Wath 42 Wetherby 22

Before the game both teams paid tribute to Wath player and coach, Matt Burrows, who’s sudden loss at the age of 35 has stunned everyone who knew and loved him. His family and friends were present as his teammates made a floral tribute before a minute’s applause by everyone at the ground.

The home team started brightly and took an early 3-0 lead from a simple Whitlam penalty. Wetherby responded well and good work from their lively backs created space for a try out wide. The conversion was missed but the visitors had the lead: 3-5 after 5 minutes. They maintained pressure on the Wath team and increased their lead to 3-8 on 10 minutes with a straightforward penalty.

Wath reacted positively and soon closed the gap to 6-8 with another easy penalty. Dominating the 20 minutes up to half time, Wath forwards continually made ground and produced quick ball. The backs used the ball well and scored tries through wingmen, Sam Holt, two, and Rory Anderson, a third. All three tries were scored out wide but magnificent goal kicking by Jack Whitlam managed to kick two and go agonisingly close with the third. Wath had extended their lead, aided by a yellow card for Wetherby, to 25-8 by half time and were well in control.

Wetherby’s ability and enthusiasm meant they were not to concede lightly and fought back well early in the second half. With two converted tries within ten minutes the away side had Wath on the back foot as the score closed to 25-22. A second yellow for the away team slowed their fight back and a break by scrum half, Joe Bartlett, put Sam Holt in for his hat trick of tries on his return from injury. Another superb conversion from the touchline by Jack Whitlam relieved Wath’s anxiety as the score moved out to 32-22.

A third yellow card for Wetherby allowed Wath to keep the pressure on and this resulted in a fifth Wath try, as substitute, Jack Jewell, weaved his way to score under the posts. Another conversion by Whitlam, followed by a late penalty, gave Wath a slightly complimentary margin of of victory, 42-22 at the final whistle.

Steve Corns