Match Report
Hullensians RUFC vs Wetherby RUFC
4th March 2023 - 3pm Kick off

Wetherby understandably approached the upcoming fixture with Hullensians with a decent measure of nerves, having fallen to a heavy defeat at the Springhead Lane ground this time last season. There was no bus trip this time round however the Hullensians committee put on a very strong spread for the visiting committee including roast beef, Yorkshire pudding and a wedge of chocolate fudge cake for dessert. Wattie was ready, the supporters were ready, we hoped the players were too.

The match kicked off with Wetherby playing right to left, there was a light breeze across field and it was rather chilly. Wetherby found themselves immediately under pressure against a young and agile (with one exception) opposition and were pinned back in to their own 22. But in a theme of the gamer to come, Hull were penalised for holding on thanks to the Inspector Gadget arms of Acland, and the pressure was relieved way in to Hull’s half. And from an almost immediate infringement by Hull, the Wetherby forwards yet again demonstrated why they are one of the most feared packs in Yorkshire, completing a textbook rolling maul and a try by Hoather. Yates’s boot ever trustworthy and Wetherby found themselves ahead, 0-7!

Wetherby and Hull traded field positions but it was Hull who were closest to scoring with a searing run from their 14, Harrison, down the wing, and whilst there was cover behind Yates, he executed a text book high tackle that earned him an early 10 minute rest. But being down to 14 didn’t seem to phase Wetherby and some scrappy play from Hull created opportunities for Wetherby. The backs were purring even without Yates and the interchanges in play and creativity of running shone through to give Kaye (J), a clear run through to score but who unfortunately knocked on as he fumbled the ball. Calls of “Get Chaffer on!” were heard from the sidelines.

But Kaye wasn’t to be distracted, and with a gleam of those turkey-teeth, took full advantage of the next opportunity and broke through the Hull defence having been supported by Little for a 2nd try and conversion by Youlden expertly dispatched in the absence of Yates. 0-14.
And Yates was to make an immediate impact as he returned to the pitch. The play had trundled up the pitch through the hard work of Woodworth and Mason, over to the far corner in the Hull half and yet again, through a melee of players, Yates benefited from some bamboozling in the backs. He appeared entirely in the clear and ran through on goal sidestepping the full back for Wetherby’s 3rd.
0-21

Wetherby started the second half on the front foot and from a series of phases of play, Oates looked up and spotted no-one home so nudged the ball behind the defence of Hull. Kaye (J) was alive to the opportunity and embarked on a foot race with the Hull full back. With 10 yards to make up he over took the full back and flopped on to the ball for a certain try, only to find that his immense speed had taken him beyond the ball and he duly knocked it on. More calls for Chaffer to join the fray!

Wetherby were performing well in the lineouts with Goodall and Reidy the targets. And Blakey was making a nuisance of himself at the breakdown. Surprisingly, there was a case of mistaken identity after the game when one of the Hull committee approached him thinking he was Harry Kaye, something Blakey was very proud to tell everyone.

As the score suggested the Hull players were really up against it, at one point 4 of them in bits on the floor as they Wetherby players took on some water and chatted about their plans for the evening ahead. And as the game restarted, “Mileypoo” Oates showed us why he is a regular in the starting line up after multiple surgeries, with a side step that left the defence for dead, try number 4, Yates converted.
0-28

Throughout the game there was also some immense defence by Wetherby, something that they should all be proud of. Mason seemed to have been given the job of tackling ‘the big guy’ and never missed an opportunity to bring him down with trade mark low tackles that the RFU would have been proud of. Day was as vocal as ever and belying his stature, made some of the biggest hits of the match.

As the 2nd half progressed, Cox-Rawnsley, Greenwood and Chaffer joined the fray. Wetherby lucky to have such strength in depth and these three made a difference from the moment they joined the field of play.

Kaye (H) and his old mates Oates, Day, Adair and Kaye (J) were confounding their Hull opposition with mazy runs and miss passes, but it was Kaye H who threaded through a ball for Chaffer to run on to, side stepping the first, bouncing the second and setting up another attack for the men in red and white.

Yates wanted in on the action and picked up a hopeful ball on the right wing, miraculously keeping it in play for Youlden to collect, and then to offload back to Yates which deserved another try but it wasn’t to be.

With 5 minutes left Wetherby lost a little concentration and the 14 for Hull, Harrison, found an opening twice to end the game 10-33.

A great result for Wetherby away from home and leaving them 2nd (or 3rd depending which league you believe!) in Yorkshire 2 after other results went their way. Only two games left in the season.
MoM - Bradley Mason