Wetherby clinched the league champion’s crown with a thrilling, hard won victory in the local derby at Knaresborough.

Wetherby didn’t wait to show their intentions to throw the ball about in their usual style. It took them only 2 miinutes to register their first score. Winning a scrum fly half Alex Fraser broke through a hesitant defence and fed Dan Simpson. The league’s leading try scorer took the chance to score by the posts. James Gibson converted. Knaresborough were weakened with the loss of 2 players including the influential Jamie Bird in the first quarter of the game.

Wetherby continued to pressure the home team and from from a 22 drop out their backs handled well to give Ben Dalby a run down the right he went on to beat 3 men out
wide to score a great try.

Knaresborough now recovered their composure and after a series of hard driving mauls went over for an unconverted try. The remainder of the half was spent largely in the visitors half though there were a couple of occasions when the Reds threatened to score but it was the home side who scored next with a well struck penalty. Wetherby were making it hard for themselves giving away too many penalties at the ruck and maul.

Coach Wayne Pawson’s half time talk gave his side a game plan which worked . From the off they were getting the ball away to their superior backs. First Myles Oates went down the right then Ross Brown was bundled in to touch on the left. However Alex Fraser showed his class dummying his way under the posts for Gibson to convert. It was Gibson who took
the Reds back deep into the home half with another of his typical gallops. He was stopped only a metre short after setting off from half way. It was all Wetherby now. They effectively sealed the
game midway through the second period when Myles Oates joined the line in a flowing move to hand on to Ross Brown. There were still plenty of defenders ahead of him but he scored a fabulous individual
try confusing them all with a weaving run and plunging gleefully over the line. It was a fitting try to win the Championship and Gibson added a good conversion.

Knaresborough now piled on the pressure and played some good open rugby. They were aided when Dalby went to the sin bin following a despairing high tackle. The home side sensed their opportunity and made use of their extra man when Will Stephenson scored on 70 minutes. Wetherby’s defence has been excellent all season and it didn’t waiver now. Knaresborough battered away without reward during the last 10 minutes and it was left to the incomparable Nick Oates , who retired from first fifteen rugby after this game, to boot the ball into touch and the final whistle to go.

A fitting end to a great season and Wetherby were loudly applauded by everyone at Hay a Park as Champions. Next week they prepare for life in a harder league when the play Ossett from league 4 at Grange Park
KIck off 3pm .