Wetherby End 2023 With Defeat

Wetherby vs Bradford Salem

Bradford Salem arrived at Grange Park with a coach and a healthy set of supporters and committee ready to cheer their team on. Of course the home committee welcomed the visitors with our now famous pie, chips and veg followed by jam roly poly and custard thanks to Ben’s team at Grange Park. Although the Bradford chairman did over step the line by asking for port and cheese for their next visit – Watty to organise!

Back to rugby and despite plenty of rain it was a lovely afternoon and the groundsmen, Ian Arundel and Martin Henry had done a great job preparing lines and ensuring the grass was at a uniform 11.5mm. The local sheep may have played some part in this having limbo’d under the lower rung of the fence to enjoy some of our luscious green grass, they were quickly ushered back under so the match could get under way.

Bradford started quickly with early pressure through direct running and quick off loads taking the play almost straight in to the Wetherby 22. Despite the usual resolute tackling from Goodall and Little Bradford still got over the gain line but after concerted pressure Wetherby forced the turnover and Yates relieved the pressure with a lengthy kick.

Ten minutes in and still Wetherby were under the cosh. Again with lots of strong running from the Bradford pack, the visitors opened up a gap through the middle for their centre to run on to. A last gasp tackle from Yates saved the try but an
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With the first points on the board and the initial intensity calming by one or two percent Wetherby enjoyed their first period of possession, but Salem recovered the ball and from a flowing phase of play, the winger scored deservedly under the posts. Try converted:
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Despite the familiar front row of Woodworth, Hoather and Mason, and a familiar 2nd and back row to support, Wetherby were being matched in the loose. Bradford game plan of moving the ball quickly, breaking the defensive line was working well and the backs for Wetherby were in a bit of disarray.

Wetherby were their own worst enemy following the lineout that they seemingly secured easily, Bradford emerged from the maul with the ball and again demonstrated tidy hands flying the ball out to the centres again to touch down for the second try after 23 minutes.
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Having welcomed Aidy Connelly back from Uni the supporters were hoping to see some real pace on both wings (well maybe not as much from Jack Kaye) and weren’t to be disappointed when Youlden and Goodall combined well to get the ball out but Connelly was bundled out by a resolute Bradford defence. Not much was going Wetherby’s way.

Well, not until the first scrum of the match. There aren’t many clubs in the Yorkshire leagues that can live with Wetherby’s pack but Bradford tried and put up a good effort. Winning scrums isn’t enough to win games and Bradfords game plan was still bearing fruit.

Wetherby found themselves in possession and went through a goof phase of play taking the ball in to the Salem 22, but a knock on by Woodworth gave Salem the scrum. Despite field position the Salem 8 picked and went, making good yards on the Wetherby defence and setting up an attack that quickly switched the play in to the Weth 22 but Acland’s Go-go-gadget-arms secured the ball in the ruck and Wetherby were back in possession.

Wetherby’s rather fragmented defence was only going to hold out for so long and Salem managed to find a way through on 35 minutes. More hard running from their centres, finding gaps where other teams couldn’t, which led to another score.

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Whatever coach Brown and Mason said at half time seemed to work and the crowd were treated to far better attacking rugby from Wetherby. With a scrum won and the usual forward drive towards the Salem 22 Wetherby gain another scrum and after three successive infringements by the Salem defence the referee was left with no option but to award the penalty try.

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With Harry Johnson on for Jake Little and Gilbert off for a nice 10 minute rest, Salem were back on the attack. The Wetherby lads can be a rum bunch when tested and it seemed they were stronger with 14 men than 15, digging deep until Gilbert returned to the fray. And with Greenwood having given his all as usual, there was a cheer from the crowd (well his mates anyway) as Draper entered the fray.

More changes for Wetherby with Mason off and Kitching on and the fresh legs helped build a bit more momentum for Wetherby. From the stands it was starting to look like Salem were tiring, their subs being forced through injury rather than strategic, chess board moves of Coach Mason, and during a flowing backs attack Goodall was clotheslined, yet the shouts of ‘high tackle’ from the stand were ignored and Salem regained possession.

As the game progressed Wetherby were seeing some advantage from the pressure they were imposing in both attack and defence. With some heroic tackling from Draper and Gilbert and some gobbing off to the referee, Salem were marched back 10 yards and Wetherby swept in to the Salem 22 with one final pass to complete to score the pass went astray and Salem clear their lines.

With Acland carrying his trademark injuries it was only a matter of time before the ever-green Greenwood was going to be called upon. Whether he was involved or not, a great attacking move followed, Connelly gracefully eating up the yards surprisingly with Goodall right on his shoulder, and Kay joining the attack Wetherby found themselves in a scoring position but a last line of defence from Salem held the ball up before the line, and the ref went back for an offside in front of the post. After all of the pressure it was only right that Wetherby took advantage yet with time running out the 14-20 scoreline was looking unsurmountable.

Despite Wetherby’s persistence the clock was running down and no amount of effort could breach the Salem defence. Wetherby didn’t quite manage the fight back of the season but had a lot to be happy with and plenty to look forward to in 2024.