Old Rishworthian U16 12 - 24 Wharfedale, match report, Rishworthians fade in 2nd half

Match report Sunday 27th April
Wharfedale travelled to Copley for the last game of the season and were greeted by heavy rain and a very sticky pitch. Rishworthians missing some key players and no subs played well to hold Wharfedale to a slender 12 - 5 lead in the second half but a fitter Wharfedale side finished strongly to run in 3 late tries to take the game from Rishworthians.

Rishworthians started strongly with a forward drive and scrum half Will Brian releasing his backs to take play into the Wharfedale 22. From there the forwards employed a series of pick up and drives to close on the try line but a knock on gave Wharfedale a put in at a scrum. Wharfedale won the scrum and a good clearance kick to touch and relieved the early pressure. A good break by the visitors took play into the home 22 and it was Rishworthians turn to defend their line. An infringement by Wharfedale gave Rishworthians a penalty and Tom Booth the chance to clear the danger. With 15 mintues on the clock Rishworthans broke the deadlock with Tom Booth chipping the ball over the Wharfedale backs and cente Alex Kiy was up quickly to take a kind bounce and sprint 40 metres to score under the posts. Booth adding the conversion.

Both sides enjoyed periods of possession with some end to end rugby despite the poor conditions and both sides going close to scoring. However it was Wharfedale who worked their way back into the game in the last few minutes of the half to score a well worked try spinning the ball down their back line and squeezing through a gap to score an unconverted try wide out.

Half time: Old Rishworthians 7 - 5 Wharfedale

Rishworthians again started the half well pushing Wharfedale back with good forward drives, Will Brian feeding his backs produced a strong run from Kiy but he was well tackled before he could release his winger. THe Rishworthian pressure paid off after 10 minutes of the half. From a scrum inside the oppositions half Brian fed Booth who made a half break before feeding centre Wood who brushed past his marker to score his first try for the club wide out. Booth was unable to convert.

The Wharfedale reply was swift, from the restart they camped in the Rishworthian half and within 5 minutes reduced the arrears with an unconverted try to give Rishworthians a slender 12 - 10 lead. Wharfedale continued to press and took the lead with a well worked try. The forwards driving into the home 22 , quick ball from their scrum half released their backs to score an unconverted try wide out.

Both sides were now looking to win the game and it became end to end stuff, despite the poor conditions the quality of rugby was good. However Wharfedale sealed the game with another well worked try from their back line. The try was converted and Wharfedale ran out winners in the poor conditions.

Full time: Rishworthians 12 - 24 Wharfedale

Rishworthians v Wharfedale Slideshow.
Click on arrows to view more photos, click on photo to enlarge.

Team	1 Oswin	2 A Smalley	3 Pollard
6 Chan				7 Watkins
	4 Brierley		5 J Smalley
		8 Jackson
9 Brian
	10 T Booth	C
		12 Kiy T
			13 Wood T
11 Sheehan				14 Chow
		15 Travis
Subs