Old Grovians 30 Wath 20

Wath travelled to Old Grovians with a changed side due to injuries and unavailabilities but can have no complaints about the outcome of the game. The away team opened the scoring with a penalty by Jack Whitlam but, despite the dominance of the Wath scrum, Grovians benefitted from some weak tackling and scored a converted try to take the lead 7-3. The Wath forwards gained their team territorial advantage and, after 25 minutes, Joe Bartlett found space to squeeze over from close to the line. Wath took a 7-8 lead as the conversion was missed.

The next 15 minutes up to half time cost Wath the game. A loss of concentration and focus allowed Grovians to take control of the game, firstly, with a penalty to retake the lead and, then, two more converted tries as the Wath defence appeared totally disorganised. At 24 -8 down Wath were on the ropes (boxing reference for Ash and Earpy) and grateful for the half time whistle.

A reshuffle at the break saw the introduction of two players making their 1st team debuts this season: Henry Roberts and Matthew Keenan. Able to regain their focus, Wath fought their way back into the game. Five minutes into the second half, full back, Ben Keen, returning to the team after 6 years away, scored a try, collecting an astute cross field kick by Jack Whitlam. The Whitlam conversion just missed and the score was 24-13.

Within another five minutes Wath scored again. With Joe Earp leading the charge of his forwards, a clever reverse pass from scrum half, Bartlett, gave winger, Sam Holt, the room to cross the line for a try. The successful conversion made the score 24- 20.

Grovians regained some breathing space as they kicked a penalty when Wath, once again, fell foul of the referee’s interpretation of the laws. At 27-20 the away side were still in the game and produced a sustained attack on their opponents’ line. Having dominated the scrums throughout the match, the Wath contingent were dismayed when they were adjudged to have been at fault when a scrum collapsed five metres from the Grovians’ line.

Wath found it hard to contain their discipline and conceded a kickable penalty with five minutes to go. In the dying moments Jack Whitlam made a great break but stumbled to the ground on the uneven surface a metre from the Grovians’ try line. Somehow the home team prevented a score and ran out winners 30-20.

Disappointment for Wath, who must now stop the rot against West Park Leeds this Saturday.

Steve Corns