Wolves
Matches
Sat 30 Sep 2017  ·  North One West
St Benedicts
15:00
Wilmslow RUFC
Wolves
Ambush in Whitehaven

Ambush in Whitehaven

David Pike2 Oct 2017 - 12:45
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St. Benedicts back to Strength

This was a game which had mugging and banana skin written all over it. After four heavy defeats, the call to arms had gone out in Whitehaven to restore the town’s pride. With the end of the summer Rugby league season now in sight, the call was answered by five dual code players, all backs, returning to the Rugby Union fold and with prospects of more to come in the next few weeks. St. Benedicts were now a much stronger side than they had been in recent weeks. It was always going to happen at some stage and it was always just a case of when.

To add to the Wolves discomfort, their coach had crept round the fringes of the Cumbrian fells with dark menacing clouds coming off the Celtic Sea spitting their heavy driving venom down on them. It was pleasantly bright in Whitehaven itself but the heavy rain had left a pitch, which was wet and greasy with some standing water in parts. It was ever thus in West Cumbria.

The Wolves were also missing their captain Bob MacCallum, still getting treatment for his finger injury from last week.

They started well enough, reports Barry Fisher. Within ten minutes, a loose ball was picked up by No. 8 Alex Taylor and was passed to the backs. Rick Hughes spotted a gap and ran forty yards to the try line unopposed. This was converted by Conor McMurdock. Ten minutes later, good handling by backs and forwards culminated in a try by McMurdock, which he converted for 14-0.

Thirty minutes in, St. Benedicts capitalised on an unconverted interception try by Steve Woods. This was followed by a Wilmslow penalty to the corner and from the lineout Alex Taylor crossed. The Wolves then got themselves penalised for not releasing in front of their own posts, which enabled Kurt Maudling to land a simple penalty for 19-8 at half time.

It was a different kettle of fish in the second half as the bigger St. Benedicts forwards took charge, particularly in the scrum. It became even harder when second row Tom Bull was yellow carded. The Wolves were then held up driving for the line and then lost the ensuing scrum.

It soon became 19-15 when winger Andrew Middleton crossed for the home side and for the remainder of the game, the Wolves were subject to deep defence in the face of continued pick and drive play. In the end the pressure told as Kristian Wood to the loud plaudits of the home supporters went over in the corner for the winning try.

St. Benedicts at home are now going to be a formidable test for any visiting side.

Match details

Match date

Sat 30 Sep 2017

Kickoff

15:00

Competition

North One West

League position

2
Wilmslow
13
St Benedicts
Team overview
Further reading