Wath vs West Leeds
After last weeks triumph Wath hoped to carry on with a winning streak. This was not to be so.West Leeds back play at times was bewildering that brought not only tries but spontaneous applause from both sets of supporters
During the first half Wath did have the occasional purple patch one which resulted in a try, set up by a strike against the head by Waths hooker Dave Gregory and a blind side break by waths scrum half Paul Knock who then flung a delicious pass to centre Dale Jackson. Jackson still had work to do but he took up the cudgel, ran evasively and scored a fine try this was the example Wath should have followed but somehow they didn't
No one likes failure but failure is when you give in Wath didn't give in but they must strive harder for victory
Next weeks home game is against Baildon KO 2.15
FIRE WORKS DISPLAY SUNDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 6.pm
Wath 28 Airborough 18
At half time wath were staring at an abyss, but were they?
Although then visitors were leading it wasn't a comfortable lead. Their first try was from an unfortunate interception and Wath had missed two kickable penalties. Add to this a brilliant 60 m run by Andy Barratt who's pass just before the try line was judged forward gave Waths supporters hope. These opportunities and the confidence of Craig Beck at full back who fielded every high ball and a real wingers try by David Horton allowed Wath to turn round at half time feeling the game could be won.
Adding to the confidence Richard Greaves came off the subs bench to take on the critical roll of a thinking stand off. Wath then began to test Airboroughs fragile defence. within the space of 15 minutes Greaves with a try, a conversion and a penalty had reduced the points difference to 3.This situation could also herald the turning point of Waths season. With the forwards working so well particularly Mat Cooke, constantly making the ball available for Waths backs. Steve Mason was given a clean ball, rounded his man with ease before cutting inside and evaded the cover to score for Richard Greaves again to convert. At this stage Wath had the game under control but James West playing the whole of the second half with the disadvantage of a leg injury ignored the pain and scored a try in the last minute.
Next weeks away game against West Leeds will not be easy
Wath vs York RI (11-7 lost)
Wath were made to suffer for their inadequacies in not doing the basics correctly in the first 20 minutes of the first half, and their apparent lack of imagination in the second. A good kick off by Steve Mason that Wath failed to attack resulted in their pack being driven 15 metre back and then the ball went wide from York using their big right winger as a battering ram into the heart of the Wath back line. If last ditch tackles were not made by the two wings and the Wath full back then Wath would have ended the first 20 minutes more than the 8-0 down they were from a penalty and a try by York. The Wath pack started to put phases together, but trying to off load the ball in contact was costing Wath possession, luckily the front 5 were out scrumming the opposition to such an extent that in the first half it did not matter who’s put in it was the ball came back on the Wath side. When Wath eventually realised they could keep possession at the break down it was York that played the remainder of the half under pressure but Wath were not able to convert this into any scoring opportunities.
At the half time break Anthony Barrett came on as an injury replacement. Wath then scored a quickly taken penalty under the York posts allowing Mathew Cooke to score there only try which Barrett converted. This should have been the spring board to greater things but Wath could not convert any more points as poor handling resulted in a number of chances to score, a missed drop goal from range was the only time Wath threatened to score again as the York defence held firm. Wath still taking ball against the head at scrums could not produce a killer blow, York only got into the Wath 22 twice in the second half but both these resulted in penalty attempts with only one being successful. It left Wath needing a try to win the match but other than a break from Mason, with the try line beckoning the referee deemed the last pass to be forward, this was virtually the last action of the game and Wath will be disappointed to lose a game many people thought they would win. Where as last weeks loss was reported to being down to lack of fitness this weeks loss will be put down to basic and missed tackles. Final score York 11 – Wath 7.
