The 2s welcomed their local rivals for the first game of the season. The pitch was in super condition but the surface was very wet after a torrential storm 30 minutes before K.O.
Wath fielded a good team but lacked a Stand Off so skipper Jim West filled in with Reece Tingle at scrum half. Kicking up hill from the start the Wath pack were more mobile and powerful and soon the game was being played in Barnsleys 22. The backs received good ball from scrum, lineout and ruck, however they were pinged 3 times for passes deemed forward by the ref. The pressure eventually told and James Dobson went over for a try out wide. The conversion was missed. Barnsley then came back strongly and put pressure on the home team defence. From one pick and drive Jason Cotton was sin-binned for handling in the subsequent ruck. Barnsley took advantage of the 14 man defence and passed the ball through their impressive back line and scored out wide. Shortly after the halftime whistle went. 5-5 at H.T.
With centre Sean Power suffering a Achilles injury and Reece Tingle getting a hard knock on his knee the backs were re-jigged for second half, West moving to his usual 9 and Adam Clarke moving from 15 to 10. Luke Harrison had to move to wing from back row. Alex Anders came on for his debut and utility back Jordan Fleming came on at 15. Max Reader moved to loose head from hooker. The game continued in much the same way. Wath pressuring Barnsley with forward drives, when they did get the ball the Wath backs defence was excellent. Ben Hartley, Adam Clarke, Rory Anderson and Will Booth putting in some superb tackles ably assisted by Henry Roberts.
The pressure eventually told when the refreshed Jason Cotton went over and Adam Clarke converted. 12-5. The game was far from won though, Barnsley never gave in and kept trying to get back on terms. From one of Waths attacks the dynamic Chris Jones went over but the try was unconverted. 17-5. The game was changed with 30 minutes to go when the young Barnsley prop had to leave the field after a knock to the head, to join Max Reader who earlier had gone off for a HIA. Barnsley had no other front row so scrums went uncontested. This meant the impact of the home teams scrum Was reduced. Throughout the game Gaz Allot, Andy Bartlett and Callum Mcnally had given their opposite front row a very tough time. The impact was not as bad has could have been as the Wath pack were fitter and more mobile and were up to the speed of the game.
The teams were well supported by a good crowd of 50 who witnessed an entertaining tussle. Barnsley were very much improved on last season and we look forward to the return just before Xmas.
Man of Match; Andy Bartlett.

TEAM; G Allot, A Bartlett, J Mcnally, J Cotton, C Jones, L Harrison, H Roberts, J Dobson, R Tingle,
J West, R Anderson, S Power, B Hartley, W Booth, A Clarke, M Reader, J Fleming, A Anders.