Yarnbury 23 Wath upon Dearne 11

Wath travelled to early season League leaders Yarnbury, who were relegated from Yorkshire 1 last season.
Having absorbed an initial attack from the home side, there was an extended period played in the Yarnbury half. Despite a variety of attacks by both forwards and backs Wath’s only score came eventually from a penalty by Jack Whitlam after 15 minutes play.

Wath’s 3 – 0 lead was short lived. Having got to within five metres of the opposition line, a line out failed to find it’s target and Yarnbury quickly made 80 metres down field. Following several set pieces, they got over the try line and kicked the conversion from near the touchline to take the lead 7 – 3. The game ebbed and flowed with no further score until just before half time when the home time extended their advantage to 10 –0 with a simple penalty.

The second half began with a similar pattern that had finished the first, with no team taking command. Eventually, Wath developed a sustained attack that was finished with both speed and power by young wingman, Sam Holt. The difficult conversion slipped wide of the posts but the gap was closed to 10- 8. The next score, a penalty from under the posts by Whitlam, restored Wath’s lead, but by just one point: 10 – 11.

A needless penalty for handling in the ruck allowed the home team stand off to take his team ahead again 13 – 11. Both teams dogged it out for the next ten minutes but on 70 minutes the opposition found a surprisingly simple path to the try line as Wath’s defence was outflanked.

With a deficit of 18 – 11 Wath threw everything at the Yarnbury defence. Buoyed by the vociferous home support at their backs, they held out under constant pressure. With the last play of the game the Yarnbury full back broke Wath players and supporters hearts as he intercepted a desperate long pass and went the length of the pitch to finish the scoring at 23 -11.

Wath played with more adventure than seen of late and were in this game with a chance of victory until the final minute. The gap between the two teams was minimal but the flattering score line, similar to the previous week, exposes Wath’s inability to turn pressure into points.

Steve Corns