In an entertaining game Wetherby’s young threequarters sprang into action scoring three tries of the highest quality.

Wetherby set off in business like fashion after a false start when the Referee suffered a serious injury to his Achilles tendon and has to be replaced from the kick off.

Thanks to 2 penalties the Reds got into the home 22 for a period but the defence held and Knaresborough came into the game through their forwards who made good ground.

After 15 minutes Wetherby took the lead. From broken play debutant Alistair Farrow picked up and rumbled forward, Knaresborough gave away a penalty at the breakdown, Sean Lally took a quick tap penalty before offloading James Gibson to who was up in support to continue he drive which resulted in Dan Simpson, playing his first game of the season after injury, powering over in the corner to score.

The Reds attacked again straight from the kick off, Frank Pitchford making plenty of hard yards but Knaresborough snaffled the ball and counter attacked. Their pack now began to control the ball leaving Wetherby struggling to break out. They were penalised , the home side kicked to within a few yards of the line and from the lineout they powered over with a pushover try. Wetherby hit back quickly with a penalty by Myles Oates.

Wetherby got off to the best possible start in the second half when Andrew Trotman scored. It was a superb try from 75 yards out starting with a tap penalty and great handling by Robbie Hardy who set Andrew Trotman off to score under the posts, fittingly converted by Myles Oates, who followed up with another penalty extending the lead to 13 points.

The Reds were unable to relax however as the hosts tried hard to come back. When Wetherby overdid their free style game by trying to run out of their 22 Knaresborough punished them with a try on 65 minutes. The game was won however with 10 minutes to go thanks to more brilliant handling and support play by their backs. The final pass from Andrew Trotman was sublime when under pressure his quick hands put full back Gianluca Le Tissier into enough space to score. The visitors then closed the game down using the freshening wind, which was in their favour, to peg Knaresborough back in their own half.

There were encouraging displays from debutants George Gilbert and Barney Roberts . Paul Jefferson was Man of the Match with the evergreen Aiden Pound close behind. The performance was several levels higher than the last one against lowly Rodillians.

They go to Bradford next week to play 4th placed Old Grovians, who they have never beaten before, with much improved prospects.