Old Wheatleyans 22 – 26 Rugby Welsh
How the Wheats managed to lose this game will remain as much a mystery as to why Rob McGowan would decide it was a good idea to leave Mandy.
The Wheats were without influential backs Jamie Keenan (injured), Richard East (prior commitment), Rich Drury ("flu") and Brad Atkins (let down).
The side started with full-back Marc Ruberry obviously thinking he was still on the stage at the Coliseum as he flapped around and went MIA whilst influential second row James McShame was still trying to remember the name and species of the thing he woke up next to. During this time there was the small matter of an important league match going on around them, and unfortunately the Welsh managed to run in two converted tries within the first 10 minutes. Their first try came from the referee giving a dubious penalty at a scrum, ignoring the rules of sacred RFU handbook, the Welsh took a quick penalty whilst the scrum was still formed and the Wheats stood around and applauded a run in under the posts. Their second try came from some terrible defending by the Wheats, with winger Matt Brown obviously wishing he’d left his pink socks on to keep warm as the Welsh winger left him standing.
Then came a moment in the game that will affect the Wheats for the rest of the season, centre Ian Webster crashed through the middle of the field and re-cycled the ball, unfortunately he suffered a severe injury to his leg in the tackle. Both sides were shocked by the injury and the game was stopped to await the arrival of the paramedics. Ian cheered up a little when the paramedics turned out to be female with free drugs. The club would like to express gratitude to the paramedics for the speed of their arrival and the way they dealt with the situation – first class. Ian has had his leg plated and pinned, he will be a major loss to the side, his form this season has been second to none and everyone involved in the club wishes him a speedy recovery. This is the second serious injury to a player this year , with Nr 8 Neil Hodgkiss requiring a plate in his arm following an incident during a pre-season friendly. Weighing in the scrap metal when these plates & pins are removed will at least provide the club with some much needed finance!
After 20 or so minutes the game was re-started and the difference in the Old Wheats side was unbelievable as they battled to win one for Webby! The pack pushed the Welsh forwards back 10m in the first scrum and this was how it would remain for the rest of the match. John Betts was formidable in the line-out with some excellent throwing-in by Adam Mason. The tight five started to play as a unit and the Welsh had no answer to their play, especially the rolling mauls. Props Mark Scannel and Andy Hibberd worked hard all afternoon in the tight, Hooker Adam Mason showed form of old leading the pack with real spirit and determination. Second Row James McShame had finally forgotten about the heffer and disrupted the opposition’s ball and for the first time in years carried the ball sensibly and hard into contact. Fellow second row John Betts was the integral part of the rolling maul. Simon Hodgkiss played his first game for 6 months and made a big difference to the pack working hard all afternoon in the tight and the loose. Openside James Gillam was effective when his hair wasn’t in his eyes and is slowly developing into a fine Wheats player. Once again No 8 Macca stood out as the exceptional forward, long may his form continue (caravanning breaks may interrupt this at some point).
The 1st half ended 14-14, the first Wheats try was finished off superbly by the revived Marc Ruberry (he had obviously sneaked something from the paramedics to wake him up). The second try came from one of many rolling mauls, the opportunity nearly went begging as Marc Scannel broke from the side of the maul and headed towards the A45. Both conversions were excellent efforts from fly-half Chris Gardiner.
The second half started as the first finished, the Wheats were dominant and James McShame broke away from yet another Maul to touch down for 5 more. Persistent offences by the opposition should have been awarded with 2 or 3 penalty tries, but it was not to be, and the Wheats had to make to do with 3 from the boot of the lively replacement fly-half Tom (and 10 mins in the cooler for a Welsh prop after taking Betts out in mid air on a line out). What followed was typical Wheats, relaxing on their 22-14 lead James Gillam obviously thought he was on the beach as their nr 10 ran in unopposed from a non-threatening position. The Wheats worked their way back down the field and never felt they were in danger – until the boot of the returning back row forward (playing in the centre) "Eggy" struck. With influential backs Chris Gardiner, Andy Lewis and Ian Webster off the field injured, the Wheats were awarded another penalty and up came Eggy, obviously effected by standing out in the backs all day he was adamant he would make touch – what followed was a spiralling bomb straight down the throat of the Welsh, hurray I hear some of you say, but the Welsh countered and rather than the Wheats having a simple lineout and push over try the Welsh ended up with a scrum on the 10m line. They were pushed off their ball but their back row managed to pick up and re-cycle, with the Wheats centre partnership now formed by two not-so-clever back row players, the Welsh found space to run through whilst the centres were busy carrying out their usual back row duties. The covering Wheats defence struggled in a 5 on 2 and the Welsh went over in the corner in the final play of the game. Wheats’ hearts broken. A game they will learn from and one they should definitely not have lost (as per most games the Wheats ever lose!).
A special mention should also go to Chris Gardiner & Andy Lewis, their experience is a real benefit to the side. Chris kicked superbly all day and led the back-line in defence and attack until going off injured early in the 2nd half due to scrum-half Dean Bryant’s bullet passes damaging the fly-halves hands (or it might have been a thigh muscle from stretching to reach the passes?). Andy’s presence makes a real difference to the side, both on & off the field and he looked extremely lively in the Centre until going off injured.
The side look forward to the challenge of Trinity Guild Away this weekend and hope to see the majority of the 7 or 8 players missing this week return to action.
MOTM: front row effort: Andy Hibberd, Adam Mason, Mark Scannel (that means 25% each boys).
1. A Hibberd, 2. A Mason, 3. M Scannel, 4. J Betts, 5 J McShane, 6. S Hodgkiss, 7. J Gillam, 8. M McKenzie, 9. D Bryant, 10. C Gardner (Tom 60), 11. M Brown, 12. I Webster (Eggy 15), 13. A Lewis (D Ramsay 68), 14. Jonah, 15. M Ruberry
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