YMCA struggled to keep pace with National III North rivals Wirral slipping to a 44-27 defeat at the Memorial Ground.

After an encouraging performance against derby rivals Cleckheaton, the YMCA side that travelled to the Wirral feeling confident, but theywere still missing regular first teamers through unavailability and injury.

It was a chance for the youngsters to make their mark and it wasn’t until the last 10 minutes of the game that the home side raced away with the game.

YMCA were on the scoreboard after just three minutes courtesy of a try by youngster Corey Rhodes – his second try in as many games at this level – but Simon Wilson was unlucky to miss the conversion as his effort bounced off the left upright.

Wirral hit back and were level when No8 Rob Pearl was on the end of a neat handling move and stand off Craig Harvey added the goal.

YMCA regained the lead when centre Adam Ryder snapped up Ed Barber pass which he made the most of running over 40 metres through the defence to touch down down over the line. Wilson added the goal.

After a hectic opening 10 minutes the contest settled down as the teams began to work each other out.

The home side set great store on the rolling maul, a tactic which they used to gain good ground and tie in the YM defenders.

The visitors were struggling to retain what little possession they got and the beneficiaries were the Wirral backs.

Such was the case with the game’s next try which was scored after the YM squandered possession and the home side took full advantage, getting the ball out to wing James Reeve to score and Harvey’s missed conversion saw the scores tied at 12-12.

As half-time approached the Wirral forwards set up a rolling maul which took them 60 yards up the field before releasing the ball into the backs where full-back Danny Harvey cut through to score. His brother Craig added the extras to give the home side a 19-12 at the interval.

Corey Rhodes takes the ball up for YMCA at Wirral

From the restart the home side added to their lead with a penalty from Craig Harvey after YM were caught offside, but YMCA cut the lead to three points when a neat pass by Wilson found Barber and he sprint to the line and Wilson tacked on the extra points.

Things were hotting up and when Ryder made a superb break beating a number of would be tacklers all he had to do was give the ball out to men in space out wide. Instead he elected to try and beat the extra man and in doing so got himself tackled and lost the ball which popped up into the arms of a very grateful Adam Sheldon on the wing. He simply pinned his ears back and grabbed a gift of a try which came directly from a YM mistake. Harvey missed the conversion but the score was enough to give the home side some breathing space and leaving the YM needing 2 scores. 27-19

Wilson struck back to narrow the scores once more with another YM penalty bringing the score back to 27-22

Unfortunately from that point onwards the YM lost the plot, making mistake after mistake, losing line out ball, being bullied at the maul and generally making a hash of retaining the ball, all of which served to embolden the home side. So it came as no surprise when Adam Sheldon got over for his second try of the afternoon after yet another line out was botched and the ball was quickly spread along the line while the YM were still trying to organise themselves. The conversion was wide so the scores moved on to 32-22

The Wirral pack then decided to get in on the act, and after a number of punishing mauls they were awarded a scrum near the YM line which they proceeded to win forcing the visitors back allowing the Wirral number 8 to touch the ball down over the YM line and claim the score which went unconverted. 37-22

The YM were still trying and it was left to Wilson to sneak up the blindside of the scrum and put in a neat chip to the corner, which ultimately allowed second rower Jack Housley to get the narrowest of touchdowns before being bundled into touch. Wilson missed the conversion and it looked as though the game was going to finish there but there was still a twist in the tale which somewhat summed up the YM’s day.

37-27

As full time approached a speculative kick out of defence by Wirral was going in the direction of Tom Bulloch. On the face of it the kick appeared innocuous enough but it bounced awkwardly and he failed to take it cleanly, allowing the ball to bounce over his head, strike him on the back of the heel and fly up into the air inadvertantly setting up a weight perfect pass for winger Matt Loon to run onto, leaving him to amble over the line with no opposition in sight. Harvey kicked the conversion bring the complete the scoring.

Huddersfield YMCA; Rhodes; Tetley, Bulloch, Ryder, Berry; Barber, Wilson; Moore, Wrafter, Dyke, Dyson, Bell, Hodge, Broughton, Lumb Interchange: Slater, Holmes, Housley