The road to Twickenham

Road to Twickenham

Wath began their challenge to return to to final of the RFU Senior Vase at Twickenham with a home game against North Shields, who currently sit in 3rd place in Durham/ Northumberland Division 2. A large crowd saw the home team spin the ball wide from the kick off and Steve Mason forced a five metre scrum. A powerful drive from the pack enabled captain, Adam West, to pick up and touch down for a try, which Jack Whitlam converted. A 7-0 lead after just 2 minutes helped settle the nerves. An almost identical try by West, converted by Whitlam doubled the lead, after 10 minutes and a penalty from Whitlam gave Wath a 17-0 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

North Shields began to gain more possession and increase the pressure on the home team. Defending a 5 metre line out, Wath took the ball cleanly, but it was ripped from their possession and the away team forwards crashed over for a try that was converted to make the score 17-7 with half an hour gone. A kickable penalty chance to Wath was reversed due to their backchat to the referee but North Shields were unable to take advantage and Wath gained a line out 5 metres from the opposition line. A classic “catch and drive” allowed Adam West to complete a hat trick of tries. The excellent conversion from the touchline by Whitlam ensured a 24-7 half time lead.

An even start to the second half was illuminated by a break from defence by full back, Anthony Barratt, and led to centre, Andy Hopkin, finishing with both speed and strength. Another kick by Whitlam extended Wath’s lead to 31- 7. The West / Whitlam double act continued as the pair added another 2 converted tries to take Wath into a 45-7, unassailable lead. Wath made several substitutions and lost the services of both influential flankers. Tireless Danny Lord suffered a lower back injury and fellow back row, the destructive warrior, Joe Earp, dislocated a finger.

To their credit the away team never gave in and, following a good passage of open play, they scored a second converted try to close the score to 45- 14. However, any chance of a comeback was ended when North Shields were reduced to 14 men when their stand was sent off for abusing the referee. Ruthlessly Wath continued to attack and Barratt ran in an easy try and the game ended with Adam West scoring an unbelievable 6th try. Jack Whitlam converted to complete an immaculate 100% kicking success rate.

The final score of 59- 14 demonstrated Wath’s new entertaining, try scoring style, and, despite last week’s disappointment, it should ensure Wath go in to next week’s League fixture at home against Leodiensians with optimism.

Steve Corns