Coventrians 6 - 5 Old Wheatleyans
The game between Coventrians and Old Wheatleyans eventually got underway after a delayed kickoff. Wheats were forced to start the match with only 13 players on the field as Chuckle Brothers McGowan and McShane failed to turn up.
The first 10 minutes or so therefore required a heroic effort on the part of the players who’d made it. Wheats defended manfully, shutting out Covents who’s larger pack failed to push over the crucial yards for the points they were after. Martin Ward slotted into the back row to provide much needed stability, and by the skin of their teeth Wheats looked like they might make it.
Eventually Rob and McShane did turn up, and after a brief bit of kissing in the changing rooms managed to get themselves changed and out. Wheats were also joined by Will Owen who had come all the way back from Bath and arrived at the same time. So McShane sat on the sideline whilst Rob and Will joined the fray.
Rob made an impact on the game straight away – getting himself sin binned barely a minute after coming on to the field for accidentally standing on a Covents player’s head. Covents also lost a second row to the bin for retaliation. As the game wore on it became apparent that the Wheats’ dogged defence was beginning to get under the skin of some of the Covents players, one of whom either through frustration, or lack of a decent meal, decided to chow down on Macca’s arm during a ruck.
Unfortunately this behaviour went unpunished, as the ref was unable to determine who had commited the crime, but a stern word was had on how it’s not really cricket to bite other human beings. The match continued.
With the numbers even Wheats began to exert more pressure, primarily via the smoky set of backs that they were able to field.
Following phase after phase of rugby it was a quick penalty taken from 5 out by Will Owen which provided the first score as he dived over the line on the left. The resulting conversion was missed.
Half time 0 – 5.
Defending the slim lead was going to require more determined defence as the Wheats played into the sun and down the slope in the 2nd half. And that’s exactly what was provided. It seemed like no-one missed a tackle, Ross was having a good day against Covents 2 jumper (who’s always a handful), the front row was solid and in the middle of the park JT and Will were linking with Brad to cause the Covents backs more than a few problems.
As the match wore on it seemed that Wheats defence might hold, despite increasing pressure from Coventrians’ rolling mauls Wheats remained firm. The second half was backs to the wall defending, with the Wheats only making two significant visits to the opponents 22 in the second half, resulting in a missed penalty kick from the left.
Discipline was to prove the crucial factor in the end though, as a poorly phrased question from McGowan to the ref about an award of a scrum in the middle of the park meant a penalty against the Wheats. Further ill advised questioning meant that Wheats got marched back 10, and now Covents were in kicking range with 10 minutes to go. The penalty was duly converted by Covents skipper, and the match was finely balanced at 3-5 in Old Wheatleyans’ favour.
The clock continued to wind down, and with only a minute to go Wheats found themselves in possession with a 22 drop out. The re-start however went out on the full, giving Coventrians a scrum in the middle of the field. As the seconds ticked on a maul formed just inside the Wheats 22, only for the whistle to blow for a penalty against Old Wheats for coming in at the side.
Covents skipper held his nerve to send the ball between the posts to give his team a 1 point lead with just seconds to go.
There was only time for one play from the kickoff before no-side, and the Wheats were once again left to wonder why Rugby games can't only last for 79 minutes...
MOTM: Ross
DOTD: McGowan
1. B Baines, 2. Trussy, 3. Scan, 4. Ross (McShame 65), 5. Macca, 6. M Ward, 7. J Gillam, 8. S Hodgkiss, 9. R McGowan, 10. B Atkins, 11. M Brown, 12. W Owen, 13. JT, 14. R Drury, 15. M Rubery
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