Wirral were able to field the side selected notwithstanding there were changes from the side that had played at Sandal. JACK YARKER and CHRIS HUGHES came back into the front row in place of ADAM DON and STUART GRATTON. RYAN STEAD playing his final first team game started in the second row. CHRIS CROWLEY started at scrum half in place of ever present, TOM AKEHURST (now recovered from his dislocated shoulder), a new centre pairing of JAMES ANNETTS and SAM BROADBENT with BEN BROOKS and MARK GIDMAN on the wings with TOM COLE reverting to full back. The subs were JONNY CARROLL, MATT DALTON and ADAM DON.
Wirral played towards the clubhouse and against the strong wind in the first half. From the first play it was evident that Billingham were going to play where possible a running game, having said that a kick downfield was not dealt properly by Wirral, which gave Billingham a line out in the 20ms area, from where No 8 Anthony Jackson picked up a ball from the ensuing maul and scored close to the posts, converted by Luke Armstrong, 0-7 (6 Mins). Within 2 minutes, the away side scored again when a grubber kick exposed Wirral and any one of three Billingham players could have scored, the touch- down in the corner was by Nathan Myers, the conversion hit the post, 0-12 (8mins). All the play at this stage was coming from Billingham and Wirral were finding it difficult to get a foothold in the game and on 17 minutes scored their third try when Jackson scored his second try from close to the line, duly converted 0-19. At this stage it looked as if Wirral were going to be in for a difficult afternoon.
On 32 mins, Wirral made a number of changes with ADAM DON, MATT DALTON and JONNY CARROLL coming on for CHRIS HUGHES, RYAN STEAD and MARK GIDMAN respectively. Wirral picked up their game and were now able to contain Billingham and turned round 0-19 down at half time.
Three minutes into the second half, Billingham lost their prop to the sin bin and two minutes later BEN BROOKS forces his way over the line from 10ms out to score close to the posts, DAN HARVEY converts 7-19 (45 mins). Wirral were playing with much more aggression in this second half as they took the game to Billingham and contained them in their half of the pitch. Second yellow card awarded against Billingham. On 55mins, with the pressure exerted Wirral were rewarded when MATT DALTON crashed over by the posts and with the conversion Wirral were within striking distance, 14-19.
To put Wirral requiring two scores to win, Billingham elected to take a penalty for goal from 40m but fell short-62 mins. A long clearance down field was collected by a Billingham player who broke the first tackle and had daylight in front of him and was able to put Anthony Jackson in at the corner for his hat trick and the team’s try bonus point, well converted from the touchline, 14-26. CHRIS HUGHES and RYAN STEAD came on for SCOTT SOUTHWELL and HAYDN LONG. In the 70th minute, a long kick downfield saw CHRIS CROWLEY outpace the Billingham defence to touchdown close to the posts, again converted by DAN HARVEY 21-26. This was providing a grandstand finish but despite exerting the necessary pressure Wirral could not find a way through the Billingham defence. It was a relief to Billingham when the final whistle went but it was an encouraging and improved display from Wirral.
On the other pitch, Wirral 2nds having tied up the league last week played 2nd placed Stockport and ran out easy winners 78-0, although they will have a harder match in their cup final against Birkenhead Park in a fortnights time. Earlier in the day Merton, a touring team from London played a bunch of “ageing“Wirral players, with the home team winning 91-31 (according to the referee).

Richard McNeil

More photos of the day courtesy of the Billingham website here.