University of Birmingham RL 24-12 WURL: Match Report

A disappointing start to the season was no less laden with positives for WURL after a hard-fought game away to Birmingham in the opening round of the 2021/22 BUCS Midlands 1A season.

The game got off to a disastrous start as Birmingham scored two tries in quick succession to build a quick 12-0 lead. From such a setback WURL began to claw itself back into the game, eventually culminating in debutant Aaron Powell’s first try in the red and black as he crashed in from close range. It was Birmingham who struck next but WURL dragged themselves closer once again when Ben Macintyre sniped in on the stroke of halftime.

The second half went scoreless for 30 minutes as each side cancelled each other out with some gritty defending – as evidenced in the body count of players going off injured for both sides. Finally, Captain Jacob Hewson made the breakthrough for WURL after a sweeping move across the field. This brought WURL back within a try but, unfortunately, Birmingham swept up the field after WURL had thrown everything at them in an attempt to draw level to finish off the game.

Congratulations to Birmingham. For WURL it is a disappointing start to the season but there are plenty of positives to build on before our return to Fortress Cryfield for the first time in over 18 months next week at home to Oxford.

WURL XIII: E. Boswell, B. Stanhope, S. Lufti, A. Powell, E. Mills, M. Allen, J. Hewson (C), B. McCormack, B. Macintyre, A. Farahat, T. Vos, D. Ariff, T. Dessington. Subs: R. Dizer, A. Dumont, A. Harridine, J. Sly.

WURL try scorers: A. Powell, B. Macintyre, J. Hewson.