Wath 52 Huddersfield Laund Hill 7

Wath welcomed a club that was formerly Huddersfield Y.M.C.A. , a side we have not played for over 10 years. Despite a loss in the last game Wath are still in a strong position to gain promotion To Yorkshire 1.
The game started evenly but an excellent box kick by scrum half Josh Bird put his side deep into their opponents 22. In several phases they put pressure on the Huddersfield defence and eventually second row Luke Stead proved impossible to stop and crashed over for the opening try. Jack Whitlam converted and the home side took the lead 7-0, inside 10 minutes.
The game continued for 10 minutes with both sides defending well. The game sprung into life when centre Pat Selkirk made a searing break only to be stopped just before the line and offload to Jack Whitlam to complete the move. Unable to convert his own try the score moved to 12-0.
After 25 minutes Wath scored again, Captain Sean Hopper made good ground from a maul and when he was stopped the ball was recycled and Josh Bird scored from close range. Whitlam made the score 19-0 with a simple kick.
At this stage Huddersfield were reduced to 14 men as the referee issued a yellow card. Taking full advantage Wath were able to score two more tries before half time. Prop Brandon Coult touched down following a 5 metre line out and fellow prop Ant Hamilton also scored from a maul near the Huddersfield line. With two further successful conversions by Whitlam , Wath went in to the break 33-0 up.
Starting the 2nd half strongly, Pat Selkirk should have scored but made amends minutes later from a similar position to put his side 38-0 ahead. Huddersfield battled their way into the game and on the hour scored an opportunist try from a quick tap penalty as the Wath defence was caught napping. The scoreboard read 38-7 with a conversion from under the sticks. From a line out in the Huddersfield 22, Wath’s catch and drive gained momentum and Sean Hopper emerged having scored his sides 7th try, Whitlam made it 45-7 with 10 minutes to play.
With the Wath backs playing with increased confidence and purpose, winger Rory Anderson went close twice. On the second occasion the ball was fed back to Joe Bartlett, the replacement scrum half who fired a pass to the rampaging Ant Hamilton, who crashed over the line. Whitlam rounded off a good day from the tee with his sixth conversion and with no further score the game ended 52-7.
This was perhaps Wath’s best performance of the season, Given quicker ball their backs looked far more threatening . This was a thoroughly entertaining and promising performance, as we move to the business end of the season.
Man of Steel went to centre Pat Selkirk who was very solid in defence and a constant threat with the ball.
Steve