1st XV
Matches
Sat 12 Oct 2019  ·  North Premier
Wirral RFC
1st XV
Tries: J Reeve (2), J Annetts, C Harvey, S Gratton (2)Conversions: J Annetts (3)Penalties: J Annetts
36
20
Ilkley
Wirral Forwards Power to Win

Wirral Forwards Power to Win

Andrew Broadbent13 Oct 2019 - 22:01
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First win of the season comes at home against the Yorkshiremen

Wirral forwards powered the team to their first league win of the season but not before they suffered a serious injury to one of their players for the second home game running (ironically the same referee), which held up play for over 25 minutes as he received the required medical attention pending the ambulance arriving.
Following last week’s last minute loss at Morpeth there were a number of changes for the home game against Ilkley. Surprisingly both CRAIG HARVEY and ROB PEARL were available for selection with the former starting at fly-half in place of DAVE MORLEY, who had an infection (but responding to treatment). The only change in the forwards was JAMES REEVE in for assistant coach, KEITH MAHON. In the backs, LEE BROGAN started at scrum half with CHRIS SPEED and SAM BROADBENT returning to the wing and centre respectively. The subs were PAUL LEWIS, CHRIS HUGHES and JOE MURRAY.
Wirral played towards the main road with Ilkley kicking off which Wirral collected and tried to play out of this field position when perhaps they should have cleared downfield. Ilkley after a series of phases were awarded a penalty after 9 minutes and Chuckie Ramsay kicked from in front of the posts, 0-3. A few minutes later, again in the Wirral half at a maul, an unidentified Ilkley player charged in and cleared out JACK YARKER illegally, the player was injured, which the referee did not realise(again he missed it) but then awarded Ilkley a penalty for another infringement. The match was held up for over 25 minutes as both sets of medical staff attended to Jack before he was stretched off to the dressing rooms pending the arrival of the ambulance . From the penalty Ramsay converted from 30m to give Ilkley a 0-6 lead. CHRIS HUGHES came on for JACK.
It was evident by now that Wirral had dominance in the scrum and this led to the first score for Wirral with a penalty from in front of the posts by JAMES ANNETTS, 3-6. PAUL LEWIS came on for MATT RINGER. Wirral worked hard to get down into the Ilkley 20m area and from there they mauled their way towards the whitewash with JAMES REEVE being on hand to touchdown close to the touchline from where JAMES ANNETTS converted thus giving Wirral the lead at 10-6, 25 minutes. Six minutes later with play again down in the Ilkley 20m area, Wirral opted for a scrum instead of a penalty and pushed the Ilkley scrum back over the line and JAMES REEVE scored and again converted to give Wirral a 17-6 lead.
In the minutes before half-time ILKLEY were awarded a penalty 25m out but in front of the posts and surprisingly Ramsay pulled it wide. SAM BROADBENT was replaced by JOE MURRAY as he was suffering from a pulled groin, which a meant a switch in the backs line up (LEE BROGAN to fly half and CRAIG to centre). Wirral defence held up well before taking play downfield where from some 30m out but wide, JAMES ANNETTS pulled his chance wide. Wirral led 17-6 at the break.
The second half commenced at 4.15 with play being contained in the Ilkley half and in the 57th minute MATT RINGER returned to the game for the impressive FRED CLARK. After a number of phases of play controlled by the forwards in the Ilkley 20m, the ball was spun out to the backs and CRAIG HARVEY forced his way over close to the posts and easily converted by JAMES ANNETTS- 24-6 57 minutes. Wirral continued to dominate and in the 64th scored their 4th try and their first try bonus point of the season when another line out and controlled push led to STUART GRATTAN touching down wide out, the conversion was missed. 29-6. Pressure was being exerted by the home team and a good move between MATT LOON and CHRIS SPEED just failed a score in the corner. However this led to a further score through the tried and tested method when STUART GRATTAN scored again with another conversion from JAMES ANNETTS 36-6. FRED CLARK came on for CRAIG with a change round in certain positions leaving forwards in the backs. These moves certainly helped ILKLEY down the right hand side wherein the last 4 minutes they ran in 2 converted tries from long distance with Harry Wales scoring twice and both converted by Ramsay.
This win leaves Wirral in 10th place and will no doubt give the side the confidence given that all the previous matches have been lost by such small margins. Next week they are away at Kirkby Lonsdale who lie just below them in the league, kick off 3.00pm. Please check the club notice board for details of the coach departure.
Richard McNeil
P.S. Went round to see Jack on Sunday afternoon and was pleased to hear that he has strained neck muscles and was in fact out walking the dog. Good news.

Match details

Match date

Sat 12 Oct 2019

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

North Premier

League position

9
Wirral
14
Ilkley
Team overview
Further reading

Team Sponsors

Sponsor - Res-Tec
Match Sponsor - Constables
Kit Supplier - O'Neills
Club Sponsor - Gayton Cleaning Services
Main Club Sponsor - Firtree Landscapes Ltd.
Sponsor - Stange and Co
Club Sponsor - Wirral Metals
Club Sponsor - Parity Medical
Beers
Shirt Sponsor  - Vimto