Rugby Welsh 9 – 26 Old Wheatleyans
No Booze = Wicked Wheats
An unhappy Wheats side travelled over to Rugby after the opposition had refused an early ko. With several players conveniently unavailable there were several changes to the side. The front 5 were all different to the side that had started against Standard, this weeks combo was Dennis, Whetton, P Hartopp, McShame and Pat. The Hodgkiss brothers paired up in the back row, luckily Weaver was available though so the back row was not too weak. The back line looked competent with Dean & East at half backs, JK & Brad in the centre, Brown & Haddo on the wings & Bennett at 15.
With a venue change also in the mix, the side arrived at Webb Ellis road & one look at the pitch determined the strategy for the game – get lots of ball to the backs & with all that space they won’t fail to score!
The side were focused and ready at kick off, determined to punish the opposition for making them miss the England game.
Unfortunately the backs struggled to function in the early stages and a dropped pass led to Welsh fly hacking down field and end up registering 3 points as Wheats held on in the ruck. The next points were also to the Welsh after Wheats defence got caught offside, 6-0.
The forwards still had fire in there eyes and realising the backs were having a gash day took some matters into there own hands and started pressuring the Welsh scrum & securing there own line out ball. From outside the 22 Easty slipped a beauty back into Brown who found the gap & accelerated to the line to score under the posts. 6-7. The Welsh managed to find there way back into the Wheats 22 & another silly penalty following a Benno boot that he forgot to chase ended with Welsh recording a further 3. 9-7. The score remained until the half time whistle went.
The Wheats started strong in the 2nd half and were camped in the Welsh 22. Bennett, who was having a stormer, helped the Wheats keep territorial advantage by putting his swingers in the way of a Welsh clearance.
The try wasn't long coming with JK ignoring the 3 man overlap & crashing over near the posts. 12-9.
The forwards really started to exert the authority on the game and with K Man driving them on the Welsh seldom left their half in the next 20mins, a catch & drive from a lineout gave the Wet one chance to pounce over the line wide out, conversion good 19-9. The Welsh came back into the game after this, they opted for a 3 pointer but it was pushed just wide. The Wheats needed to do something to get back down into the Welsh half & relieve the pressure – up step the rampaging pig. Neil H intercepted on his own 22 & rampaged to the oppositions 22 like a snail on speed. He even managed to slip Brown 1 who had fallen behind & didn’t quite manage to make the line.
However, resultant pressure gave the backs some good quick ball & the beast showed good footwork to glide in under the posts and secure the victory at 26-9.
Great spirit was shown throughout the game, the side obviously don’t appreciate been kept out of the boozer when there is international rugby to be watched on TV.
MOTM: The front 5 were all superb & won the game for the side, Rich B & Browny performed excellently in the backs, and for once the referee knew the laws & didn’t hold any grudge against the Wheats. Tough call this week but for recording 5 & general attitude MOTM goes to Jas W this week.
DOTD: It was nice to see Gillam back playing.
Player Ratings:
1. Carl Dennis: 8 – scrummaged superbly – strong as on ox!
2. Jas W: 8.5 – a nuisance to the opposition all day
3. Paul H: 8 – srummaging & lineout work was as good as the Wheats have seen this season
4. Pat: 8 – the unsung hero in the row.
5. McShame: 8.25 – superb in the lineout & got around the park.
6. Si H: 7.5: focal & aggressive throughout.
7. Weaver: 7: slightly off the pace due to a “virus”, but still a solid performance.
8. Neil H: 7.5: left flat footed by the Welsh 10 a couple of times, but 70yd “dash” more than made up for it.
9. Dean: 7 – the complete 9 performance.
10.Easty: 7.5 – out of hand kicking gave the Wheats valuable yardage, scored a text book Easty try.
11.Browny: 8 – ran hard & looked to stay involved all game. Took his try with some class. GO ON THE OUTSIDE.
12.JK: 7 The centre partnership were obviously suffering from severe shock at the forwards performance & the amount of ball they were getting.
13.Brad: 7 Defended well.
14.Haddo: 7 Not given much opportunity in attack but solid in defence.
15.Bennett: 8 – looked steady, assured & confident at the back. A great game.
16.Gillam: 7 – reliable as ever.
17.Kondi M: 7.5 – a legend in his own mind. First game for nearly 12 months – you’d never known he'd been away. Made Easty stretch his 6ft 2 frame to take some scorching passes.
Named & Shamed:
New feature – those who make themselves unavailable will now be named & shamed on a weekly basis
Name Excuse Wheats Response
Brad I’ve got a wedding You are a liar
Andy H Daughters b’day She’ll have another b’day
Macca I’m going to Guernsey Why?
Joe L Paintballing No hiding for u, don’t bother – it hurts.
Ross Bruised bone Get over it.
Bettsy No way I’m playing Not much we can say to that!
Charlie I’m watching England No passion
Hasto I’m watching England No passion
Scan I’ve retired Again? Come back man!
Beero Not responding U still out there?
Span Daughters b’day She’s only 1, she won’t notice u not there!
Birchy Ignoring us You’ll be back, they always come back.
Brett I’m playing for Nuns Judas.
Webby My ankle still sore This injury beyond a joke now
Drury I’m pretending to be ill Get teddies back in the pram – it’s not our fault Standard game ended up like it did!
Rubes Wanted by local police Stop kissing pre-pubescent schoolgirls
RFU.com 
Search
