On a beautiful day for rugby at the Avenue, the Foresters team, before kick off, knew that they would be facing a tough challenge from table toppers Sheffield.
With a number of players playing out of position, familiarity and continuity would be another obstacle for the Greens to overcome.
Things didn’t start too well for Wharfedale conceding two early tries to the visitors. Just after four minutes they were 12 points down; Sheffield scoring wide on the Greens’ left and then in midfield after the opposition stand off took the ball to the line and sold the hardworking Foresters defence, a dummy, to score under the posts.
The Foresters rolled their sleeves up and played rugby in the opposition’s half for the next six minutes. The key to their success was in their carrying, which created good go forward ball and momentum. An excellent try on 10 minutes saw the Forester’s go through multiple phases, with notable carries made by prop Ronan Barker. The excellent interplay was rounded off by outside centre Luke Craven off loading in the tackle to his centre partner Ollie Bullock who scored under the posts. Score 5-12.
In the next twenty minutes we saw an injury to Tom Whitehead who had to leave the field. Despite Sheffield being on top, good defence from the Foresters kept the score line unchanged until the thirty first minute where the sustained pressure told. The visitors scored taking their lead into half time to 5-19.
With the Foresters loosing a player to a yellow card a few minutes before halftime time, Sheffield played direct rugby in the opening eight minutes of the half. The Foresters, led by captain Simon Borrill, showed excellent commitment and repelled numerous attacks. On the forty eighth minute the dam was breeched and the visitors scored from a spilled ball by the Greens in their own 22. Score 5-26.
The visitors began to get more continuity in their game. Fresh legs from a strong bench saw them score further tries throughout the second period, taking their lead out to 5-47 after 72 minutes. The Foresters at no time gave up the fight and made Sheffield earn the metres they were making.
Shortly before the end of the match, the Greens scored the last try of the game. Having got themselves into the opponents 22, quick ruck ball saw the ball go through the backs hands from right to left. Alex Mounsey, right wing, took an excellent diagonal line in support and scored to take the final score to 10-47.
Team: – 1, T. Whitehead, 2, E. Sumner, 3, R. Barker, 4, Z. Phillips, 5, S. Borrill (C), 6, J. Beecroft, 7, F. Brewster, 8, M. Mountain, 9, F. Walker, 10, S. Cox, 11, S. Smith, 12, O. Bullock, 13, L. Craven, 14, A. Mounsey, 15, T. Darwin.
Replacements: – 16, A. Allan, 17, J. Tunnicliffe