes).
In the minutes before half time, Wirral lost the ball in midfield and a quick counter attack allowed Ross centre, Tom Bedlow to have a clear run to the Wirral line and with the conversion, Ross retake the lead 14-17 (38 minutes). From the kick off, Ross drop the ball and picked up by a player in an offside position gave Wirral the penalty to take play deep in the Ross 20m area. Another penalty which was quickly taken allowed JOSH CONNOLLY to score his first try for the first team in the corner. The conversion was missed but gave Wirral a 19-17 lead at half-time. CHRIS HUGHES came on for JACK YARKER.
Both teams were making progress when in possession but tended to lose the ball when in a threatening position. This all changed in the 48th minute when a Wirral player was caught off-side in front of the posts, which was easily converted by Ross full back, Brad Cave to give the away side the lead once again 19-20 (48 minutes). RYAN HIGGINSON came off with a slight shoulder injury to be replaced by JACK YARKER 55mins. Wirral take the lead again with an easy penalty for JAMES ANNETTS 22-20 (55 minutes). Wirral used the breeze to take play downfield with a view to containing Ross in their own half. Wirral had possession in the Ross 20m area and a number of thrusts were repelled; the ball came out right and SAM BROADBENT forced his way over in the corner only for the touch judge to raise his flag and deny Wirral the try- 57 minutes.
Wirral were keeping Ross at bay and the away team where now getting anxious when taking a penalty from 50m out against the wind and somewhat later tried a drop goal, which did not rise above the crossbar. Wirral relieved pressure with a good run out of defence by MATT RINGER making some 40m. From this position Wirral kept play in the Ross half and this looked possible as the minutes passed by with every tackle being cheered by the small crowd until one missed tackle allowed Ross to mount an attack, which split the Wirral defence, JAMES ANNETTS got back to tackle but a pass enabled Tom Waring to cross unopposed close to the posts, duly converted, 22-27- 78 minutes. Wirral make a late substitution with the mercurial MIKE WARREN coming on for PAUL LEWIS. The final couple of minutes saw the ROSS forwards keep possession between them until the final whistle went.
This was a game Wirral should have won as looking back on the game, the Ross tries all came from mistakes by Wirral and this coupled with the loss of the ball when in good positions did not help their cause . Game management needs to improve when more use of the breeze in the second half would have enabled Wirral to have applied more pressure.
Next week, Wirral are away at “neighbours” Lymm with a 3.00pm kick off.
Richard McNeil
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