Old Rishworthians 38 Wath 17

So the weekend started early for this reporter. A late night message on Thursday from Cornetto asking to see if anyone can take the reins and do the match report for the first team.

Well... I was honoured! But then remembered my terrible spelling and grammar so if you’re reading this just expect facts from the day.

Never been to Old Rish before and it was a nice start until Sean Hopper asked for some money for a brew... £1.20 was the standard set for the day! Hopefully a Wath win turns it around for me.

Kick off

Good start for rish, early turnover followed by a penalty kick to the corner so the home side take lead 7-0 with just a couple of minutes played. My mind started to do overtime straight away “is it just going to be one of those days” “how can they charge £1.20 for a brew”

After some steady play Wath got control 10 mins in to the game with a line out on the Rish 5 metre line defended well and driven into touch. Wath penalty, turn over Ethan (shock) Whitlam 3 points “now we’re getting somewhere I thought” 7-3

Prolonged pressure in the Rish half saw Wath have another opportunity for 3 points pushed to the left by Whitlam. The 22 drop out saw jack Jewell with “feet like and eel” (Simon Lines words) saw us break and back on the Rish 5 metre with a line out. With a solid line out and swift hands from Big Bob leads to West stretching out like Michael Jordan in the final scene of Space Jam and scoring in the corner. Whitlam adds the 2 from out wide. “Easy game this rugby isn’t it lads” 7-10

Restart of the game saw skipper West make one of those nice breaks like he used to 4 years and 4 stone ago but nothing came of it as the Wath forwards stood in the back play grazing and we were turned over.

Rish found their feet with 10 mins left of the first half but missed with a 3 point attempt left the game at 7-10

With 5 to play of the first half an impressive Tony Flamingo made a break from our own 10 he found one on one with the last man where a penalty was give for a seatbelt tackle on the Rish 22... no penalty try or card?

Wath opted to play from the penalty rather than taking an easy 3 Rish forced a spill after some scrappy play and caught us on the counter with some smart kicking. Penalty conceded, Rish 3 points 10-10 with 2 mins of the half left “not a crisis I’ll take 10 all at half time, let’s grind it out”

Kick off reclaimed by Wath and and after a few phases (now imagine those old comic book strips) SPLAT Ash Rotherby takes a monster hit and is laid under a pile of bodies letting out a noise that can only be heard in the deepest parts of the jungle. Thanks Jack Jewel for the hospital.

After the turnover of Ash’s car crash Rish broke through the Wath rush defence and Big Bob failing to get into guard position as he was running through long grass (also his words) a few plays later with Wath still struggling to get back saw Rish score and convert, this would see the home side lead 17-10 at half time. “bloody hell its cold! I hope Ash is ok”

Second half kick off

From the off Wath seemingly still in the huddle Rish string some good lines together to extend the lead to 24-10

Fragment Wath found under there own posts again straight after the restart with Rish on top for much of the start of the second half 31-10

Some strong running from subs Jonty and the Dr and the rest of the Wath pack we were back up the field and good play saw winger Holt score in the corner after a seedy floated pass from Whitlam. Another 2 points added from the touch line 31-17 “Ok yea, still loads of time”

Rish were determined to up the pace of the game from the kick off with good play through the forwards saw them bounce straight back and under the posts for a try 38-17 with 10 minutes left. “Well that’s not good is it.... and my football accumulator has lost”

Not going to lie but the last 10 was boring from both teams! The score stayed the same at 38-17 well played Rish

Decent game from the boys, lacking organisation at times in defence and missing the killer blow in attack at 3rd and 4th phase which won us so many games last year, let’s get some good thoughts and positivity and it will come. Can’t spend all that time in the opposition 22 and not come away with points.

Highlight of the game; I’m sorry Ash but you got smasssshed mate.

Low of the game; £1.20 for a brew

Anthony Hamilton

Turned up, ate Pats sandwich, demanded to be in a car so he could get a sandwich on the way to Rish, played well, got injured, off, put his Wheatley Hills top on, ate pie, home time, gin fest, burger.

Senior Sports Reporter Luke “Full English” Stead