FOR the second season running, Wirral lose out to Waterloo at Blundellsands by a two-points margin in a thoroughly entertaining match.

It was Wirral playing with the wind that had the early opportunities to score but the final pass was denied by a resolute Waterloo defence.

Gradually the home team came into the game and it was Wirral’s defence that was tested to keep the home side out.

The Wirral defence was finally breached on 32 minutes when a well-timed pass by veteran Freeman Payne gave Liam Reeve the gap to score under the posts, converted by James Robins.

Some six minutes later came the try of the match. 

Wirral attacked from 60m out with a break by Danny Harvey, who set up Matt Loon to beat his winger and round the full back to score under the posts, converted by Craig Harvey to level the score 7 - 7 at half-time.

In the second half, play went from end to end but it was Wirral who surprisingly took the lead through Dan Harvey after an astute pass from brother Craig, the latter converting.

With Wirral down to 14 men, Waterloo capitalised by stretching the Wirral defence to create an overlap for right winger Jacob Allen to score in the corner. 

This was well converted by Liam Reeve from the touchline. Scores level again at 14 - 14.

Three minutes later Waterloo took the lead when their pack, aided by some of their backs, pushed the Wirral scrum over their line and scored, again converted by Reeve to give Waterloo a 21-14 lead.

The final 10 minutes was all Wirral as they stretched the Waterloo defence and for the final two minutes of the game they were camped on the Waterloo line.

With the final play of the game, Paul Lewis crashed over for a try some 20m from the posts. Unfortunately the conversion was missed and it was a relieved Waterloo who took the spoils with a two-point win.