Match Preview

AWAY : Saturday 5th February +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The team travel to the Wirral, to try to get back on track after last weekend’s disappointing defeat. It is not going to be easy at Birkenhead Park, in a fixture rearranged from November, as they have only lost at home to Stockport (1st) and Manchester (3rd)

Did last week’s loss make us a bad team ? Certainly not, it was just a combination of weather which did not suit our game, and an opposition who were on top of their game and played a perfect game for the conditions. The big positive for me, despite normally being a pessimist when it comes to rugby, was about the only time I thought we might not win (despite being 17v0 down at one point), was when Park scored their final try with five minutes to go, and even then when we got the final try, if there had been any time to kick off again, I could see the team snatching an unlikely victory.

Birkenhead has not been a happy venue for us, losing on our last four visits, although we did win there on our only two previous League encounters. In 2006/7, one of only two away league wins that season, and the following year one of a clean sweep of eleven away wins. The last loss in 2018, was probably one of our worst performances in recent years, only their 4th win in 24 games. We had been 24v0 down with ten minutes to play, then a Dini inspired come back fell just short at 24v21. The two before were big losses, although the first was where we found out who Richard Harryman’s friends were, as they were all at his wedding, whilst a year later it was the last game of the season (which we rarely win) against the newly crowned League Champions. The one before in 2012/3, when we were both on our way down, we gave them their first win of the season, where we had front row problems with both Glenn Chesher and Richard Harryman injured. Hooker Dave Peacock making one of only two appearances as prop, whilst Billy Coxon made one of only ten post 2000 appearances in a No3 shirt. However all records have to come to an end, and this weekend’s game is about the two current teams not the past.

Park’s only other losses this season have came away at Glossop (who have only lost at home to Stockport) and Penrith (who have lost once at home – and we know who to, and how close it was at the end). They are a game behind us, with their games in hand being a tough one away at Manchester and the difficult away trip to Douglas

TEAM : A number of changes, the biggest news is Steven Nelson and Matt Houghton who both went off at Broughton Park, are not in the team so Greg Wrathall is joined in the back row by Alistair Thompson and Dan Greenwood. Liam Hayton and Ben Leacock swap places, with Ben taking a turn on the bench. Behind the pack, Mark Carruthers moves from the wing to the centre with Danny Barker starting on the bench. Dan Lowther comes in on the wing. Dan Reid is back to take the third spot on the bench.

WEATHER : It had to happen ! After the glorious weather on the day of the postponed game, this Saturday the latest forecast is wet and windy.