Old Wheatleyans 41 – 14 Atherstone
So Close! (C.R.B. FACT!)
Following Atherstone’s late postponement of the fixture on Wheats VP’s day, the RFU enforced a replay of the match on a Wednesday night. Wheats put their hands in their pockets and paid out for use of pitch etc at Old Coventrians. A big thank-you to OCs for accommodating the game at such short notice!
With some students unable to get back mid-week and a few working away the team lined up as follows: regulars Scanny & Loachy packed down either side of Sam; Ross was partnered by Paul in the 2nd row – enjoying his 2nd game in Wheats colours in 5 days! The back row is the most fiercely competed unit in the club, Casper, Superior Hands & Skipper Pig lined up together ready to cause mayhem! Benno moved to 9 with the Beast wearing 10, JK & Brad reformed their centre partnership after JK had missed several previous league games due to injury, Browny was joined on the Wing by Steve Johns who has thankfully given up his Saturday job & is now back full time! After a late cry off (5pm) from Chatwin, Tom Watts was drafted in to play 15. The club owes much gratitude to so called “ringers” Sam & Tom for helping out at such short notice.
Atherstone side was joined by some Covents players so the 29 point win that was required was always going to be tough.
However, things got off to a good start, JK opened his account showing none of the old magic had gone by gliding & boshing his way to the line. Soon after, some good hands in the backs put the Brown in a bit of space and he showed he was firing to finish with class. 14-0 after less than 10 mins – great! A slip up at the back allowed Atherstone to register an undeserved 7.
The Wheats forwards were visibly up for it, they were generally dominating the scrum & winning all their own line out ball. Whilst a little slow to the breakdown and not clearing out as we can, enough ball was been secured to give the smoky back line a reasonable amount of possession.
Next up Atkins glided in under the posts to dot down and take the score to 21-7, Wheats were having a dream start to the game.
Wheats being Wheats though, allowed Atherstone to trundle over the line to make it 21-14 – perhaps not reflecting the early dominance.
Despite chat of keeping cool, panic looked like it was setting in, but the Beast cooled affairs with some clever tactical kicking & slotted a penalty to make it 24-14 at the break.
There was much chat in the half time huddle.
Atherstone (& Co) were certainly showing big heart & competing for everything.
Mid-way through the half some clever dummy runs gave the Beast a gap that was fully exploited with an explosion of pace. 29-14.
Things looked bleak until the last 7mins, when out of pretty much nothing, Stevie Johns out gassed the opposition to score in the corner. 34-14.
5Mins to go – hearts were pumping – could we do it??
From the re-start there was some good interlinking play in the forwards that led to Brad going in under the posts. 41-14. One more point needed …..
There were opportunities in the last couple of mins but the Atherstone defence stood solid. For some strange reason, Atherstone coach & supporters were fully behind the Covents cause & shouting for the ref to blow for the end of the game. Weird?!
Broken hearted(?) the Wheats players left the field, heads held high. A good performance and a good win against quite strong opposition. Had Atherstone turned up on the Saturday for the original fixture with their players, we may have done it – who knows! But what is done is done, an enjoyable game for all spectators.
1 point! Over a whole season! The side can hold there head high by virtue of the fact we play & support rugby as a rugby club is supposed to, our bead count is low. We can also claim a moral victory in that we won more games than anybody else in the league (shame about the dubious 2 point deduction!).
No point kicking ourselves over the stupid knock-on’s at vital stages – it was a great win with massive Wheats heart. Well done all!!!
Thank-you to Atherstone for honouring the fixture. Good look to Covents in the play-off.
Next up – Earlsdon 7’s – May 10.
The side should also look forward to next season ….. watch this space for upcoming news regarding plans for the 08/09 season.
MOTM: Everyone put in 100%; front 5 were solid, back row everywhere, all the backs made yardage, but the Beast looked the most dangerous so gets the nod.
DOTD: Nobody from Wheats.
- Scan: 8 – 4hr journey back from the smoke to play – great passion! Solid I the scrum & got around well.
- Sam: 8.1 stood in & helped out. Broke the gain line more than once & pin point throwing at the line out.
- Joe Loach: 8 – targeted by the opposition but still boshed his way through the game & defended with good aggression.
- Ross: 8 – had the leave the field early in the 2nd half but usual top draw performance.
- Paul: 8 – great leader & everywhere doing everything.
- Ben Hands: 8.1 – well up for it & smashed the opposition on numerous occasions.
- Ben Weaver: 8.1 – player of the year lived up to his reputation.
- Skipper Pig: 8 – another fine leadership performance.
- Benno: 8 – looked dangerous with ball in hand & caused problems for the opposition 9.
- Easty: 8.2 – class in attack, seen making several tackles. Outstanding display!
- Browny: 8 – unfortunately not given much space following his early try.
- JK: 8.1 – a handful for the opposition throughout & usual mental D.
- Brad: 8.1 – crowd excites every time he gets the ball, class performance. Had 3 opposition men marking him in 2nd half – what better compliment!
- Jas W: 8 – the god barrelled his way through opposition whenever he got ball.
- Tom Watts: 8 – safe in defence & dangerous in attack, suited the Wheats shirt.
- Steve Johns: 8.1 – on at half time & scored outstanding try – great to have back.
- Si H: 8 – on for Ross mid-way through 2nd half, great all round game in A & D.
- Carl: 8 – late replacement for Scan – scrummaged superbly.
Yet again, the club owes Gillam a massive thank-you who travelled back from Nott with kit & ready for action if needed.
RFU.com 
Search
