Old Wheatleyans 31 – 36 Atherstone
Ooops!
With the unavailability list looking longer than Bettsy’s piece, it looked like it would be a difficult afternoon for the Wheats. Especially considering the back-line contained 4 forwards and a winger playing at 9!
However, what followed was a 30minute spell of absolutely stunning rugby from the Wheats. With forwards driving & rucking like demented animals and second row AB controlling the game at 10 with some intelligent kicking it was only a matter of time before the points started coming.
Back-row forward James Gillam, playing at 13 was first to score with a clever break down the blind side. Next try was a solo effort from fly half AB who sent the Atherstone back row packing with a beautiful show & go to score under the posts. Shortly after he nearly scored the next with another clever break but was tap tackled inches from the line. With a penalty awarded in front of the posts captain AB cleverly choose to ignore the instructions from the side line & kicked to the corner, the following play led to Hooker - and Wheats leading scorer this season - Jas W recording another score. AB converting from wide out on the right. 19-0. Following some further pressure the Wheats went for a push over try & were rightly awarded a penalty try when the scrum collapsed. 26-0 and Atherstone had not touched the ball.
From the kick-off rather than follow the set pattern that had worked so well for 1/2hour the Wheats decided to throw the ball around in the own 22, possession was lost. Atherstone set up a maul on the touchline and were pushed out towards the cricket square, unfortunately the linesman had gone MIA and Atherstone recorded a try under the posts to make it 26-7 at Half Time.
What followed in 2nd half is best kept brief, a real lack of fitness, a lot of bad luck in terms of refereeing decisions & impressive Atherstone commitment led to the Wheats losing 36-31, the final score coming with the last play of the game for the third time this season.
Full credit to the Wheats players who put on a shirt on Saturday & thanks to big Shaun T for stepping in at the last minute & doing a fine job at inside-centre & Matt Brown playing out of position at 9 played with real guts & determination.
MOTM: Maca & Eggy both had stormers in the 1st half, but the award goes the AB for his sterling performance in the Nr 10 shirt.
DOTD: WSOR
1. J Loach 2. Jas W 3. Ben Baines (Scan 50mins) 4. Bettsy 5. Haddo 6. Si H 7. Eggy 8. Macca 9. M Brown 10. AB 11. Ant (Drury 40mins) 12. Shaun T 13. Gillam 14. Ross 15. Rubery
Big 2 Duke it Out
A quick glance at the table now shows that only Standard Triumph are between the Wheats and the top spot in the Midlands 6 West South East North by North West Upper-Coundon Left at the Traffic Lights when you drive towards the Shops from the Pilot League.
The Wheats next league clash is against their old sparring partners Coventrians, who must surely fancy taking the big scalp when they meet on 16th December. Some commentators are suggesting it could be the M6WSENNWUCLTLSPL title decider.
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