1XV (M)
Matches
Sat 10 Feb 2018  ·  Yorkshire Division Two
Wath Upon Dearne
29
26
Wetherby RUFC
1XV (M)
Tries: R Thomson, J Day (2), G GilbertConversions: D Warden, A Youlden (2)Yellow Carded: R Thomson, S Wallis
Wetherby leave it too late against Wath

Wetherby leave it too late against Wath

Stephen Hoather13 Feb 2018 - 23:58
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“I think I’m a good rugby player until I turn up to places like this!” - a brutal appraisal of Wath’s facilities

Saturday’s trip saw Wetherby travel down to Wath-upon-Dearne, for a rearranged game. The South Yorkshire side were mid-table and rumoured to have an even fatter pack than ours. With Matt Harrison working and Scottie Wallis looking thinner and thinner, the rumours looked to be true.

Despite giving up substantial size in the pack, Wetherby got off to a flying start. Big early carries from Tom Bottomley put Wetherby on the front foot. With seemed not to be keen getting stuck in, on their farmyard style pitch and a huge hole opened for Rhys Thomson to secure himself as Andy Gair’s teachers pet by scoring the opening try. 0-7.

Wath replied well and forced their way into the Wetherby half. The Wetherby defence was at sixes and sevens. Incidentally it only seemed to be numbers six and seven putting any tackles in, as George Gilbert and impressive debutant Dan McCleary were the only players snapping at the legs of the Wath runners. A well worked maul earned the home team their first try. 7-7.

After stretching their lead to ten with a drop goal, Wetherby again fell foul to the Wath rolling maul. A blindside break created a two on one for Wath’s winger to slide through the mud pit for their second try of the game. It seemed like Wetherby could do no right. 17-7.

Wath held on to the ball well, and despite the continued pressure from Dan and George a Wetherby conceded yards again. When Wetherby did have a chance to clear their lines, a comedy of errors behind his own goal line from maverick Rob Adair, showed little of the ‘Lionel’ we’ve come to expect. As he fumbled behind his own line, Wath broke from the back of the resulting scrum and scored again. 24-7.

As well as bionic Dan McCleary’s relentless defence, the other positive from the first half was the kicking game from his fellow debutant Archie Youlden. Despite his kicking technique being like a Roy of the Rovers cartoon, it was effective in turning the Wath back three.

With Wath warning Weth with their width, Wath’s wingers were working well. Their constant probes at the disjointed visiting defences allowed them through again. Wetherby scrambled in defence, and paid the price as Rhys Thomson ambitiously bent the rules on his own try line and was sent for the longest ten minute rest I’ve ever seen. Regardless Wath squeezed over in the other corner but the kicker missed the conversion. Were the wheels about to come off!?

Half-time Wath-upon-Dearne 29-7 Wetherby

Obviously the half time team talk was full of frustration, but Wetherby we’re backing their fitness against the far bigger Wath team. Wath struggled to keep up with half breaks, and this presented opportunity with a turnover providing George Gilbert space to counter attack. His support came in the form of Jonny Day as they ran down the touch line like Arnie and Danny DeVito in twins. DeVito dotted down and Wetherby had a faint hope. 29-12.

Scotty Wallis and Bradley Mason started to grow into the game and put pressure on at scrum-time. Nobody has told Scott yet that there isn’t a badge for scrummaging to go on his towel alongside his swimming badges, but it’s worth keeping it a secret for now! The momentum was starting to swing in the visitors favour, like when Herbie finds the strength to race the final morning of the El Dorado.

Wetherby benefited from another turnover and Harry Kaye power walked through the defence, dummying left and right as he spurned multiple opportunities to set his brother free under the posts. In the end it was Jonny Day who was in support again, to earn his second try of the game and pull Wetherby close. Archie Youlden took over the kicking duties and closed the gap to 10 points with a lovely kick. 29-19.

The introduction of James Gibson after a long lay-off with concussion was exactly what was required as Wath started to build a platform again through their rolling maul. His extra Christmas weight was instrumental in pulling it down at source, denying a solid structure. Unfortunately Scotty Wallis fell foul of the mystery decision wheel, and found himself in the bin for ten minutes, but Wetherby held the home side out.

With Wath tiring, the big red and white ball carriers finally got out of the car. Jack Kaye made probing runs on the counter attack and proved difficult to put down. A strong carry through the middle from Steve Hoather, allowed quick ball for Chris Atkinson. Chris drew the defender well and set free the mercurial George Gilbert to throw his bowling ball head at the line, and close the game to within a score. A fine touch line conversion from Archie closed the gap further still. 29-26.

With five minutes left, the rallying cry was to run at the bald defenders in the Wath team as they appeared to be weakest. That’s exactly what Hoather did off the kick off as he ran full tilt at his prey and smashed into him like a wrecking ball, having the exact effect of a Newton’s cradle. Unfortunately Wetherby’s Newton has a head like a glass of milk, and predictably got up seeing stars.

Wetherby pushed for field position and probed the Wath defence, turning down a kick to draw the game in order to go for the victory. Unfortunately the Wath defences held firm and Wetherby weren’t able to complete a fine comeback despite a spirited second half performance.

Full Time: Wath-upon-Dearne 29-26 Wetherby

Wetherby made to rue an atrocious first half, but will hope to take the second half performance into league leaders Pontefract next week.

MoM: Archie Youlden & Dan McCleary - stand out performances from both players, who have many more caps to come.

DoD: Rhys Thomson - Yellow cards have to be punished, especially when they are as obvious as that!

Match details

Match date

Sat 10 Feb 2018

Kickoff

14:15

Competition

Yorkshire Division Two

League position

6
Wetherby
7
Wath Upon Dearne
Team overview
Further reading