Wetherby Cruise to Scrappy Win

On the day that Wetherby hosted Hullensians we also entertained our loyal duty men who do so much for our great club. From greeting the ref to selling programs and setting up the pitches, the hard work doesn't go un-noticed. And it's always a pleasure to see Peter Spensley at the rugby club rather than golf club, imparting his words of wisdom with that wry, knowing smile. "Back in my day..." Ah, the alacadoos live on!

And so onto the business end and Wetherby were fielding a strong side. Mason promoted from the 2's back to 1st team action, Hoather and Kitching making up the front three - arguably the strongest front row in the league. Athletes, Reid and Acland made up the 2nd row with Ward, Draper and Gilbert completing the pack. A canny mixture of youth and experience. Hull had the heavier pack but it wasn't to be a match for our lads.

The match started off at a frenetic pace and as the straggling spectators approached the stand Yates was already wriggling free of some casual tackling to create a break from the half way line. Facing two defenders he opted for the pass to, in my opinion, one of the relatively unsung heroes of the team in the 2023/24 season, Harry Kaye who sprinted through to score the first try. With the arctic blast howling across the pitch the conversion was, in the eyes of the spectators, missed but the linesmen raised their flags and the scoreboard showed 7-0.

The backs didn't look too shabby either, directed by Redman and with the old partnership of Kaye and Adair, sprinkled with the youth of Little, Briggs and Goodall there was pace and skill in abundance. However, these fine rugby specimens aren't without sin and it was poor tackling that eventually created an opening for for Hull to secure their first try from very little possession, a sign that perhaps things weren't going to go all Wetherby's way.
7-7
Acland has been in and around most of the good stuff that Wetherby has produced this season and his constistent work at breakdowns has given Wetherby the possession back on many occasions. However it was to be his go-go-gadget legs that nearly created the second try as he emerged from a melee with the ball and sprinted like a giraffe being chased by lions in the Serengeti to the try line only to be tackled just short. He deserved more.

Kaye was in sprightly form and whilst many of his flamboyant demonstrations of skill with ball in hand and off the boot have paid off this season, there were some that inevitably didn't. Seeing a gap that no-one else did, kick popped a kick over the defence and charged through. With the Hull centres wrongfooted it seemed Kaye was going to recover his own kick and speed through for his 2nd try of the game however an unfortunate bounce of his shoulder sent the ball careering in to the opposition possession and the opportunity was lost.

Lineouts have been a thing of beaty for the most part of this season with Hoather and Reid particularly seemingly having a telepathic connection once lined up. And so was to be the case in this match with pin point accuracy from the throw, Wetherby were dominant and made it count on many occasions. Following yet another successful lineout, Wetherby had engineered the play to the middle of the pitch and with the backs biased left and with an overload it seemed that they were heading toward the second try. But the ever industrious Hoather had other ideas and with his head down he drove in to the Hull forwards in defence. Just when it appeared he would be grounded and forming a ruck his hand appeared from within a heap of players, offloading with precision to Draper who, having no opposition as Hoather had swallowed them all up, ran through to score.

14-7

Yates, now realising is was a 40mph wind, not the 20 suggested on the BBC weather app, slotted home the conversion.

Somewhat exhausted from his role as provider, Hoather found himself again in the spotlight but this time at full back, presumably having a 'Watty-like' break and waiting for the play to come to him. But wherever he is on the pitch he does a job and being the last man at home he pulled off a try saving tackle that kept Hull at bay.

As Wetherby grunted the ball up the pitch, the wingers were getting itchy and with plenty of talent in Little and Goodall it was only a matter of time befroe one of them got on the score sheet and this time it was Little who turned creator. With trademark great handling from Adair to Briggs and on to Little, a side step wrong footed the defence and he made speedy progress to the Hull 22. Faced with their full back he made the right decision and set up Yates for his first try of the day which he duly converted.

21-7

Wetherby started the second half in control and with the vast percentage of possession they were gradually grinding down a less fit Hull team. Spectators were equally impressed and flummoxed at events on the near touch line as Mason and Hoather combined beautifully on the wing (...) to progress the ball up in to the final third. A rolling maul ensued and despite the size of some of the Hull pack, there's no substitution for great technique and body position, which Wetherby had in abundance and drove over the line for Redman to touch down.

28-7

As the game progressed Hull started to gain a little more possession and, in their trademark style of never giving in, forced Wetherby in to a number of errors that exposed the backs defence and allowed them to cross the whitewash for their second try.

28-14.

With the Wetherby subs of Coach Woodworth, and the evergreen Day and Greenwood joining the fray the home team gained a new lease of life. Day was busy all over the park, Greenwood industrious in tackle and ruck, and Woodworth carrying seemingly in to brick walls but still getting through. And as they say, the forwards make the tries, the backs score them (or something like that) and so was to be the case, signing off with another try, Harry Kaye seals the win.

35-14

After the game, and reviewing other results, with one league game left this season, Wetherby found themselves still one point short of top spot and guaranteed promotion. Was it to be a successful yet frustrated season or would the rugby gods deal them a winning hand on the final day. Only time will tell.