Coventry Saracens 27 – 17 Old Wheatleyans
DUMP.
The Wheats went into the match hoping to avenge the 23-22 last minute defeat inflicted upon them by Cov Saracens earlier in the season.
A remarkable week for availability meant just 4 changes to the side from the previous league game, and with just the 20 players unavailable this week the Wheats were able to field a 2nd XV.
The pre-match preparation did not go to plan, Jas W crying off at 1300 meant having to retrieve Murph from The Cedars on route, Ant Webb added to the misery by voming 15mins before ko.
From the start it was obvious that the opposition were well up for this game as they played with real determination and aggression, 2 things the Wheats have really lacked this year.
The Wheats had first chance to score, AB lining up a penalty from the 10m line only to see it just go wide by 30 or 40m.
Cov Saras were first on the score sheet thanks to some appalling refereeing borderline decisions. They were also second on the score sheet after some serious bad luck with a bounce. Poor Refereeing & Bad Luck – our prime excuses for the season – with 1 score attributable to each so early in the game surely things could only improve. Wrong, the Wheats spent sometime in the Cov Saras 22, another shot at goal by AB just going wide.
Third on the score sheet were Saras after some good interlinking & some poor wheats defence: 17-0 after 30mins – oh dear.
Backs to the wall, pressure off, time to perform – Second Row Ross recording his first league try following a quick penalty and drive by Macca.
Half Time 17-5 (AB missed the conversion)
During the half time break the wind lifted somewhat, whatever sins we may have committed to the powers above we truly apologise – but please give us some sort of break (but not anymore broken bones!)
Although the scrums were fairly solid the Wheats were struggling a little in the line out due to some excellent work by the Saras 2 jumper. With this in mind a decision was taken to play a quicker more expansive game during the 2nd half.
Saras actually started the 2nd half the stronger, during one phase a knock-on, a man running into his own player & a forward pass led to a score in the corner. The Wheats were struggling to get out of their own half until a long range pass from AB found JK in space, the referee obviously a little tired though blew his whistle, apologised to AB and said I know it wasn’t a forward pass but I’m going to give them a scrum anyway – genius! Although he did offer to buy AB a pint afterwards.
22-5 down with 30mins to go. The Wheats finally enjoyed some possession and the opposition found it difficult to cope with their quicker game, persistent offences at the breakdown led to several penalties. Eventually the try came with JK scoring in the corner. Conversion missed 22-10.
More pressure followed from the Wheats in the oppositions 22, until a turn over led to the nippy Saras 15 running the length of the pitch to score under the posts (and even managing to make Drury trip over his own laces in the process). 27-10.
Further quick work by forwards & backs led to one last score for the Wheats, JK running in under the posts. Conversion ……… Good! 27-17 at the final whistle.
Saras deserved their win as they were far more committed to the cause, but the Wheats should take some heart from the way played during patches in the 2nd half.
With absolutely no pressure left in terms of gaining promotion this year the Wheats can afford to play high risk enjoyable rugby for the remainder of the season.
Availability remains an issue – can everybody please give the Club priority for once this coming week! The 1’s are at home & the 2’s away – England match after at club in town – all welcome for a bit of a social do! A few Beast Pizzas may even be knocking round?!
DOTD: Gillam.
MOTM: Macca put in a strong performance but the award goes to the ageing centre Jamie Keenan for some excellent mid-field breaks – if only the youth could keep up!
1. Joe Loach 2.Murphy 3. Scan 4. Ian Hadridge 5. Ross 6. S Hodgkiss 7. Gillam 8. Macca 9. D Bryant 10. AB 11. M Brown 12. J Keenan 13. R Drury 14. Ant W 15. M Rubery 16. Spanner
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