Under 14's Reports
Old Leodiensians U 14`s 26 : 14 Wetherby U14`s
Wetherby U14's did themselves credit on Sunday, when, despite a superb effort, they went down 26-14 to Old Leodensians.
Leos opened the scoring quickly, when the home side pressured the visitors, and forced themselves over the line. Soon after, they ran in another 5 points, to bring the score to 14-0. However it wasn't long before Wetherby hit back. Alex Dus scored a superb individual try, having beaten several defenders to touch down underneath the posts. Dus converted his own try, the scores now at 14-7. Throughout the rest of the half, neither side got the better of the other, but a well organised Leos back line found space on the wing to stretch their lead to 21-7.
After the break Wetherby where much the better side, and with the benefit of the wind behind them, they enjoyed the majority of possession. The away side were camped deep in the Leos half for a long periods of time, and had multiple opportunities to score, but poor handling when it mattered prevented them closing the gap. However, Wetherby were finally rewarded when excellent driving from the pack, made the ball available to the backs, and good handling made room for Dus to go over just to the right of the posts, again converting his own score. The sides were deadlocked for much of the remainder of the game, but Leos scored from close in the dying minutes. It finished 26-14 to the home side.
Excellent tackling from Tom Giles at full-back helped to keep Leos at bay, while Seb Davies impressed in his first appearance at scrum-half & special mention to Tom Edwards & Liam Walker although suffering from flu turned out & gave 100% effort.
January 7th, Wetherby 10, Selby 36
Despite a spirited effort and an excellent first half display, Wetherby U14's suffered a 36-10 loss at home to Selby.
The visitors opened the scoring against the run of play, when a loose ball was kicked down the field and a pitch-long foot race saw Selby dive over for their first score. However, after constant pressure, Wetherby were rewarded with a well deserved try, when George Heggie picked up from the back of the scrum and scored from close range. Wetherby continued to create opportunities throughout the rest of the first half, with some excellent work from the backs, but despite being the better side the score remained 5-5 at half time.
Selby came out stronger in the second half. They scored quickly to make it 10-5, and a spell of weak tackling allowed Selby to build a 36-5 lead. However, Wetherby rallied in the last few minutes, and finished the game off with a good try from Jonny Wheatley, making the score at full time 36-10, a respectable result.
Tom Edwards and Liam Walker were impressive in the forwards, both making good tackles.
December 17th, Wetherby 85 : 7 Morley
Wetherby`s under 14`s strode to a comprehensive 85 points to 7 victory over a depleted but spirited Morley XV at Grange Park on Sunday.
The under 14`s were 19 points to nil up through 2 scores to Jonny Wheatley and one to Alex Dus before Morley crashed through the Wetherby defence to snatch their only points of the game.
From then on it was one way traffic with further scores to George Leach,Charlie Kinsey Stephens, Jonny Wheatley, George Heggie 2, Liam Walker 2 and try of the match when 2nd row Olly Cowling broke the defence with a magnificent run to go in under the sticks from 40m.
Will Pearson and Ryan Kinghorn again continue to impress at prop and second row and spirited displays from Tom Edwards and Tom Giles at full back.
December 3rd, Yorkshire Plate 2nd Round, Sandal (Wakefield) 29 : 17 Wetherby
Wetherby let slip the chance of progressing to the 3rd round of the Yorkshire Plate crashing 29 points to 17 to Sandal.
Wetherby always looked the better of the sides but poor decision making by the backs cost a number of scores in their favour and poor defence cost points against.
Sandal took an early lead against the run of play only to see Wetherby draw even within 5 minutes through fly half Alex Dus going over on the left wing.
A see saw battle then ensured when the homeside again took the lead after poor back line play only to see Wetherby draw close again through a well worked ball cross field to winger Dom Siekierkowski to go in for his first ever touch down for his side.
Wetherby should have taken control of the game at this point but allowed Sandal to go over for a further 2 trys before the interval.
No. 8 George Heggie then went over on the resumption of the second period after picking up at the base of a 5m scrum, Alex Dus converting but the Wetherby backs continued to squander valuable possession by not getting the ball wide to the wingers where further scoring opportunities went begging.
November 19th, Bramley Phoenix 49 : 19 Wetherby
Bramley started the stronger side continually attacking the Wetherby line only to be repulsed by a stubborn Wetherby defence.The juniors grew in confidence as the game progressed and began to take control of the first period resulting in two touch downs for out side centre Jonny Wheatley, the first coming after Wheatley took a retrurn defencive kick to go over in the corner the second from a jinking run through the defence to go over under the sicks, both tries converted by inside centre Alex Dus who was in out standing form.
The homeside were quick to reply making an incisive run through the Wetherby back line for a 14 to 7 interval lea to Wetherby.
The resumption saw Bramley make a number of sustitutions that made the visitors look an age group below and resulted in them drawing even within 5 minutes.Another quick score was quickly pegged back when hooker Charlie Kinsey-Stevens crashed over after being fed from a 10m tap, by No. 8 George Heggie. Any sugestion of Wetherby coming back into the game was quickly snuffed out after a number of dubious decisions saw Bramley crosse a further 4 times. to take the game 49 points to 19.
