The visitors to grange at the weekend were the last team to beat Wetherby in a competitive fixture, nearly two years ago. Past fixtures between Wetherby and 'Ensians have had plenty of bite and a high quality of rugby so the spectators at grange park expected nothing less.

The early stages of the game were dominated by dominant, re-shuffled Wetherby pack providing fast ball for the backs. The first beneficiary of the good ball was Jack Kaye. Jack is missing next weekends crunch double-header as he spends the weekend carving up the White powder. He's going skiing...
Good use of the overlap sent him free down the left hand side to open the scoring. 5-0

The early stages of the game saw Ensians try to use their big second row as an enforcer to get forward momentum. Unfortunately for him he met Will Cayton who cast over him like the giant gingerbread man in shrek. A big hit gave turnover ball and a neat one-two between Jack Kaye and Conor Sheridan gave Conor the try. 12-0

With the power game failing, the same chap tried a different tact and resorted to giving away cheap penalties. Conor converted one the extend Wetherby's lead to 15. A further penalty close the visitors' line earned the 'Ensians second row a stint on the sidelines and Wetherby a five metre scrum. The tight five piled on the pressure to give Will Cayton an easy touchdown at the back. 22-0.

The Wetherby onslaught continued in the first half with another solid platform created at scrum time. A sweet move from the backs put Conor Sheridan on a razor sharp line. He slipped his spindly frame through the crack in the defence to dot down under the posts.
The following gap was mainly filled with Bradley Mason flirting with the referee as can be seen in the quote above. Half-time. Wetherby 29 - 0 Old Otliensians.

The half time message from coach Mike McHugh-Hicks was simple. "Don't change anything". For the first five minutes the message rung loud and clear as Wetherby earned another penalty close to the opposition and once again went to their scrum. Again the ball was controlled by Will Cayton at the back and he grabbed a well deserved second try. 36-0.

The wheels then started to creak for Wetherby without totally falling off. Ensians hit back with a try from a poor attempt by Wetherby at clearing their lines. Their backs were allowed open space and a cock-up in the midfield between Step Brothers look alikes Alex Dus and Myles Oates allowed their full back through to score. 36-5.

With minor injuries and players in unusual positions, gaps started to appear for Otliensians. A neat cross-field kick was executed well to find their portly winger in acres of space to dot down again. 36-10.

Wetherby battled hard to close out the game without further damage and pressed hard in defence. A string of penalties gave Ensians field position and tested the referee's patience. James Greenwood was unlucky to be yellow carded for a "high" tackle and clearly look displeased with the decision as a flapped his arms about like a freestyle battle-rapper. Jim Shady taking it back to his 8-mile days.
Wetherby got through to the end of the game without conceding again and succeeding in going fifty unbeaten. In the words of Will Dutton, "It's time to get the cricket pads on!"
Final score: Wetherby 36-10 Old Otliensians.

MoM: Will Cayton - a beast of a performance!

DoD: Alex Dus - his defence was flakier than storm Jonas on the US east coast.