On a day where the club hosted a double header against Sheffield Tigers, supporters of the Foresters were treated to Storm Amy and a plague of opposition tries.
It was one of those days, our visitors were late and unfortunately short of players.
Despite their setbacks Tigers entered the fray augmented by some support from the home team.
The opening stanza of the game was relatively even with both sides making mistakes, both in handling and defending. However, there were a few indications that Tigers’ real strength laid in their three quarters. Their backline possessed a number of athletes with good pace, footwork and rugby IQ.
Tigers’ early attacks of runners coming around the corner were dealt with by the very young and enthusiastic defence of Dale. The visitors’ halfbacks then started to change the point of attack and repeatedly switched play against the grain. This was a ploy that they reverted to throughout the game. The effect created one on ones in space for their fast backs to exploit. Tigers were guilty of wasting a couple of early chances. That is not to say that they had things their own way with the Foresters trying to play with structure.
The first try came for Tigers on 9 minutes to take them out to 0-7.
The young Foresters hit back immediately with a well worked try from a scrum. No. 8 Michael Robinson went right down the short side, in the opposition 22. He drew in a number of defenders and got the ball away to right wing, J. Kay, to finish off the move. Score 5-7 after 12 minutes.
Dale were caught napping in the 18th minute. Tigers’ scrum half taking a quick tap from a penalty in Dale’s 22. This put the hosts on the back foot. Spencer Bennett’s strong run beat several defenders and scored to right of the posts making it 5-12.
Tigers took the score to 5-19 on 21 minutes before Michael Robinson scored from a scrum pick and drive after 24 minutes, to make the score 10-19. A flurry of try’s before the break saw the halftime score line at 20-36.
With resumption of play and deteriorating conditions a further eight tries were scored. Six to Tigers and two by the gallant Foresters.
Full time 34-72.
Scores & times
0-7, 9 mins, Tigers
5-7, 12 mins, Kay
5-12, 18 mins, Bennet, Tigers.
5-19, 21 mins, Tigers
10-19, 24 mins, Robinson
10-26,27 mins, Tigers
15-26, 30 mins, Sumner.
15-31, 33 mins, Tigers
15-36, 36 mins, Tigers
20-36 38 mins, Kay ( HT)
2nd Half
20-43, 43 mins, Tigers
20-50, 45 mins, Tigers
27-50, 48 mins, Barnwell
27-55, 50 mins, Tigers
34-55, 53 mins, O. Hall
34-62, 64 mins, Tigers
34-67, 66 mins, Tigers
34- 72, 75 mins, Tigers
Full Time. 34-72.
Wharfedale squad: –
H. Ellison, J. Charnley , J. Bentley, S. Middleton-Smith, Z. Phillips, J. Kay, J. Beecroft (c), M. Robinson, S. Esner, S. Mason, A. Roddis, E.Sumner, L. Craven, O. Hall, J. Ready, T. Whitehead, S. Bennett. F Barnwell, M Wills.