End of the season and an end of an era....

Saturday saw Billingham travel to Wirral for the last time.

One of our longest treks of the season saw Billingham out to end the season on a high.

Billingham started at a frantic pace. Anth Jackson was at the forefront of everything. Tackling, carrying and turnovers. With 300 man Peter Evans pulling the strings Billingham were able to get into the Wirral half. A cleverly worked kick saw Billingham a 50-22. Ed Graham hit Dan Burns in the line out. Quick ball from Husband saw the ball hit the midfield through Luke Wilson. Husband used the big runners of Clark, Whinn and Spoors to hit through the middle. An inside ball from Wilson found the elusive winger Hopley who was caught with 5 metres to go. Nathan Myers picked up and went only to be driven back. Billingham inches away from the tryline. Anth Jackson spotted a gap and an opportunistic dart saw him score the first try of the game. Luke Armstrong converted 0-7

Nathan Myers was next on the score sheet. Again Husband used his forwards well, battering through the middle. This time Armstrong made the burst up the middles Quick recycled ball found Evans who sent Hopley through the a gap. A clever grubber cross field found the spritely Myers who caught and dived over the line. Conversion missed 0-12.

Billingham had the ascendancy. The referees calls were going Billinghams way. Billingham continually marched upfield and were thwarted each time by a robust Wirral defence. However Anth Jackson managed to get the better of a Wirral defence to score his second of the game with Luke Armstrong converting. 0-19

A somewhat shortened half despite injuries saw both sides stay out on the field.

Now we often talk about a game of two halves and sometimes there is some exaggeration, however not in this case. Whatever the coaches said to Wirral, worked. They were a different team. They found gaps, they won turnovers and they pinned Billingham back in their own 22 for much of the half.

2 consecutive yellow cards for Elliott Husband and Joe Spoors meant Billingham were with 14 men for 20 minutes of the second half which made it more difficult.

On the back of the yellow cards Wirral scored to well worked tries which were duly converted.

On 65 minutes, Jobe Roxby scooped the ball up from a wayward Wirral kick,. Stepping through 2 defenders, Roxby put on the afterburners reaching the Wirral 22. With only the full back to beat Roxby found Anth Jackson on his shoulder who ran in evading a last ditch tacker to score his 3rd of the game. Roxby converted 14-26

Wirral werent done. They had smelt blood. They cam straight back at Billingham. Tiring defence meant gaps appeared and Wirral exploited and again scored to the right of the posts. 21-26.

The game went into a tense last 10 minutes. Billingham were now coming out on top. They were winning the scrums, tackle areas but they could not get past a stubborn Wirral team.

A spilt pass found a Wirral player. Wirral drove up the pitch. The Wirral 7 found a gap between the ruck and the defender. Youll made a last ditch tackle and it had to be... Peter Evans winning a penalty after stealing the ball. A quick tap and the ball was out of play. Celebrations ensued. it was a tough, physical game and Wirral made it tougher.

21-26 winners was a nice way to end the season...

Thank you for your continued support. We look forward to welcoming you back next season.

#OSIOS