Wirral Stitch Up Carlisle

Whilst the score line suggests a very tight match, it was;the stitch up refers to the number of stitches which ROB PEARL and MARK WILLIAMS will incur on their visit to Arrowe Park when they return to the Wirral on Saturday evening.
It is 3 weeks since we played Kirkby Lonsdale and the team was selected from that squad with a couple of exceptions. JACK YARKER returned to the front row with MARK WILLIAMS coming into the side at centre in place of the unavailable (work) JAMES ANNETTS. JOE PROBERT made his first start on the left wing. The subs were CHRIS HUGHES, PAUL LEWIS and the returning JAMES REEVE. The pitch was in an ideal condition with the temperature a degree warmer than the Wirral at 2.
The match started with both defences on top with perhaps Carlisle having the edge territorially with apparent speed in the backs. The home side had one opportunity to take a penalty shot at goal but opted for a 5m line out as at this stage after one scrum Carlisle thought they had an advantage. On 16 minutes, Wirral hooker, STUART GRATTON had to retire with a shoulder injury, so MATT RINGER moved up to hooker with JAMES REEVE coming into the back row. An opportunity for Carlisle was thwarted with a last ditch tackle from CHRIS CROWLEY just short of the line. On 31 minutes the Carlisle open side Henry Wainwright was sin binned following a late tackle on Craig which created some tension between the sides.
Just before half-time Carlisle took the lead with a penalty from some 37 metres out through Grant Connon. At the break CHRIS HUGHES came on for JACK YARKER. 4 minutes into the second half quick passing by Carlisle engineered a try for winger, Ed Harper who scored 5m from the corner flag, the try was not converted but gave the home side a 8-0 lead. ROB PEARL had to leave the field with a badly cut chin which will require stitches.
Good play saw Wirral make progress down field and a particular run from MATT RINGER took play into the home 20m area and then Wirral progressed down to the Carlisle try line, where after a number of phases passing between LEE BROGAN and a forward and back again let LEE in for his first try for the club and was converted by CRAIG HARVEY. 8-7 56 minutes. This score fired up Wirral and a few minutes later were back down in the Carlisle 20m area and FRED CLARK received the ball from 10m out and powered over in the corner for his first points for the club. From the touchline CRAIG converted. 8-14 (61 minutes). Four minutes later a further visit to the Carlisle 20m area resulted in a break by JAMES REEVES who passed back inside to CHRIS CROWLEY who side stepped a couple of players to score under the posts and another conversion from Craig increased the lead to 8-21 (65 minutes).
Carlisle then applied pressure on Wirral with periods of possession and scored after several phases on the Wirral line through James Telford and converted by Grant Connon 15-21. (72 minutes). MARK WILLIAMS when defending was kicked in the head which resulted in a 4inch gash on his scalp and had to come off the field with blood pouring out. Wirral had no alternative but to put a bloodied but patched up ROB PEARL back on the field for the final 3 minutes to defend the slender lead knowing a converted try would again rob Wirral of a victory by a single point. Again Carlisle were back down again putting pressure on the Wirral line but the defence held firm although in doing so lost CRAIG HARVEY to a yellow card for a technical offence. There was still four minutes to play with Carlisle hammering away at the line but the 14 Wirral players defended strongly not giving an inch. In exasperation Carlisle flung the ball out wide only to miss the intended player, the ball was loose and CHRIS CROWLEY raced through to kick the ball into touch and the referee blew for time.
Given the games Wirral have lost this season by a few points it was good to see the team defend their lead and earn a valuable 4 points. Next week Wirral are at home to Macclesfield with a 2.15pm kick off.
Richard McNeil