Jekyll and Hyde performance

Wirral had to make a number of enforced changes to their team due to injuries and unavailability meaning two lads were making their senior debuts. James Totty who is an excellent colt and Billy Green who has come from JMU. In total there were 6 changes to the starting team with Joe Adnams switching to an unfamiliar 12 position.

The game was played on the shorter pitch on the front field and kick off was delayed by 15 minutes as some of the Kirkby boys got stuck in traffic.

When the game did start it wasn’t long before Wirral were on the scoresheet. A lineout in the Kirkby 22 was taken and driven, resulting in Jake McKenna thrusting towards the line. Just as Jake (Pudsley) was about to dive over the line Phelo appeared from nowhere and stripped the ball from Jake falling over the line; it was like taking candy from a baby. The conversion was slotted and 7 nil to the maroons.

At 20 mins Wirral were given a penalty by the referee on the halfway line and from this Brooksy easily cleared the sticks and 10 nil lead.

At this point Wirral were playing some good attacking rugby with Ben Brooks and Mark Gidman cutting through the defensive line with ease. However simple mistakes and bad decisions left Wirral rueing missed opportunities.

On 20 minutes the Kirkby boys ventured into the Wirral 22 for the first time and then came away with 7 points after strong forward work. This was a habit they would continue all day. The conversion was kicked and 10 -7

Graeme Phelan scored his second after around 30 minutes and the last play of the half saw the Kirkby boys work their way up the pitch with strong forward running and they then scored and the game was most definitely on. The halftime whistle coming with the scores 17-12.

A couple of changes were made at half time and this appeared to galvanise the Wirral team and after 20 minutes of the 2nd half Wirral were up 33 -12. This even included while having only 14 men as poor Joe Totty was yellow carded for an unknown offence. I believe it was for continuous infringements from the team.

These tries came from Timmy, JY and a fine try from James Slater after great interchange from the backs. Wirral in complete control up to this point.

However, it all went Pete Tong.

Kirkby who were still playing with passion and intensity then managed to score 3 tries in a matter of minutes as the Wirral boys appeared to be letting the Kirkby 9 and 15 run the show. The word ‘turnstiles’ come to mind and it appeared as if people were waiting for others to do the tackling.

So with 10 minutes to go the scores were 33 apiece and matters were worsened when Billy Green was sin binned for trying to intercept, only to knock it on. Not only did the referee deem it to be a penalty but gave him a yellow card.

To be fair Wirral must have realised that the unbeaten start to the season was in doubt and managed to break through the Kirkby line one more time with a clear break by Jo Adnams to take his scoring to 7 tries in 8 games.
40 -33 with two minutes remaining.

All we had to do was play the game out in the opposition half. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case and the self-destruct button was well and truly pressed.

Rather than collect the ball and keep hold of it or pump it down the pitch we managed to lose the ball in contact. The Kirkby 9 fittingly then ran through would be defenders to score under the sticks.
Conversion kicked and the final whistle was blown.

Kirkby Lonsdale deserved their draw and I must give them credit for the way they stuck at matters.
Although there was a feeling of two points lost after the game, we must realise that so far this season we have played some great rugby and would have taken our position within the league at the beginning of the season.

We have possibly put too much pressure on ourselves to play free running rugby and we need to get back to basics, but most of all enjoy our rugby and play with smiles on our faces.
I will take some of the blame for this defeat as it was myself that decided to play on the smaller pitch, when in reality this played into their hands. We certainly had the pace and ability to take them out wide.
Man of the match for this game was Ben Brooks who was excellent throughout and hit of the match was Timmy Hodson for a big hit in the second half when we were down to 14 men.
Next week we take the long journey to Fylde and we are expecting a big reaction and performance.

Donno