Wharfedale RUFC 16 - 10 Sheffield RUFC

Wharfedale RUFC 16 - 10 Sheffield RUFC

Team Selection for Saturday, 20th January 2018

15. Fergus Wood
14. Rupert Broadley
13. Lewis Bowman
12. Frankie Robson
11. Gareth Morley
10. Andy Hodgson
9. Steve Depledge

1. Ben Whitney
2. Sam Graham
3. Dan Rylance
4. Dom Parsons (Capt)
5. Dave Clayden
6. Connor Mitchell
7. Sean Casey
8. Gareth Burns

Replacements
24. Tommy Marples (FR)
20. Sam Whitworth (FR)
17. Angus Hughes (FR)
19. Tom Womack
18. Matt Law

After the disappointment of our first two games after the Christmas and New Year break when we have faulted somewhat, the trip to Wharfedale offered an opportunity to get the season back on track. Andy Hodgson was to make his first start at fly half since he was forced out through injury, with Matt Law dropping to the bench. Sam Graham also made a return to the front row at hooker with Sam Whitworth dropping to the bench. Gareth Morley also returned to the starting line up from the bench.

Throughout all the trials and tribulations of the season, up until the break at Christmas, our line out and scrum have been the two factors that had been constant, consistent and strong, but since the break, both have looked somewhat more than out of sorts and unfortunately, the problems were to carry over the trip to Wharfedale. Because of the problems being experienced at scrum and line out Sheffield were to struggle to maintain any possession in the first half, with barley 20% in their favour. With no possession if is difficult to get any territory and therefore, score many, if any points. So for Sheffield to turn around at half time behind by only 5 points to 3 was remarkable, but was as much a statement of the quality of the opposition as to the inadequacy of Sheffield's performance. Wharfedale scored a try after 24 minutes through their number 8, Josh Burridge after Sheffield had tried to clear their lines from their 22 with a kick by Steve Depledge which set the Wharfedale attack in motion. Fly Half Tom Barrett failed with the kick and both sides were left to flounder around trying to find any cohesion in their play. Some ten minutes later Sheffield managed to apply some pressure to Wharfedale's defence and after Wharfedale had erred sufficiently, referee O'Brien decided a penalty in a kickable position was in order. Steve Depledge converted and the lead was reduced to 5 points to 3 after 36 minutes.

Sheffield came out in the second half and despite one or two errors looked to have regained some confidence and were attacking Wharfedale more vigorously and with intent and were duly rewarded after 46 minutes with try through hooker, Sam Rylance after a break by Andy Hodgson up to Wharfedale's 5 metre line. Steve Depledge added the conversion and Sheffield had the lead at 5 points to 10. However, Sheffield problems at the line out and scrum gave Wharfedale every opportunity to get back into the match and take the initiative. They eventually opened up Sheffield's defence after a string of penalties at the scrum gave them field position from which they manufactured a second try from a line out on Sheffield's 5 metre line. The scorer was hooker Dan Stockdale, but the conversion was once again missed by Tom Barrett, but the scores were tied at 10 points all after 55 minutes. The match turned decisively in Wharfedale's favour with two kickable penalties in front of the posts on 63 and 76 minutes giving Wharfedale a 16 point to 1o lead. Despite this and the late state of the match, Sheffield could have stolen an unlikely victory before the final whistle. With all the players on the park very, very tired, having played out the whole match on a very wet and heavy pitch, Sheffield full back Fergus Wood carved through the Wharfedale defence leaving all in his wake. He went for the corner to avoid the attentions of Wharfedale's full back Rob Davidson, but was caught just short a d prevented from scoring. However, I believe that fly half Andy Hodgson had tracked him to the Wharfedale line and any ball flicked back would had left Hodgson with a full and unprotected try line as no other Wharfedale defender had managed to get back. The opportunity was lost and eventually, care of two penalties at the scrum, Wharfedale cleared the danger and the match concluded to our obvious disappointment.

Scoring:-