Ruskin Park 11 Wirral 28 NEVER has the need for a couple of big, mobile, ball winning forwards been more obvious than in this game.

Devastated by cry-offs, due to injuries and work commitments, Ruskin were forced onto the defensive for most of the match. And but for two errors in the first half, could have won this game, had they just gained enough possession to launch more attacks at a suspect Wirral defence.

After Pilkington and Hignett had each kicked a couple of penalties, the big Wirral pack drove forward relentlessly, forcing Ruskin to play mainly out of defence. Trying to run the ball from inside their own half, they spilled possession twice, which resulted in tries for Morrison and Rowlands. When the Wirral pack then drove Clare over from close range, to give the visitors a 19-point lead, a heavy defeat for Ruskin looked a possibility.

That this never happened, says much for the attitude of the Ruskin side. Indeed for the first 20 minutes of the second half, they took the game to their opponents, and were rewarded with a try by Swift. On the hour, a long break out of defence, saw Pilkington in the clear, but he failed to notice the unmarked Meadows on his inside, and the chance was lost. A try at this point, and victory was a distinct possibility. The chance never came again. Wirral kept Ruskin penned in their own half for the rest of the match, and sealed victory with a final penalty from Hignett.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.