Wath 26 Old Grovians 27

Wath faced Old Grovians with a team bearing seven changes from the previous week due to injury and unavailability. Despite the lack of continuity, Wath started well and winger, Rory Anderson, was given space to show his pace and skill. However, the away team’s organised defence prevented any early Wath score.

A succession of injuries further disrupted the home team as Joe Earp, Bobby Lazenby and captain, Adam West, were all forced to be temporarily replaced while Anthony Barratt left the field and was unable to return. These setbacks allowed O.G. to take control of the game and regularly add points throughout the first half. Two penalties and two converted tries enabled them to build up a 0-20 lead at half time.

The break allowed Wath coach, Alan Yuill, time to stabilise the Wath team and they started the second half well, gaining more possession and territorial advantage. This resulted in Wath getting on to the scoreboard after 5 minutes through a try from close range by the powerful and industrious prop, Anthony Hamilton. Jack Whitlam added the conversion and the score was 7- 20.

Wath continued to dominate but, as the ball came loosely out of a ruck, an O.G.took his opportunity to run the full length of the pitch to score under the posts. The conversion was awarded controversially, which would prove significant to the final result. At 7 – 27, the game looked out of Wath’s reach but, despite a further loss through injury to prop, James McCarthy, the home team battled on.

Good work in the backs got the ball to winger, Jack Jewell, and he used all of his speed and elusiveness to touch down for a try near the corner flag. The conversion went wide but Wath had gained some self belief as the score stood at 12-27.

Two yellow cards to O.G. for offences at a 5 metre scrum on the hour added to Wath’s ambition.
Adam West crashed through some indifferent tackling to score another try for Wath and Whitlam’s kick closed the score to 19-27.

O. G. managed to survive further damage and were relieved to get back to full numbers. Into the final stages Wath refused to accept the game was lost and an opportunist try by Jack Jewell, who hacked through a loose ball and followed it up to touch down brought the score closer. A great conversion from out wide by Jack Whitlam closed the gap to just 26-27, but, unfortunately, that proved to be the last play of the game.

For the second successive week Wath had lost by one point and were left to contemplate what could have been.

Steve Corns