The Final was played in front of a good crowd despite the weather. Wirral had to make changes to the team which played at Manchester 6 days ago. MATT RINGER was not available due to his collar bone injury so CONNOR MOORE came into the back row. In the backs,
JAMES ANNETTS came through training to be available to play. There were a number of changes in the reserves with 3 players making their debut for the first team, these being DAN PEERS, JIM LEVINE and ADAM GREENE. The other substitutes were JOE FURY, MARK GIDMAN, BEN LEWIS and DAN HARVEY- quite a change in the subs compared to last week.
Stockport played towards the city end with the benefit of the slight wind but the game started with heavier rain than seen towards the end of the match. From the outset it was Wirral who had the pressure on the Stockport line with players being stopped close to the line on a number of occasions and were unlucky not to score. Stockport took the lead when given a penalty 19m out in front of the posts, duly converted 0-3 (13 mins). This was followed by a good break by Stockport but only a good tackle by RHYS JAMES prevented Stockport from scoring. Wirral were doing plenty of attacking but Stockport were defending well as Wirral progressed forward. After much pressure an opening allowed TOM AKEHURST to skip through the defence to score, duly converted by RHYS JAMES, 7-3 (25 mins). Stockport reduced the lead with another
penalty from 20m in front of the posts to reduce the Wirral lead to one point, 7-6 (30 mins). Stockport again attacked down the left but as happened on a number of occasions the ball was lost and Wirral through ALFIE KIMPTON kicked the ball downfield and had Stockport penned in their 20m area. Again Wirral applied pressure and on the stroke of half time, BEN BROOKS slipped through to score, again converted by RHYS JAMES, 14-6 (half time). At this juncture comment needs to be made that Wirral had the pressure to score a couple more tries during this half, one of which was seemingly denied when a high tackle prevented a Wirral player touching down.
During the second half, the game changed with Stockport having more of the ball but the Wirral tackling kept the Stockport attack back. On 56 mins, Stockport had the chance to score when the pass to their right winger was dropped with the line at his mercy. On 62 mins, NICK HEARN was sin binned and Stockport with the heavier pack were able to apply the pressure to score two converted tries in 4 minutes, to give them a 14-20 lead. Stockport were then awarded a penalty from in front of the posts, a score would have meant Wirral would have to score twice to retake the lead, the kick hit the post and Wirral were able to clear. In the final 10 minutes, Wirral tried hard to break through the Stockport defence but chances were few and when progressing lost the ball on several occasions.
Play continued until after very little injury time it was concluded in mid field with Stockport winning the game by virtue of their improved performance in the second half.
Many of the reserves came on to play during the game and gave a good account of themselves which is promising for the seasons ahead.
Richard McNeil