Wetherby too strong for Bees but the real winners were the groundsmen!

As storm Babet raged across the UK with widespread flooding and disruption, the Wetherby faithful woke up to sunny skies. And after a pitch inspection by Groundsmen Arundel and Henry, the game was ON at Wetherby as the Bees ground remained flooded. Wetherby also hosted Moortown 2’s, in a YRFU Championship fixture.

The selection committee found themselves in the enviable position of a near full squad across both 1st and 2nd team and some tough decision had to me made. But the 1st team started with a familiar look. Woodworth, Hoather and Mason across the front row, enough to scare the Boks never mind the Bees.

Harry Kaye started the game with his own trademark creativity with the foot bringing the backs in to the game early and breaking the B’s defensive line. With Yates back in and Beeson and Jack Kaye supporting in the back three Bees defence was already starting to creak and the first scrum gifted Oates a try that was duly converted by Yates. 7-0

With the back row creating the toughest of selection decisions, Little Ward and Gilbert justifiably kept their positions and were all over the pitch challenging in the breakdowns and terrorising the Bees defence with ball in hand. In one of Harry Kaye’s more unusual moves he tiptoed through the Bees defence and finding some space chose to slice the ball with the outside of the right foot across the pitch giving Oates a tricky pick up, especially with his back. But the relentless pressure from the forwards again told and the most awarded Man of the Match, Gilbert scored. Converted by Yates, 14-0.

Almost from the kick off the backs demonstrated their superiority with Kaye, Day and Oates (could be a band name there) combining beautifully to ship the ball to the left wing only to find Beeson having made himself, and his ridiculous speed available to race down the wing. Try 19-0.

With the 1sts seemingly at a canter, your intrepid reporter wandered over to the 2nd team to find them 19-6 up and seemingly comfortably in control. But a quick glance back over the shoulder and the Bees ran in a try. And in close succession they were then awarded 2 penalties to bring the game back to 19-11. All of a sudden the half time whilst couldn’t come quickly enough.

Whatever was said by DoR Brown at half time did the job. Wetherby came out of the blocks incredibly quickly which led to tries from Oates ( 26-11) and Day (31-11). Both of which were rapidly followed up by Hoather bundling over, a well deserved reward for a tireless performance. 36-11

With an abundance of strength on the bench, and Greenwood and Woodworth tiring, Kitchin and Adair were subbed on and eventually Blakey made an entrance after handing over the linesman’s flag to yours truly!

With Wetherby in full control the backs were enjoying the space and comfortably fired the ball from one side of the pitch to the other creating space for the wingers, Kaye and Beeson, the latter who took his opportunities and scored again. 41-11.

But Kaye wasn’t to be outdone and powered his way around defenders down the wing “that lad’s got some speed’” was heard from the supporters, clearly themention in last week’s program hit a nerve. But despite the space appearing to open up in front of him he couldn’t navigate the final defender but Oates had sniffed the opportunity and gratefully accepted the pass that enabled him to jog the final try in.
Final score 60-11

Man of the match : Stephen Hoather

Meanwhile, despite giving Moortown too much respect in the middle section of the game to allow them back in to it, Wetherby ran out comfortable winners 48-27 vs Moortown 2nds.