Sale 16-13 Wirral

Sep 26 2012 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

IN an exhilarating game between two of the League’s unbeaten teams, Sale won with the last play of the game and take the lead for the first time in the game.

It was Wirral who took the lead through a long range Craig Harvey penalty but a further exchange of penalties left the score at 6-6 at half time with Sale just shading the first half as Wirral tackled tenaciously to keep the mobile Sale forwards at bay.

The second half saw Wirral come more into the game and in the 55th minute with Wirral attacking , James Annetts put through an astute grubber kick 15m out and followed up to dive on the ball to score the first try, the conversion from near the touchline was converted by Craig Harvey.

This lead could have been increased following the sin binning of a Sale forward.

Pressure on the Sale line saw Jason Green cross the line but was deemed to have been held up over the line.

Sale retaining possession used their forwards to force their way over the Wirral line, with wing forward, Jacob scoring and the conversion equalised the score at 13-13.

With the minutes ticking by all spectators agreed that a draw would be a just result but a further surge from Sale saw play in the Wirral 20m area where in the 46th minute of the half, the Sale full-back O’Brien dropped for goal from 15m out and the ball barely managed to clear the cross bar.

The referee immediately blew for time in what had been an absorbing game.

RICHARD MCNEIL