Match Reports
Morley on recieving end of a walloping
Saturday 27th February 2010
Birkenhead Park 38 Morley 0
MORLEY suffered their second six-try thrashing in successive away games as they crashed to a defeat which again knocked them off the top of National Three North.
MORLEY suffered their second six-try thrashing in successive away games as they crashed to a defeat which again knocked them off the top of National Three North.
The size of the defeat also cost the Maroons the advantage they had over new leaders Stockport in points difference and Penrith are now a threat to Morley in third place.
Morley were distinctly second best as the Park forwards dominated proceedings on a heavy pitch and their backs caused problems for the re-jigged Maroons' back line.
The absence of threequarters Liam Frost and Chris Morgan removed some of Morley's pace and attacking options, although Bradley Marshall did well enough, given his lack of experience, and Karl Bradshaw on the wing did not let anyone down.
Perhaps most cruelly missed was Steve Hewetson, sadly kicking his heels as his new club Harrogate's match was called off. The back row of Will Smyth, Will Nutbeen and Craig Field is a new combination and did not play as a cohesive force.
Morley quickly showed their intentions by sending the ball wide and running at the home defence. Park also made it clear they wanted none of that and gave the ball to their forwards who drove in from close quarters.
After a series of such drives the ball was passed wide and a missed tackle allowed Freeman Payne at outside centre to go over for the first of his three tries. The conversion by David Hall looked to have been missed but was allowed to stand and Morley were 7-0 down after only two minutes.
Poor kicking by Morley gave Park plenty of opportunity to run back at them. Morley's defence at this stage held firm but the heavy Park forwards were gaining ground. After a period of defence near their line, Morley forced the home side to knock on. However, the joy was short-lived as they lost the ball in the tackle.
Morley were caught out as lively scrum-half Steven Lowry spun the ball wide and left wing Mike Chapman went in on the touchline, despite a brave attempt to stop him by Karl Bradshaw. This time the conversion was missed but Morley trailed 12-0 after 10 minutes.
From the restart Park stuck to the tactics that were working for them by keeping the ball in the forwards. They had a strong driving maul and when Morley pulled it down, they were given a penalty.
Park opted for a catch and drive and hooker Christian Tyms emerged from the bottom of a pile of players to claim the third home try after 17 minutes. Hall added an excellent touchline conversion.
Although down, Morley were not out and if they could manage to get to half-time with no further scores against them the game could have been rescued. For a while the prospects looked reasonable as they, at last, began to show some of the form which has taken them to the top of the league.
Aggressive rucking won the ball back and Michael Ash began to cause problems in the centre. The Maroons won a penalty but opted to go for touch rather than goal.
Morley were distinctly second best as the Park forwards dominated proceedings on a heavy pitch and their backs caused problems for the re-jigged Maroons' back line.
The absence of threequarters Liam Frost and Chris Morgan removed some of Morley's pace and attacking options, although Bradley Marshall did well enough, given his lack of experience, and Karl Bradshaw on the wing did not let anyone down.
Perhaps most cruelly missed was Steve Hewetson, sadly kicking his heels as his new club Harrogate's match was called off. The back row of Will Smyth, Will Nutbeen and Craig Field is a new combination and did not play as a cohesive force.
Morley quickly showed their intentions by sending the ball wide and running at the home defence. Park also made it clear they wanted none of that and gave the ball to their forwards who drove in from close quarters.
After a series of such drives the ball was passed wide and a missed tackle allowed Freeman Payne at outside centre to go over for the first of his three tries. The conversion by David Hall looked to have been missed but was allowed to stand and Morley were 7-0 down after only two minutes.
Poor kicking by Morley gave Park plenty of opportunity to run back at them. Morley's defence at this stage held firm but the heavy Park forwards were gaining ground. After a period of defence near their line, Morley forced the home side to knock on. However, the joy was short-lived as they lost the ball in the tackle.
Morley were caught out as lively scrum-half Steven Lowry spun the ball wide and left wing Mike Chapman went in on the touchline, despite a brave attempt to stop him by Karl Bradshaw. This time the conversion was missed but Morley trailed 12-0 after 10 minutes.
From the restart Park stuck to the tactics that were working for them by keeping the ball in the forwards. They had a strong driving maul and when Morley pulled it down, they were given a penalty.
Park opted for a catch and drive and hooker Christian Tyms emerged from the bottom of a pile of players to claim the third home try after 17 minutes. Hall added an excellent touchline conversion.
Although down, Morley were not out and if they could manage to get to half-time with no further scores against them the game could have been rescued. For a while the prospects looked reasonable as they, at last, began to show some of the form which has taken them to the top of the league.
Aggressive rucking won the ball back and Michael Ash began to cause problems in the centre. The Maroons won a penalty but opted to go for touch rather than goal.
