This was a game of 2 very different halves. Ripon kicked off in dry conditions with little wind. The kick was allowed to bounce and the home team were immediately under pressure, with a rushed clearance kick leading to a Ripon lineout 10m out. Fortunately the line was won by Wath and the forwards started to move the ball, several pick and drives eventually reaching the opposition 10m line, the ball was released to the backs, a loose pass was hacked forward by Winger Jim West and the follow up chase lead to Jason Cotton going over wide. Converted by Jack Whitlam 7-0, 5 minutes on the clock.
Wath continued to apply pressure on the Ripon half, when the visitors had possession some outstanding defence from Dan Lord and Luke Pendlebury among others, stemmed their flow. Following one phase of attack Ripon conceded a penalty 35 metres out. Jack Whitlam slotted the kick. 10-0. Ripon stepped up their urgency and put pressure on the home teams line, leading to well taken try under the posts 10-7. Wath responded well with increased pressure, both by the forwards and some powerful barrelling runs from centre Andy Hopkin. The Wath half backs controlling the game well Joe Bartlett sniping when able and Jack Whitlam at 10 kicking for field position well and releasing his backs with well timed passes. The relentless work was rewarded with a try from skipper Adam West run a neat line onto a super little pop pass off the back of a ruck. Converted 17-7.
The game continued in the same pattern, Ripon again conceding a penalty 30m out and Jack W scoring. 20-7. The supporters had seen Wath pressure like this several times this season but now it was ending in points on the scoreboard. Just before half time Joe Bartlett picking up from back of a scrum saw a gap and drove over, the conversion was missed. H-T 25-7.
The rain had now started to fall and the wind picked up a little, other than that there is little to say about the second half. Both sides seemed determined to lose the ball in contact or pass to no-one. The defences on both sides were good, putting pressure on ball carriers and competing at rucks. Even the ref at the end said it was a terrible half. What was important was the work rate and efficiency of the home team in the first half, earning a well needed win.
The game was well refereed, by an experienced guy who spotted most things before the spectators and played advantage well.
Ref named Jack Whitlam, Wath Fly Half Man of Match