Grovians put up a very spirited performance in losing 26-17 to Wath who were unbeaten at home all season.
With only 18 players fit and available the Grovian team had several players playing out of position.
Grovians started the first half with a strong wind behind them and after just a few minutes Ben Brown just fell short with a penalty kick from half way. He then put Grovians in front with a penalty just inside the Wath 22.
Only ten minutes the home side broke up field and scored a try the conversion missed. Grovians continued to push Wath back found field using the wind to their advantage. On 20 minutes Grovians won slow lineout ball but a nice flat pass from centre Danny Secker sent in Joe Harrison under the posts. Brown converted. A few minutes later Brown sent a long penalty kick just wide of the posts.
Grovians had dominated the territory but Wath struck on 38 minutes a penalty was kicked to the corner and from the resulting line out Wath scored a try that was converted to give Wath a 12-10 lead. However, Jack De’ath intercepted near half way to run in right on half time and Brown converted to give Grovians a 17-12 half time lead.
The Wath pack (full of experience and grunt) were giving the Grovians a hard time in set scrum and line out and with wind now behind their backs it looked a hard task for the inexperienced Grovians line up.
Indeed Wath scored in the opening minutes of the half as their forwards carried down the field and put in the left wing for a try to level the scores.
Grovians defence against the big Wath side was heroic and it is a testament to it that Wath were resulting to kicking penalty kicks on 64 and 70 minutes. Wath now led 23-17 with ten minutes to go.
Grovians were still in the game and ventured into the Wath 22 for the first time in the half. Wath were penalised several times and a yellow card was awarded for a deliberate knock on. Grovians drove towards the line but Wath gained a penalty and the chance was gone.
With a minute left Wath deprived Grovians of what would have been a deserved losing bonus point when they kicked their third penalty of the half.
Team: - Kennedy, Yarinakis, J. Harrison, Secker, Dennis, De’ath, Brown, Nesbit, Johnstone, Ryan, Dodd, Elcock, Garforth, Popely, Williams Replacements - Pickering, Honey, King