Wetherby's Class Shines Through On And Off The Pitch

Rugby is more than a game. It's a community of people who come together to support each other. And so it was today as we not only hosted Beverley RFC but also celebrated our charity day in aid of St Gemma's hospice. As Jack Wray said in his post match speech, St Gemma's helped his sister, Daisy, stay at home and be professionally cared for before she passed away last year. And in true Wetherby style, the support turned out in the 100's for a fantastic day at Grange Park.

The fixtures kicked off with the Women's teams battling out a hard fought match with Beverley coming out the victors. Ably refereed by our very own Chairman of Yorkshire Rugby, Roger Stocker who just about managed to keep up with play!

They were promptly followed by the 2nd team, otherwise known as Marcus Little's Barmy Army, with an embarrassment of riches in the returning Uni lads, stalwart regular 2nd teamers and eager Colts wanting to demonstrate their skills before the season was done. The Youlden's were out in force. A real family affair with Mike leading the way and Archie, Barney and cousin Ben in his footsteps. Jack Wray, of course made an appearance and if folklore is to be believed, scored a wonder try with a 40 yard run, bamboozling the Beverley defence and finally expertly side stepping the full back, swan diving over the line. (At least that's how he described it...). And with a comfortable 57-24 win it was a good day to be a Wetherby supporter. But better was to come.

The charity day had been brilliantly organised with full club involvement. The 1st team ran out to a guard of honour from the juniors and minis with Elliot Reid leading out a team in the St Gemma's rugby shirt, especially designed for this event. A worthy keepsake for all involved. The sun was out and wind was up, it was to be a great day.

Wetherby started off like a train with immediate pressure from the kick-off. Beverley had come on a luxury coach and it looked like they hadn't quite had the chance to wake up as Hoather bombed in to the defensive line and just when a ruck looked imminent, popped the ball up to Draper who ambled through a stunned Beverley defence to score.

Again from the kick off Wetherby took the fight to Beverley, perhaps spurred on by the 400 or so supporters on the sidelines who had plenty of time to 'warm-up' with the pitchside bar in full flow. Gilbert and Acland were on fire in the rucks causing Bev all sorts of problems and with the visitors in disarray, Briggs broke through the defensive line and looked certain to score but was heavily bundled in to touch. But the Wetherby wind was to play in to the home teams hands and from a turnover lineout Woodworth engineered a position in the backs and piled over for the second try.

Beverley are a good team though and their mid table position demonstrates they weren't push overs. They started testing Wetherby and having pressurised the Wetherby attack they took advantage of a forced pass to run through on the Wetherby line but Goodall was alive to the threat and took the attacker down in the 22. Unfortunately the ref deemed it illegal and gave Thomas a 10 minute rest (that he really didn't need).

Have I mentioned the scrums yet? Well, Beverley benefited from the first put in but the phenomenal technique and power from the Wetherby pack proved too strong for the visitors and from a loose ball Gilbert was the first to react and gathered up the ball, off loading to Yates ho cleared majestically to the half way line. In seasons past Wetherby would have tried some kamikaze exit with a poor outcome, now they have a plan and the exit was executed perfectly, pressure relieved. With Wetherby back in neutral territory but without possession Kaye makes a thunderous tackle on his opposite number and the ball falls loose. Wetherby again go for pitch position and find themselves back in the Bev 22 thanks to the boot of Yates. It's try time and who better to be given the ball on a straight line run than Blakey who had no problem scything through the Bev defence for try no 3

17-0

Beverley were now in a dog fight and despite their effort were running in to brick walls. They could not get out of their own half and with this level of consistent pressure it wasn't going to take long before the joint efforts of Gilbert and Acland forced the turnover. With the Bev defence stunned, Yates takes advantage of a gap in defence and creates a two on one that Little takes full advantage of down the wing to score.

22-0

You might have thought that this was going to be a rout but Beverley have some class and with pressure in the Wetherby 22 manage to scramble the ball over the line for their first try.

22-5

But Hoather had the bit between his teeth and soon after the restart he creates the gap that enabled Acland to break the line and with Blakey on his shoulder, offloaded with perfect timing for another easy try.

27-5

The game was still being played at frenetic speed and with Adair looking like the player he was in his 20's, he took the fight to the Bev defence, accepting the pass from Redman and breaking through the line to take the home side back in to the now familiar 22 of Bev. With pressure mounting, Acland senses Goodall approaching at speed on his left shoulder and pops a pass that Thomas takes in his stride to score. And if this level of skill wasn't enough, the next try sees Hoather on a mazy run, off loading to Blakey who then finds Acland and then back to Redman who scored Wetherby's 7th.

41-5

Beverley were to get a consolation try with the ball bouncing off Goodall's back and into the hands of the Beverley winger, luck or great skill, you decide but an entertaining and fitting end to the match.

Final score 41-12

Wetherby end the season 2nd in Yorkshire 1. The highest league position they have ever held. A fitting result for a club whose players are majority homegrown, who play for the club and represent its values and its ambition to be the best we can be as amateur sportspeople. With Bradford Salem winning their final game to beat us 89 points to 88, they get automatic promotion. Wetherby sit tight as the calculations are done for the best 6 winning percentages across the full England rugby level to see if promotion is still a possibility.

As the supporters flock back in to the clubhouse to celebrate an amazing season and an even better charity day, thanks must go to Beverley for joining in on the day, fancy dress is always popular t Wetherby and they did themselves proud. Also massive thanks to Frazer Land, Chris and Siobhan Riley for leading the efforts to make this charity day the best it could possibly be. And thanks to all the volunteers across all events that make this club what it is today. Your work does not go un-noticed.