Yarnbury 35 Wath 39

League leaders Wath travelled, still without injured captain, Sean Hopper, to play the second in the table Yarnbury on their AGP, Artificial Grass Pitch. Expecting their young and exciting backs to take advantage of these home conditions, Yarnbury spectators were confident their team could halt Wath’s unbeaten start to the season.
Yarnbury were the first to score, making the most of a loose ball to score a try . With the score 5-0 Wath responded within 5 minutes. From a 5 metre line out the forwards won clean ball and their rolling maul proved unstoppable, as Joe Earp touched down. Jack Whitlam’s, from wide out, just missed, but Wath were level 5-5.
Wath took the lead after 15 minutes, following a scrum near their opponents line. From a dominant scrum the ball went to the backs and following a ruck, prop Anthony Hamilton scored. Whitlam’s successful conversion put his team 5-12 up.
Yarnbury’s backs got their side back in front . Two tries, one on 20 minutes and a second on 25 minutes, went unconverted but Yarnbury had recovered the lead 15-12. In a see -saw battle, Wath re-took the lead. From another 5 metre line out, the forward machine drove through the disintegrating defence, Tony Kenny in possession as Wath crossed the line. Despite a missed conversion, the away team moved 15-17 ahead. Just before half time Yarnbury kicked a simple penalty and the lead changed hands for the fifth time, 18-17 to the home team as the referee blew for half time.
Wath were first to score in second half. Following several forward drives the Yarnbury defence was sucked in and centre Pat Selkirk had an unopposed run in when Bartlett passed the ball out wide. Whitlam put Wath in front 18-24 with his conversion.
Again Yarnbury backs responded with a try but the missed kick meant Wath kept the lead, 23-24. Joe Earp added a second try to his name after 50 minutes. A sustained period of forward possession resulted in him putting his side 23-29 in front and Whitlam added a penalty soon after to give Wath a two score advantage 23 – 32.
With 10 minutes to go further Wath forward pressure was rewarded with a second try for Anthony Hamilton. 23-39 may have looked comfortable but the celebrated home team backs tested the nerves of Wath coaches and spectators. Closing the score to 28-39 on 75 minutes and on 80 minutes they scored a converted try to move within 4 points, 35-39. With great relief the Wath held on in injury time to win a very entertaining game between two contrasting styles of play.
Man of Steel for the second consecutive week was powerhouse prop, Anthony Hamilton
Next week Wath play local rivals Hemsworth at home kick off still 3.00.
Steve
Pres.