The Grange Park boy`s can hold their heads high after a spirited performance that saw superb displays from Tom Giles at full back, Dom Siekierkowski on the wing, Liam Walker and Will Pearson in the forwards.
Wetherby U14`s 53 : 0 West Park Leeds U14`s
Captain George Heggie had a sintilating game crossing on 4 occasions in Wetherby`s comprehensive win against a spirited West Park Leeds side.
Wetherby dominated through out and led 36 points to nil at the interval through scores from Heggie,wing forward Tom Edwards and out side centre Jonny Wheatley, the best try coming from a solo run by inside centre Alex Dus from 50 metres out for the first of his brace.
Fly half George Leach evaded six would be tacklers on the resumption of the 2nd period to go over and the Grange Park boys never looked back to take the game 53 points to nil.
Wetherby U14`s 12 : 12 Yarnbury U14`s
Wetherby managed to claw back from a 12 to nil interval deficit to tie the game 12 points to all in an enthrawling encounter at Grange Park on Sunday.
Yarnbury took the lead from a well worked move that took the homesides defence across field berfore cutting back inside to cross for the first of two touch downs.
A momentary lapse of concentration saw them go over again from a 5 m scrum after the ball shot out past scrum half James Hughes only for the Yarnbury scrum half to touch down...
The second period saw a rejuvinated Wetherby side take the bull by the horns and continual peppering of the opposition full back with high balls from fly half Alex Dus eventually paid off when Skipper and No.8 George Heggie took a return kick to go in under the uprights, the conversion ably kicked by Dus.
Yarnbury powered close to a score on a couple of occasions but Wetherby`s tenatious defence kept them at bay before Heggie crossed for his second to sert up a grand stand finish.
The Juniors had chances to take the game in the dying seconds but the eventual 12 to 12 scoreline was a fair result for both sides on the day. Tom Giles continues to impress at full back making some outstanding tackles.
Oct 22nd, Wetherby U14`s 10 : 27 Old Brodlains U14`s (Halifax)
Wetherby U14`s crashed out of the Yorkshire Cup at the first hurdle going down to a well drilled Old Brodlians side 27points to 10.Brod`s took advantage of a lethargic Grange Park side and piled on 15 points without reply in the opening half. On the resumption of the second period it appeared that the half time team talk had paid off when ever present wing forward Tom Edwards made a break from 30m out to go just short of the line before slipping the ball to centre Alex Dus to go over the corner.The newly invigorated juniors continued to pile on the pressure but the visitors crossed for two further touchdowns to seal the game. Prop Liam Walker crashed over for a well deserved consolation score in the dying seconds.
Oct 15th Roundhegians 37 : 24 Wetherby
The final result of 37 points to 24 belied the commitment and effort put in by the Wetherby Under 14`s who but for committing basic errors should have capitalized on their superior possession rate.
The game played in the true spirit of the game was a credit to both sides who provided pulsating end to end action.
Roundhegians strode into an early 10 point lead, but Wetherby clawed back seven points just before the interval through No.8 George Heggie who was outstanding. A brilliantly executed score from Tom Edwards saw them take the lead only for `hegians to snatch it back through two further touch downs. Outside centre Alex Dus then crossed for the first of two superb scores but the Under 14`s continued to play catch up as the homes side sealed the game in the dying minutes.George Carr playing at fly half and Tom Giles at full back both impressed.
Triangular tournament at Wetherby Sunday 8th October.
Wetherby 12 : 0 Moortown
Moortown 5 : 10 Pontefract
Wetherby 24 : 7 Pontefract
Wetherby`s Under 14`s triumphed supreme in the impromptu triangular tournament winning both their matches against quality opposition.
In the first match against Moortown Wetherby took the lead after 6 minutes after No 8 George Heggie broke from a scrum and fed to outside centre Jonny Wheatley to go over in the corner. The juniors went further ahead just before half time when centre Alex Dus broke from 40 metres to go in under the uprights, George Leach converting. Although Wetherby had several more chances and always had the upper hand `towns tenacious defence kept them at bay for a final 12 to nil scoreline in favour of the home side.
The second game saw Moortown take on Pontefract which the well drilled Ponte` outfit looked as if they were going to romp home after taking a 10 points to nil interval lead l, but `town fought back bravely showing great character narrowing the gap to 10 points to 5.
Wetherby triumphed over Pontefract in the decider, 24 points to 7 scores coming from fly half George Leach who jinked his way through the defence from 15 metres and converted. Ponte` drew level from a push over try just before the interval, but on the resumption the Grange Park boys cut loose with a well earned brace from Elliot Stearn and a second in the tournament for skipper George Heggie.
Wetherby U14`s 14 : 7 Old Leos U14
Wetherby eventually came out on top at the end of this very competitive match between two closely matched teams. Leos forwards scored after a drive following a tapped penalty close to the Wetherby line meaning Wetherby went in at half time 7-nil down. As the second half progressed the class of the Wetherby backs began to show and George Leach scored a fine individual try under the posts which he converted. With the scores level it only remained for Captain George Heggie to score following excellent pressure by the Wetherby pack. Leach converted from out wide. First class defence from the whole team ensured the First Wetherby win of the season.
