After claiming their first win of the season the week before against Ripon, Wetherby welcomed newly promoted Goole to Grange Park on what looked like being a fine afternoon. The preparation was less than ideal, with Danny Warden and Sean Lally stricken ill before the game. Danny's sore throat and Lally's pink eye left many wondering what was actually going on in that office.

With coach Andy Gair away at a conference, injury news only got worse for the Reds as Jonny Day failed a late fitness test. The fitness test is a turn of phrase of course, as any sort test of fitness would wipe out 90% of our squad. As if preparations for the game could get any worse, at five to three the heavens opened putting to bed the idea of an enjoyable afternoon at the rugger.

Wetherby kicked off and flew out of the blocks as James Gibson reclaimed the ball and Wetherby made good yards. After a sustained period of possession, Wetherby worked right and left before the ball went wide to Stephen Hoather who powered over the line for the game's opening try. With Danny injured and Alex Dus serving as a body double for batman Matt Haskayne, Myles Oates laced up the kicking boots and secured the conversion. 7-0.

Goole responded well and played with good tempo but on the whole were met with some good defence, led by the lively George Gilbert. Unfortunately Mattie Chappel had been watching old war movies again and smashed directly into the side of a ruck like a bouncing bomb whilst whistling the dambusters theme. Despite this being our first infringement, the referee sent him for ten minutes in the bin. 7-3.

Goole piled on the pressure with Wetherby a man down, and were helped by some aimless kicking. Skew-nosed Danny Zuko impressionist Andrew Trotman managed to find his opposite man at every opportunity when putting boot to ball, but Goole returned with interest. More pressure led to their second penalty and a one point ball game. 7-6

Ordinarily I try and avoid comment on officiating but the next phase of the game left us scratching our heads. With Chappel back on the field, and Bradley Mason playing his usual kiss-catch game with the referee, the scrum was going well. So well in fact that Wetherby gained a penalty advantage. The ball from the back of the scrum was unfortunately intercepted so just as they would in A Question of Sport, what happened next?
The referee completely forgot he was playing penalty advantage, allowed the intercepting player to run over the posts and score the visitors a crucial try. 7-13.

The game started to become a fractious affair before half-time. Harry Freeman, the white Rick Ross, hit someone so late they were getting ready for bed before Goole's centre dropped a knee on Myles Oates' head. Good luck with that knocking that head out of shape! A few handbags before half-time and the whistle blew.

Half-time: Wetherby 7-13 Goole.

The message at half-time was to try and keep discipline. Far too many penalties had been conceded and the message from stand in skipper was to keep spreading the defence, which is about the only he thing he wants to spread these days.

A very tight start to the second half saw Jack Kaye sidelined for the first ten minutes. The referee had heard about his dreadful pre-match rituals and decided quiet reflection was in order. The Perry to his Kevin facade, Chris Atkinson showed glimpses of his talent from scrum-half but looked rusty having been kept on the wing all season. On the plus side, at least he was finally hanging out with people who could hear what he was saying.

Wetherby created opportunities but squandered then made as they got towards the 22. Jack Kaye kept running into touch when he returned to the field, despite being put into some good positions, while his apprentice on the other flank showed his defensive prowess with a couple of huge tackles.

Whilst possession remained a little more even in the second half, Goole were more effective. Their kicking game kept the Wetherby pinned back, and the home side's complete dominance of the scrum and line-out drive was going completely unrewarded by the man spinning the mystery decision wheel. While George Gilbert was adjudged to have knocked on a ball that went five yards backwards, the decision was not reciprocated when Goole were in a more clear cut looking scenario.

In the back-line Wetherby were struggling to fire. Chris Atkinson and Harry Kaye weren't on the same wavelength, but in fairness to chris, there aren't many people on that boys wavelength! Rob adair trundled forwards and put in a hard slog for 80 minutes, which was followed by another hard 80 minute slog as he completed his yard of ale after the game.

In truth the second half was a dour affair, with both sides doing little to spark life into the game. Wetherby were perhaps guilty of trying too hard to force their way back into the game, and indeed it was their desperation that led to the last penalty of the game for Goole. Their three points not only sealed the game, but put the red and whites out of losing bonus point range. Whilst a losing bonus point was not deserved on the performance, in the context of the game it was the least Wetherby deserved.

Final score: Wetherby 7-16 Goole.

Wetherby didn't get the rub of the green, but Goole were simply more accurate and more organised in defence. Fortunately the affairs of our new friends, Becky and the hopelessly friend-zoned Chris cheered us all up on Saturday evening.

MoM - Harry Freeman. Growing into his role as a bruising number six well.
DoD - Danny Warden and Sean Lally. First and second team captain crying off on game day was unacceptable.