Barkers Butts 12 - 5 Old Wheatleyans
The sun went down just in time for kick off at Pickford Grange Lane where a mixed Barkers side entertained the Wheats for what was set to be a soggy encounter.
From the off it was clear that the battle up front was going to be crucial, as conditions didn't help handling or running too much following the previous night's downpour. However it was Old Wheatleyans who adapted most quickly, using the slope to good effect and pressurising the Barkers line during the first exchanges of the game. Dunc Keenan nearly got Wheats off the mark with an early attempt at a drop goal from just left of the posts outside the 22, and was unlucky to see the effort sail wide of the right hand post. Still the signs were looking good for the Wheats early on.
The pack worked hard to keep the play in Barkers' half, and probably had the better of the scrum in the first period, the ref also handing out some good advice on how to put the ball down the middle to Matt Brown who was making his second appearance in the 9 shirt.
Continued pressure from Wheats finally told after what seemed like ages camped in the Barkers’ half. A maul just five yards from the line went down, and from the resulting ruck Barkers were caught napping when the ball squirted out of the side for alert second row Ian Haddridge to claim and get just enough downward pressure for the try. The conversion from the right was missed.
Wheats weren’t having such a good time in the lineout though, Barkers were able to cause some disruption here with good jumpers double-banked at 2 and 4. Before half time they were able to work their way back up the field to force a try in the last few minutes of the half, which was converted to leave it very narrow at the break.
Half time: 7 – 5 to the home side.
Wheats had a task on their hands in the second half, but set about it in the right way, continuing to defend well with more tackles from Rubes (though not the usual amount of body checks), and a busy back row which was always in the Barkers’ three quarters face. It was this tenacity which led to open side Jenks charging down a late kick from the Barkers fly half. Matt Brown set off in pursuit and was favourite to score until a heavy kick through sent the ball dead before anyone could catch up.
Not long after it was the touch judge that denied the away side when Jase Whetton got round a stretched defence and put Matt Brown through for what would have been a certain try. Old Wheatleyans traveling support’s celebrations were cut short when the linesman’s flag was raised, giving “The Adonis” in touch.
The game continued to be a midfield battle for much of the half, despite some hard running from inside centre Sean T who broke game line more than once, Wheats couldn’t get over the whitewash.
When it came Barkers’ winner was a nice piece of rugby, as they picked their way through dogged Wheats’ tackles with offload after offload, finally getting over the line in the corner to clinch the game. Overall several good individual performances against a solid side here.
MOTM: Sean T - took some stopping in the middle of the park.
1. B Baines, 2. J Whetton, 3. C Dennis, 4. I Haddridge, 5. J Betts, 6. M McKenzie, 7. Jenks, 8. D Hastings, 9. M Brown, 10. D Keenan, 11. Turbo (Ross) 12. S Tregonning, 13. M Lang 14. Ant, 15 M Rubery
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