WIRRAL continued their unbeaten start to 2015 with a hard-fought win in difficult wind conditions at the Memorial Ground against a determined Burnage side.

The home side elected to play against the wind in the first half although this was not as apparent in the first half as they pinned Burnage in their own 20m area for long periods but could not find their way through a stubborn Burnage defence.

However, it was Burnage who went into half time with a 0-3 lead courtesy of a short range penalty by James Hodder.

The second half commenced with continuing pressure from Wirral but play through penalties went deep into the home side half, where a further penalty by Hodder increased the Burnage lead to 0-6.

Continuing play in the Burnage 20m area and frantic defence from the away side on their own line resulted in Burnage being reduced to 13 men for 10 minutes.

Wirral immediately took advantage and from the first scrum controlled the ball before releasing to the backs where Craig Harvey put his brother Danny in for a try and this was well converted by James Annetts to give Wirral the lead for the first time, 7-6.

Burnage had one chance to take the lead when an easy penalty opportunity was missed by Hodder. Thereafter all the pressure came from Wirral and a further sin bin to the Burnage hooker led to the final try of the game.

With Wirral again camped on the Burnage line and the ball inches from the line, Craig Harvey touched down after Mike Warren's effort was deemed to be inches short, the conversion was missed but Wirral now had a 12-6 lead.

Thereafter Wirral played the conditions to see out the match although Burnage did mount a concerted effort to play the ball wide in the hope of breaking through but again the Wirral defence held out to win their fourth consecutive match.