BackSat 02 Apr 2022 ·  North Premier
Macclesfield
1st XV
53
21
Tries: N Hearn, J Reeve, J AdnamsConversions: D Harvey (3)
Wirral Fight Not Enough at Macclesfield
Andrew Broadbent4 Apr 2022 - 10:33
Challenging matches continue for Wirral as they travelled to Macclesfield to face a well organised team, with fifteen players that were much changed from the reverse fixture at home in December.
Wirral had a new front row with props, SCOTT SOUTHWELL and ADAM DON, with regular props MIKE BYRNE, JACK YARKER and CHRIS HUGHES all injured. JOE ADNAMS came into the second row to join MATT DALTON. In the centres were TOM COLE and BEN BROOKS, with the subs being RYAN STEAD, PAUL LEWIS and LEWIS HAYES.
The ground was bathed in sunshine with a sharp wind but during the game we had a flurry of hail and sleet. The ground itself was ideal for rugby.
Wirral made an encouraging start and could not capitalise on a half-break by NICK HEARN. On 9mins Macc thought they had scored in the corner only for the referee to deem they were held up over the line. On 15mins Macc turned down an easy penalty opportunity to go for a 5m line out, however they kicked the ball dead. The first score did not come until the 20th min when the Macc winger wriggled through to score near the posts, duly converted 7-0.
From the next period of play, captain CHRIS CROWLEY went off injured and for HIA purposes as he jumped to contest a high ball. RYAN STEAD came on to join the forwards with TOM PARRY having to go into the backs again! A second Macc try soon followed 12-0(23 mins).
The next play saw spirited play by Wirra, which took them deep into the Macc 20m area, from where a Macc forward was sin binned. From this position Wirral exerted pressure and were rewarded when NICK HEARN crashed over 10m from the posts, duly converted by DAN HARVEY, 12-7 (33 mins). At this stage Wirral were in the game and looking to hold out until half time. Wirral were causing disruption to the Macc line outs and managed to steal a throw in when Macc had a 5m line out. Pressure was relieved with a good break by KILLENE THORNTON and was eventually tackled when MACC numbers got back to stop progress. In the 47th minute of the half with a Macc move from the base of the scrum gave the right winger an easy run in. 17-7 (half time).
No sooner had the second half started when the Macc No 8 broke through the Wirral defence to score, converted 24-7. On 46 mins PAUL LEWIS and LEWIS HAYES came on for MATT DALTON and ADAM DON respectively. 53 mins saw the experienced Macc scrum half Sam Stelmaszek (ex Sale), work his way through the defence to score and a minute later, missed tackles enabled Macc to score again 38-7. Wirral were then down to 14 men when KILLENE THORNTON was sin binned for an innocuous offence, this was quickly followed by Macc running in another two unconverted tries 48-7. SCOTT SOUTHWELL was replaced by LEWIS HAYES.
JAMES REEVE came on for NICK HEARN and with his first touch of the ball sliced through the Macc defence to score close to the posts, converted by DAN HARVEY 48-14,69 mins.
A cross kick of some 40m caught out the Wirral defender as he misjudged his leap allowing the Macc played to catch and dive over 53-14. With the last play of the game, in the 47th minute of this half, Wirral put pressure on the Macc pack in the 20m area and mauled their way over the line with JOE ADNAMS getting the touch- down, his first try for some years , converted by DAN to leave the score 53-21.
With the level of injuries in the first team squad it is evident that Wirral need to add depth to their squad and attract players with greater experience.
Richard McNeil
The ground was bathed in sunshine with a sharp wind but during the game we had a flurry of hail and sleet. The ground itself was ideal for rugby.
Wirral made an encouraging start and could not capitalise on a half-break by NICK HEARN. On 9mins Macc thought they had scored in the corner only for the referee to deem they were held up over the line. On 15mins Macc turned down an easy penalty opportunity to go for a 5m line out, however they kicked the ball dead. The first score did not come until the 20th min when the Macc winger wriggled through to score near the posts, duly converted 7-0.
From the next period of play, captain CHRIS CROWLEY went off injured and for HIA purposes as he jumped to contest a high ball. RYAN STEAD came on to join the forwards with TOM PARRY having to go into the backs again! A second Macc try soon followed 12-0(23 mins).
The next play saw spirited play by Wirra, which took them deep into the Macc 20m area, from where a Macc forward was sin binned. From this position Wirral exerted pressure and were rewarded when NICK HEARN crashed over 10m from the posts, duly converted by DAN HARVEY, 12-7 (33 mins). At this stage Wirral were in the game and looking to hold out until half time. Wirral were causing disruption to the Macc line outs and managed to steal a throw in when Macc had a 5m line out. Pressure was relieved with a good break by KILLENE THORNTON and was eventually tackled when MACC numbers got back to stop progress. In the 47th minute of the half with a Macc move from the base of the scrum gave the right winger an easy run in. 17-7 (half time).
No sooner had the second half started when the Macc No 8 broke through the Wirral defence to score, converted 24-7. On 46 mins PAUL LEWIS and LEWIS HAYES came on for MATT DALTON and ADAM DON respectively. 53 mins saw the experienced Macc scrum half Sam Stelmaszek (ex Sale), work his way through the defence to score and a minute later, missed tackles enabled Macc to score again 38-7. Wirral were then down to 14 men when KILLENE THORNTON was sin binned for an innocuous offence, this was quickly followed by Macc running in another two unconverted tries 48-7. SCOTT SOUTHWELL was replaced by LEWIS HAYES.
JAMES REEVE came on for NICK HEARN and with his first touch of the ball sliced through the Macc defence to score close to the posts, converted by DAN HARVEY 48-14,69 mins.
A cross kick of some 40m caught out the Wirral defender as he misjudged his leap allowing the Macc played to catch and dive over 53-14. With the last play of the game, in the 47th minute of this half, Wirral put pressure on the Macc pack in the 20m area and mauled their way over the line with JOE ADNAMS getting the touch- down, his first try for some years , converted by DAN to leave the score 53-21.
With the level of injuries in the first team squad it is evident that Wirral need to add depth to their squad and attract players with greater experience.
Richard McNeil
Further reading