Wath 2XV 31 : 0 Dinnington 2XV

Wath 2nds. 31 : 0 Dinnington 2nds.
Wath were looking for a big improvement on the previous weeks performance in this their first game of the season on the main pitch. The pack was strengthened with the return of Jason Cotton, Sam Levitts and Chris Wyatt. The backs welcomed Joe Thompson back to provide game management at 10. Dinnington looked more youthful and physical than when last the teams met.
From the kick off Dinnington showed they meant business and launched several good attacks but as a portent for the match Waths defence was organised and aggressive. Several breakdowns resulted in turnover ball, clearance kicks finding touch. However Waths lineout was not functioning at all well and the visitors took several leading to more attacking play. With 10 minutes elapsed Wath got within 30m of the Dinno line and were awarded a penalty for not rolling away. In a change of tack for the skipper Jim he asked Sean Power to go for goal. Sean slotted with ease 3-0 against general run of play. From the restart same pattern with Dinnington attack and active defence from Wath. Wath now had a period of good sustained pressure with the forwards driving forward and the backs using the width of the pitch. Joe Thompson supplied the centres with good ball and Sean Power picked a perfect line to go 50m on a weaving run, from the resulting ruck the forwards surged to the line and Callum Mcnally touched down out wide, conversion missed. Dinnington came back at the home team but seemed to spill the ball or pass behind their players at the vital moment, no doubt due to the superb fast defensive pressure. Wath now started to play some very good rugby as the forwards started to run at the opposition and practice their offload in the tackle skills which not only surprised the opposition but many of their team mates as well leading to loose ball, but as they say ‘nothing ventured’. Sustained pressure lead to Chris Wyatt going over to extend the score converted by Sean. Just before half time Sean kicked another penalty to make it 18-0.
Chris Wyatt came off at halftime with a deadleg and Wath used their only replacement Chris Duffy who came into the back row. The half time chat was about sustaining the defence and spilling less ball. The pattern of the first half was repeated but with more attack as the lineout improved and the scrum was effective. The pressure lead to a try from Joe Thompson, another penalty For Power. The teams work rate was impressive and thoughts were now on the bonus point 4th. Try. Jim West made a clear break and weaved through the opposition before losing his footing 15m short and setting back a pass that was duly knocked on by Adam West. That’s what happens when you pass to forwards was the comment from touchline. Wath had Tom Batty sinbinned for incorrect engagement at the scrum and Sam Levitts move to prop. However this did not hold the team back, flowing play continued. The pressure eventually told when from a good team movement Adam West held onto the ball did a cheeky step and raced to the line. The determination not to concede points continued to the very end. A cracking team performance, difficult to pick a MoM but Sean Power edged it with his defence ably assisted by Rory Anderson, Ben Roebuck and Luke Harrison who let nothing through all day.
The referee was a tall very young man who kept up with play, kept control well, missed very little and stamped on backchat, excellent performance. Only downside was he turned up in a Scottish RFU shirt. I suspect he will be moving onwards and upwards pretty quickly. Bit of shame as we would welcome him back anytime.