Yarnbury 21 Wath 18

Yarnbury 21 Wath 18

Wath’s Missed Opportunity

A New Year brought a new experience to Wath as they travelled to play Yarnbury on an Artificial Grass Pitch, AGP for short. Having made a mistake from the kick off Wath were immediately under pressure. However, due to well organised, stout work in defence, they survived the home team’s attacks and gradually worked their way up field.

Playing a good combination of the pack’s power and the backs’ pace Wath worked space for full back, Tom Quinn, to join the line and cross the try line in the corner. Jack Whitlam’s difficult conversion just missed, but Wath had a 0-5 lead after the first quarter.

Remaining in control, Wath kept the home side on the defensive but were unable to add to their lead until just before half time when Whitlam added a penalty to increase Wath’s advantage to 0-8. Appearing to be in control, the away team were hit with a stunning blow in injury time. From a 22 metre drop out, following a missed penalty attempt, Jack Whitlam kicked long. As Wath moved forward the Yarnbury full back made a devastating break and as he found support from his teammates the home team were able to score under the posts. The conversion made it 7-8 and Wath’s lead had almost disappeared in an instant.

A half time change introduced new signing, Pat Selkirk, into the backs and, on the restart, Wath restored some of their advantage when Whitlam kicked anther penalty to make the score 7-11.
Having not learnt the lesson from Yarnbury’s earlier try, Wath were guilty of some wayward kicking from defence. This played to the home team’s strength as their back three were quick and elusive.
After 50 minutes these counter attacks resulted in Yarnbury taking the lead 14-11 as they scored another try under the posts.

Wath regained their composure and good teamwork meant they gained an extended period of territorial advantage. After several near misses from close range, Jack Jewell scored a try after neat interplay by Joe Earp and Joe Bartlett from a 5 metre scrum. An excellent conversion by Whitlam meant Wath had a 14- 18 lead.

The game was decided as it went into time added on for injuries. Wath’s kicking gave their opponents space to counter attack and, as they got into Wath’s 22, the big Yarnbury forwards took over and managed once more to ground the ball under the posts. The lead changed hands for the last time and Yarnbury held out several desperate, late Wath attacks and the late addition of Player – Coach, Simon Lines, to record a 21-18 win.

Steve Corns