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Sat 27 Aug 2022
Sandbach
1st XV
23
12
Wirral Lose to Cup Holders
Andrew Broadbent28 Aug 2022 - 12:18
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An inexperienced Wirral side lose the first competitive game of three this season against the East Cheshire side.
Although we lost our Cheshire Cup game against cup holders, Sandbach, the club were represented by a very young and inexperienced side, where we had 6 players making their first team debuts and a further 4 players had only 57 appearances between them.
A number of players were not available through holiday and work commitments along with injuries to JAMES ANNETTS and TOM COLE. Alongside the above we have lost Mike BYRNE (Chester), Tom PARRY (Caldy) and Chris HUGHES (New Brighton) with Killene THORNTON returning to Northern Ireland. Jack YARKER played his last game before moving down south, Matt DALTON has retired.
Notwithstanding the above, the good support from Wirral supporters could not fault the work rate and commitment of the players on the field. Wirral played up the slope in the first half with Sandbach having a greater share of possession and territory. The home side did not break down the stubborn Wirral defence until the 25th minute when they created an overlap to score wide out; the conversion was made having missed a penalty earlier in the game. 7-0. Wirral had also missed a penalty from 30m.
There was a number of flare ups amongst the forwards which went unseen by the official. On 29 minutes, Wirral got back onto level terms when a break in mid-field by Chris CROWLEY drew the full back before putting in Tom AKEHURST who ran in from 30m to score 15 m from the posts, converted by Mark WILLIAMS. 7-7 (29 mins).
Further pressure from Sandbach, saw a reverse pass open up the Wirral defence allowing the home side prop to score, thus a conversion and a further penalty extended the lead to 17-7 at half time.
Shortly after half time, Wirral made the following changes, MATT RINGER, HARRY WALMSLEY, RICHARD FLOOK and LEWIS HAYES came on for STU GRATTON, JACK YARKER, BEN BROOKS and JOSH STEAD respectively.
Wirral now mounting pressure on Sandbach and were rewarded when a break by JAMES REEVE put in CHRIS CROWLEY who ran in from 20m, the conversion was missed. In the meantime, Sandbach scored 2 further penalties to end the scoring at 23-12. Wirral’s last change was young JACK SMITH on for JAMES REEVE. The final quarter saw Wirral exerting pressure on Sandbach but handling breakdowns forestalled progress the young Wirral side were making.
The team was: FORWARDS Josh Yarker, Stuart Gratton , Steve Brooks, Hayden Long, James Reeve, Nick Hearn, Rob Pearl, Josh Stead- BACKS Chris Crowley, Tom Akehurst, George Burrows, Ben Brooks, Jacob Mitchell, Evan Robinson and Mark Williams Subs: Matt Ringer, Harry Walmsley, Richard Flook, Lewis Hayes and Josh Smith.
This Saturday sees the start of the league with a home game against Blackburn, we look forward to seeing all our supporters back at the Memorial Ground.
Richard McNeil
A number of players were not available through holiday and work commitments along with injuries to JAMES ANNETTS and TOM COLE. Alongside the above we have lost Mike BYRNE (Chester), Tom PARRY (Caldy) and Chris HUGHES (New Brighton) with Killene THORNTON returning to Northern Ireland. Jack YARKER played his last game before moving down south, Matt DALTON has retired.
Notwithstanding the above, the good support from Wirral supporters could not fault the work rate and commitment of the players on the field. Wirral played up the slope in the first half with Sandbach having a greater share of possession and territory. The home side did not break down the stubborn Wirral defence until the 25th minute when they created an overlap to score wide out; the conversion was made having missed a penalty earlier in the game. 7-0. Wirral had also missed a penalty from 30m.
There was a number of flare ups amongst the forwards which went unseen by the official. On 29 minutes, Wirral got back onto level terms when a break in mid-field by Chris CROWLEY drew the full back before putting in Tom AKEHURST who ran in from 30m to score 15 m from the posts, converted by Mark WILLIAMS. 7-7 (29 mins).
Further pressure from Sandbach, saw a reverse pass open up the Wirral defence allowing the home side prop to score, thus a conversion and a further penalty extended the lead to 17-7 at half time.
Shortly after half time, Wirral made the following changes, MATT RINGER, HARRY WALMSLEY, RICHARD FLOOK and LEWIS HAYES came on for STU GRATTON, JACK YARKER, BEN BROOKS and JOSH STEAD respectively.
Wirral now mounting pressure on Sandbach and were rewarded when a break by JAMES REEVE put in CHRIS CROWLEY who ran in from 20m, the conversion was missed. In the meantime, Sandbach scored 2 further penalties to end the scoring at 23-12. Wirral’s last change was young JACK SMITH on for JAMES REEVE. The final quarter saw Wirral exerting pressure on Sandbach but handling breakdowns forestalled progress the young Wirral side were making.
The team was: FORWARDS Josh Yarker, Stuart Gratton , Steve Brooks, Hayden Long, James Reeve, Nick Hearn, Rob Pearl, Josh Stead- BACKS Chris Crowley, Tom Akehurst, George Burrows, Ben Brooks, Jacob Mitchell, Evan Robinson and Mark Williams Subs: Matt Ringer, Harry Walmsley, Richard Flook, Lewis Hayes and Josh Smith.
This Saturday sees the start of the league with a home game against Blackburn, we look forward to seeing all our supporters back at the Memorial Ground.
Richard McNeil
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