Nestle Rowntree run away with victory in last quarter of the game.

Due to some last minute drop outs and a string of unavailabilities and injuries in the 1XV, Wetherby Crusaders travelled to Nestle Rowntree in York with only 14 fit players. Crusaders captain Sean Lally tried to shake off an injury that kept him out of selection for the first team but to no avail.

Wetherby Crusaders handed debuts to four players and included five Colts in their young line up. The team was bolstered by the return of Alex Dus who is making recovery from injury and front row stalwarts Richard Watts and David Harrison.

The opening exchanges were fairly even, with Wetherby and Nestle exchanging a long kicking game trying to pin each other back. However, it was Nestle that broke through first and scored down the right-hand side. the try was converted, and then followed two more quick tries to take the score to 17-0 after 20 minutes. The Red's were under pressure and snapping at each other under the posts. Captain for the day Alex Dus took control of the situation and the young squad responded and controlled the next twenty minutes of the half. Unfortunately, they were unable to make their pressure tell and found themselves down at the break 17-0.

Wetherby kicked off the second half and Adam Shaw collected the kick off after some miscommunication from Nestle. Wetherby pressured the Rowntrees defence and caused a string of penalties that resulted in one of the Nestle Rowntree front row players to be sin-binned. Wetherby made their pressure tell and from a rolling maul, David Harrison scored. Alex Dus added the conversion. 17-7.

Nestle, however, hit straight back and managed to add another two more scores to increase their lead to 27-7. Wetherby started to come back into the game. From their own 10m channel they worked an overlap on the blind side, and Adam Shaw magnificently drew the covering winger to put away Tom Stearn, who broke through two tackles and stepped the full back to score a great try. Alex Dus added the conversion. 27-14.

Immediately from kick off Wetherby put more pressure on and sent Rob Hoather away down the right-hand side to score in the corner. Alex Dus once again stroke over the conversion from the touchline. 29-21

Wetherby was in touching distance of Nestle and could smell snatching something at the death, however, a moment of indiscipline caused the Reds to drop down to 14 men after Elliott Stearn was sin-binned. Superior fitness and organisation allowed Nestle to run in three converted tries to bring the final score to 50-21.

Wetherby can take heart on how well they stepped up to the challenge for 40 minutes of the game. With improved fitness and organisation the games will get closer.

Wetherby take on Roundhegians 2s next weekend at Grange Park.