This came to nothing and with hindsight the penalty might have been the better option.
However, the course of the match was sealed after 34 minutes when a long kick out of defence was run back by Park. Morley's defence line was impeded by some of the slowly retreating home forwards and good hands saw Payne cross for a try.
Four minutes later he repeated the process, running in from half-way to complete his hat-trick and effectively put the game beyond Morley. Hall converted and the half-time score was 31-0.
Morley had only pride to play for and to a man that is what they did. Perhaps Park relaxed but Morley were much more prominent.
Their first chance came after a good kick out by Mark Chester and Park knocked on. This was quickly taken on by Field, who charged down the right. Good support from Smyth and Nutbeen allowed Sean Dadswell to set the backs running but Simon Bradshaw was denied a certain try when the pass was ruled forward.
Danny Chamberlain was suffering from the effects of flu and came off to be replaced by Sean Burke, while Joe Battye replaced Smyth after 50 minutes.
The injection of pace nearly brought dividends as Ash broke through and set Battye racing towards the line. His pass found Field, who made more ground, but Field could not get his pass away to the unmarked Simon Bradshaw and the chance was lost.
Stung by this Park raised their game. A good run out of defence by Anthony Handly set up a period of pressure on the Morley line. Although the visitors held out for five minutes, they could not stop the catch and drive which again saw Tyms claim the try. Hall converted.
Paul Gabriel had to go off two minutes later with blood pouring from his mouth after a scrum and Luke Brocklehurst took over.
The last 20 minutes were scoreless but Morley did try to take the game to Park. Ash and Brocklehurst combined to raise the pulses but the home forwards gradually assumed control and wound the clock down to claim revenge for their defeat at Scatcherd Lane.
Morley will have to get back to the drawing board to maintain their title aspirations but they are now relying on Stockport to slip up and have to start to win with bonus points.
Birkenhead Park: Handly; Chapman, Dodd, Payne, Hall; Scott, Lowry; O'Keefe, Tyms, M Ibbotson, Campbell, Blyth, Palmer, Shepherd, D Ibbotson. Subs: Jones, Hughes, Lunt.
Morley: Evans; K Bradshaw, Marshall, Ash, S Bradshaw; Chester, Dadswell; Gabriel, Darbyshire, Benn, Stannard, Chamberlain, Smyth, Nutbeen. Field. Subs: Brocklehurst, Burke, Battye.
Referee: Jonathan Owen.
However, the course of the match was sealed after 34 minutes when a long kick out of defence was run back by Park. Morley's defence line was impeded by some of the slowly retreating home forwards and good hands saw Payne cross for a try.
Four minutes later he repeated the process, running in from half-way to complete his hat-trick and effectively put the game beyond Morley. Hall converted and the half-time score was 31-0.
Morley had only pride to play for and to a man that is what they did. Perhaps Park relaxed but Morley were much more prominent.
Their first chance came after a good kick out by Mark Chester and Park knocked on. This was quickly taken on by Field, who charged down the right. Good support from Smyth and Nutbeen allowed Sean Dadswell to set the backs running but Simon Bradshaw was denied a certain try when the pass was ruled forward.
Danny Chamberlain was suffering from the effects of flu and came off to be replaced by Sean Burke, while Joe Battye replaced Smyth after 50 minutes.
The injection of pace nearly brought dividends as Ash broke through and set Battye racing towards the line. His pass found Field, who made more ground, but Field could not get his pass away to the unmarked Simon Bradshaw and the chance was lost.
Stung by this Park raised their game. A good run out of defence by Anthony Handly set up a period of pressure on the Morley line. Although the visitors held out for five minutes, they could not stop the catch and drive which again saw Tyms claim the try. Hall converted.
Paul Gabriel had to go off two minutes later with blood pouring from his mouth after a scrum and Luke Brocklehurst took over.
The last 20 minutes were scoreless but Morley did try to take the game to Park. Ash and Brocklehurst combined to raise the pulses but the home forwards gradually assumed control and wound the clock down to claim revenge for their defeat at Scatcherd Lane.
Morley will have to get back to the drawing board to maintain their title aspirations but they are now relying on Stockport to slip up and have to start to win with bonus points.
Birkenhead Park: Handly; Chapman, Dodd, Payne, Hall; Scott, Lowry; O'Keefe, Tyms, M Ibbotson, Campbell, Blyth, Palmer, Shepherd, D Ibbotson. Subs: Jones, Hughes, Lunt.
Morley: Evans; K Bradshaw, Marshall, Ash, S Bradshaw; Chester, Dadswell; Gabriel, Darbyshire, Benn, Stannard, Chamberlain, Smyth, Nutbeen. Field. Subs: Brocklehurst, Burke, Battye.
Referee: Jonathan Owen.
