Wallasey win again

There was a positive vibe around cross lane on match day with everyone wanting to prove themselves and play for the badge. There was a rarity of only 1 person late for meet time. After a short, sharp and intense warm up Wallasey were ready to defend their fortress.
Southport had a couple of cry offs and visited with 13 men, Tim Dabek and Kieran Mcelduff were kind enough to offer their services so that they would get a full game.

The weather conditions in the buildup to the match were wet and windy. Once the final bits of warm up were completed the sun had come out and the conditions seemed perfect.

The game started off with both teams going at each other with both enjoying different amounts of possession with each teams defences holding out. It was like a game of chess with one bad move and the other team would steal the ball back.

25 minutes gone and after a kick for the corner Wallasey set up in a line out hoping for a catch and drive. Tim Halls throws the ball in but the wind seemed to take the ball and the ball didn’t go straight. Southport scrum, Tim Halls wanted to make up for his poor line out throw and hooked the ball back, we won it against the head!!! A couple of quick pick and goes and a line break from kenny Burton, Wallasey had Southport on the back foot. Tim halls picked and drew in 2 Southport defenders and passed out to Jack Liddell who then passed the ball onto Kyle Birch for his first try for Wallasey. Cormac Nolan picked up where he left off with another conversion. Kenny Burton has to come off injured after cutting his head open on a Southport players knee.

Wallasey had now gathered momentum and looked in control and from open play Doyle made a break by cutting inside his man, after drawing another player he popped it out to Kyle Birch who over stretched and stumbled, looked up and seen franny and somehow managed to offload back to Jonny Francis for brilliant team try.
Unfortunately Kyle had to come off after dislocating his shoulder in the process. Cormac Nolan on point again.

With Wallasey on the rampage and having good amounts of possession always looking threatening Southport tried to clear their lines when defending within their 22. Adam Burkett was on hand to catch the ball and return up the field evading a would be tackler. After getting snagged he popped the ball out to keep it alive, after a crash from Neil Williams and quick ball created, mark Trevitt crashed up the field, Adam had followed the play and picked and popped out to Tim halls who then passed back inside to Jonny Francis who then again passed onto Neil Williams to side step his man and score another well worked Wallasey try. Cormac again adding the extra points. Wallasey went into the half time 21-0.

With the subs eager to get onto the pitch and make an impact and with Wallasey in control Rob Welsh made some substitutions. This seemed to swing the balance in the game with Wallasey letting the pressure off and Southport racing out of the blocks. Southport executed some quick ball and then moved the ball out wide, this caught Wallasey off guard and after a couple of missed tackles Southport scored under the sticks. Kick was converted and the momentum had swung. Wallasey looked to react but seemed have asleep since the restart and an almost identical try was scored with a couple of missed tackles. This time though there were some cover tackles pushing the Southport player to score out wide. Kick missed.

Under the posts Tim Halls and Rob Welsh rallied the troops to react. The game kicked off and this time Wallasey were much more improved in the tackle situation not missing another tackle. The game was once again a close contested game with some brilliant phases and both teams wanting to play some expansive rugby. In a kicking game back and forth Adam Burkett came off the better with a ranging touch finder deep in the Southport 22. Unfortunately Southport retained their possession from the line out and went up the pitch into safety.

Wallasey’s fitness was showing and the penalty count increased. A kick in range for Cormac Nolan and with the score at 21-12 wallasey wanted to extend their lead. Cormac obliged 24-12.

This seemed to rile Southport up and after Wallasey conceding a few stupid penalties, Southport began to capitalise with quick tap penalties and with Wallasey not reacting quick enough. Again Southport scored and converted the kick. After the restart and some phase play deep in the Southport 22, Southport concede another penalty Nigel Brierley saw a gap and went for a quick tap penalty taking everyone by surprise and scoring in the corner. Brilliant quick thinking from Nigel. With Cormac Nolan off the field up stepped Adam Burkett, the kick was 5 meters out from the line with the wind against him. Adam kicks through the ball and slots the kick, what a superb kick making it 31-19.

Wallasey kept giving away silly penalties and Southport punished us once more scoring out wide with one of the final plays of the game. Kick was missed and the game finished 31-24.

Wallasey remain unbeaten at home, undefeated under the leadership on the pitch from Tim Halls.
Welcome back into the mix Jonny Francis, with a man of the match performance and a try to your name. Well done to Andy jenks on your debut match for Wallasey all the hard work paying off in training.
Brilliant performance by all but we have to react to penalties and play to the referee and not how we think the game should be played. Our tries were well worked with plenty of support. We wish Kenny Burton and Kyle Birch speedy recoveries from their injuries and hope they return into the mix soon enough. St Edwards old boys await on Saturday and we will have to bring our A game to come away with a win.