Port’s tough start to the season continues with loss to Wirral

Report by Theo Bowyer

Port showed they meant business early on with a brilliant break from De Rook which created space to exploit on the right wing. After some lovely exchanges through the hands, Rory Atwill proved too difficult to stop and a great start to proceedings by the away side. 0-5 (conv. missed).
After Port’s positive start they were hoping this was the catalyst to kick on and capitalise, yet it was Wirral who registered their first try close to the twenty minute mark after a speculative back handed pass which fell perfectly on the second bounce for a score. 7-5 (try conv).
Port registered several line-outs and were going through the phases. There was a good rhythm to their play and after working the ball to the left, a very bizarre decision to kick the ball through when there was an overlap, gifted the ball back to Wirral. A blend of tactics and execution is letting Port down at the moment and it’s causing a knock on effect where they cannot utilise the maul, combined with effecting running and really put teams under consistent pressure.
Wirral were encouraged by this and after a controlled maul, created a blindside overload for a really basic try. A very disappointing concession after a short time of pressure. 14-5 (try conv).
Straight from the restart another strange call to kick and chase and a Wirral back scythed through Port’s hapless defensive line and a kick through led to the ultimate body blow close to half time. 21-5 (try conv).
As if this wasn’t bad enough, it got worse just minutes later with more non tackling allowing Wirral to casually throw the ball around and score. The home side were running riot and Port didn’t have the answers. 28-5 at half time. (try conv).
The second half kicked off and Port weren’t short of possession and good territory but just locked completely shell shocked. Several line-outs and scrums but nothing to show. A second half all round lacking structure as ultimately Wirral knew they had put in the hard graft in the first half.
Amazingly in took until the final play of the match for Port to register again on the scoreboard. In a game where they started so well there will be plenty of head scratching for what transpired in the middle 60. Rather ignominiously the match ended with the conversion hitting the right hand upright from close quarters.
Final Score… Wirral 28 Port 10.

No doubt there will be plenty of important conversations to try and solve the current lack of form and undoubtedly there’s enough characters and team spirit to turn it around. However it doesn’t get any easier this coming Saturday when Port welcome Manchester and a reaction is needed to get their season back on track. Up the Port!