Wetherby run out of steam against Pontefract

After a spirited fightback last week, Wetherby entered Saturday’s game against league leaders Pontefract confident of giving another positive account of themselves. The absence of Danny Warden, Myles Oates and Steve Hoather meant the squad contained four players from the colts team, who were hand selected for the newly dubbed ‘Rob Adair Invitational XV’ by the warthog himself.

Wetherby started the game brightly, and looked ferocious in defence early on. The highly talented back row of Rhys Thomson, George Gilbert and debutant Fran Ortelli helped to form a brick wall across the middle of the park as Ponte struggled for rhythm.
A powerful tackle forced the ball loose and Jack Kaye hacked through. A decent kick ahead would have seen him score a breakaway try but unfortunately Jack opted for the driver rather than the 5 iron and launched the ball forty yards too far. The pressure finally told on Ponte however as the infringed as soon as Wetherby attacked them and Andrew Trotman kicked an early penalty. 3-0.

Wetherby had the wind in their sails, and used the cavalier running style of their prime Argentinian steak Fran Ortelli to create space out wide. A chip and chase from stand-in captain looked to have put him through a gap, but he couldn’t fathom how to turn this opportunity into a try as he fluffed the final pass. This is somewhat to be expected from a man who once tried to clean his timberland boots using an orbital sander.

Fortunately Wetherby were able to maintain their possession and used forward runners effectively. Bradley Mason used his ever increasing bulk to good effect in the loose as Wetherby punched holes through the Pontefract defence. Matt Bartle spotted a gap through the ruck and burst through to score a brilliant opportunist try on his impressive return to the first team. 8-0.

With Wetherby looking completely air-tight in defence and firing into their tackles, Pontefract kept spilling the ball. Harry Kaye was offered an armchair ride as he sat in the pocket like chief puppet master and kicked Wetherby into strong positions. Another turnover in the midfield saw Harry spot a space in behind the defence and poke the ball through for his brother to chase in pursuit. A brilliant clearout from Matthew Bartle gave Jack Kaye the chance to score a well-deserved second try for Wetherby. 15-0.

Pontefract started to look a little smoother in attack as half-time approached, and found some soft edges to the Wetherby defence as their fly-half started to become prominent in the game. AJ Hills was outstanding at outside centre however, as he stifled opportunity after opportunity with some brilliant reads in defence which is all the more surprising given that ‘five pint Hills’ was staggering round Boston Spa beer festival on Friday night, putting up with Humpty Dumpty Harry Freeman in the only place on earth loud enough you can’t hear him. Regardless, Wetherby held out until half time.

Half-Time: Wetherby 15-0 Pontefract

The second half started in a stalemate fashion, with the back-rows arm wrestling for territory. Both full-backs were asked to do plenty of work and the marauding Andrew Trotman, who now survives on a diet of Weetabix and sparkling water thanks to his intolerance to everything (people included), looked rock solid at the back. Chris Atkinson was positionally astute, and made amends for being the worst influence at the club with some good counter attacking.

With twenty minutes remaining in the game Wetherby were in control and Ponte were clearly becoming frustrated with a clear increase in off the ball cheap shots. In an alternative version of the cult classic film shrek, Pontefract’s ogre in the second row forgot all about the game of rugby and instead started attacking other characters with punches. First Prince Charming (Fran Ortelli), then Lord Farquaad (Jonny Day) and lastly donkey (Rob Adair) copped cheap shots. Somehow the referee decided that Rob Adair had punched himself in the face and sent him for a ten minute rest.

As Wetherby tired, they brought on the replacements but Pontefract sniffed a ray of hope. Wetherby’s 14th best prop* Sean Lally came on to try and fill the gap in the backline, but it was fellow substitute Dan McCleary whose try-saving tackle following a Pontefract break was inspirational. Unfortunately with Myles Oates acting as touch judge, he realised that his place was in serious doubt, and undid Dan’s work by allowing Pontefract to score in the corner despite them clearly being in touch. 15-7.
*in the opinion of Director if Rugby Nick Oates

Pontefract were looking dangerous with the extra space allowed to them by the extra man, and the rapidly fatiguing Wetherby defence. George Gilbert was still full of energy as he fired into his tackles head-first, using that giant snooker ball head of his. His reckless abandon for his head didn’t stop him throwing back a yard of ale in 11 seconds in the clubhouse after though! Rhys and Ben Thomson also showed fantastic engines, making telling tackles whilst Wetherby were down to 14.

Unfortunately Pontefract were starting to click into the form which sees them miles ahead of the nearest contenders in the league, and were intelligent in their play as they targeting the more gravitationally challenged players with their attacks. Another break into Wetherby territory saw another brilliant try-saver, this time by Chris Atkinson. However, Pontefract utilised a huge overlap in the right hand corner and scored their second try with five minutes to go. 15-12.

Wetherby just had to manage the game well, and after winning a penalty at the breakdown possession was theirs with a minute to go. Wetherby opted for the lineout, but for love nor money the ball wouldn’t travel down the channel. Pontefract had one last opportunity and worked away from the scrum to tie in the back row. As they came back down the left hand side, the front row were exposed in defence, and tired lungs meant the communication had subsided as Pontefract ran in to steal the game from Wetherby in the final second of the game.

Full-time: Wetherby 15-17 Pontefract

A heart-breaking defeat that deserved much more. Wetherby were the better side until the decisive yellow card, and have certainly shown that they can mix it with the best team in the league. Some of the individual performances were outstanding and will give some serious selection headaches.

MoM: AJ Hills – An outstanding performance in defence which shut down everything in the outside channels.
DoD: Rob Adair – Yellow cards must be punished. If Mel Jones was picking the side, he’d never play first team rugby again but that seems a little harsh to me!