Depleted Wirral Put On A Courageous Display

Following the injuries incurred last week against Blaydon, I am pleased to report that both Craig and Rob are making good progress and wish them well in their recovery. With these two players injured there were a further 8 first team players not available for various reasons. With the team much changed there were 3 players making their league debut and another 4 players who have not made more than 10 appearances over the past few seasons.
The team was: FORWARDS, Jack Yarker, Stuart Gratton, Ryan Higginson, Fred Clark, Hayden Long, Matt Ringer, Tom Parry and coach, Keith Mahon. BACKS Josh Connolly, Mark Williams, Matt Loon, James Annetts, Ben Brooks, Dave Morley and Chris Crowley. SUBS Liam Keane, Adam Don and Lee Brogan. Even this team was not confirmed until late on Friday evening with players pulling out at that stage.
Morpeth took the lead in the first minute when a blind side move following a scrum, enabled fly half Hornby to run in from 30m to score, the try was not converted. 5-0 (1 minute). Over the next 10 minutes Wirral had the opportunity to take the lead but two missed penalties from JAMES ANNETTS kept the score in Morpeth’s favour.
With the possession % in their favour, Wirral were guilty of losing the ball in the tackle and in giving away too many penalties themselves and this was demonstrated by penalties for Morpeth by Hornby in the 20th, 25th and 40th minute and in between these Wirral managed one penalty from JAMES ANNETTS to leave the score at half-time 14-3 in favour of the home side. JAMES ANNETTS was yellow carded in the 32nd minute in what the referee said was for persisting penalties by the Wirral side.
At the start of the second half and with JAMES ANNETTS now back on the field the arrears were reduced with a second penalty- 14-6 (43 minutes).
On 48 minutes, the Morpeth No 8 Josh Williams was sin binned and a penalty from 10m from the touchline was converted by JAMES ANNETTS to reduce the arrears to 14-9. LEE BROGAN came on for JOSH CONNOLLY, Lee going to scrum half with CHRIS CROWLEY going back to full back. Wirral now had both the territorial and possession advantage but only resolute tackling by Morpeth kept Wirral out. LIAM KEANE came on for FRED CLARK, who had made a commendable debut. On 77 minutes, ADAM DON came on for JACK YARKER. A further yellow card to Morpeth with the home team now pinned in the 20m area.
Wirral were now pounding the home line and there were a number of phases, the ball went out wide and then back towards the posts, MATT LOON received from a couple of metres out to crash through the melee to score and the conversion by ANNETTS put Wirral in the lead for the first time 14-16. There was one minute to go as per the referee, the ball was kicked off towards the touchline and was unfortunately dropped giving Morpeth a scrum some30m out. From the scrum, the ball was spun right until the centre received and as he approached JAMES ANNETTS he was tackled but the referee deemed this as high. A yellow card was issued, the second for James and the red card followed, (The referee has intimated that sending off would be sufficient penalty- we now await his report). From the penalty the Morpeth kicker, Hornby made no mistake to give the home side a narrow 17-16 win as the referee then blew for time.
Wirral were of course disappointed that their first win had eluded them but given the inexperience and players making their debut this was a courageous display. Next week Wirral play Ilkley at the Memorial Ground at 3.00pm