Weakened Wednesbury hit hard
SHREWSBURY RUFC 34 WEDNESBURY RUFC 5
THIS week Wednesbury made the journey to Shrewsbury, with no less than 11 first team regulars not available. This made for a very interesting game, with a number of players stepping up from the second team.
Wednesbury gave a good account of themselves but the last quarter of the game told. Wednesbury’s defence played an heroic game battling to keep the home side at bay, but it was always going to be an uphill struggle.
The visitors started well taking the game to Shrewsbury, the home side soaked up the pressure and then broke out using their wingers to great effect scoring their first try after 12 minutes, then added the conversion.
Wednesbury’s forwards held their own in the scrums and had the better of their opponents in the line outs. It took the home side 30 minutes to make another breakthrough, scoring another converted try. Wednesbury battled on creating chances but unable to make the final breakthrough.
Whatever the Wednesbury coach said to his players at halftime had an effect; they came out all fired up. Within three minutes of the restart they were on the score sheet after a series of rolling mauls lead by Josh Harris getting them closer to the try line, Jordan Allwood picked up the ball and snaked his way through Shrewsbury’s defence to go over for the try, no conversion.
As much as Wednesbury tried to improve their score the home defence held firm and kept pushing Wednesbury back. With all the extra work Wednesbury left themselves open for the counter attack. This Shrewsbury used to their advantage, with 15 minutes gone they broke away to score a try, no conversion.
The extra work took its toll on Wednesbury allowing the home side to run in another three unconverted tries, with Wednesbury noticeably tiring
After the game Wednesbury players named Jordan Allwood as their man of the match, however, team manager Neil Hainse voted Dan Blake as his man of the match.
Coach Gary Summers said, “We were vastly under strength, this made the difference. Both sides made lots of mistakes but with that many second team players in we were always going to struggle.”
Next week Wednesbury have a home game versus Eccleshall, ko 2.15pm.
Wednesbury 2nds took a beating from Shrewsbury 2nds 87-0, with Wednesbury having to field a much weakened team because of the players the first team had to take.
Tipton broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, Scott Broadway chasing a seemingly lost cause before just keeping the ball in play, crossing deep into the home penalty area where Luke Johnson bravely battled through to turn the ball home. 0-1
Immediately afterwards it may well have been two to the visitors, Broadway only just unable to make his fine cross an even more telling one.
Tipton began the second half with intent, centre-forward, Broadway so close to netting a second. The home club struck back straightway, Lester Alderson driving with venom for goal, however, without reward.
On 57 minutes, Jaton Vernon tied up the scores at 1-1, his splendid drive simply a winner all the way.
Thereafter an incident occurred in midfield from which Tipton’s Adam Skeldon was given a red card to the acute vexation of the Tipton defence.
Thomas did well in the visitor’s goal to cling onto Tom Worthington’s fine drive midway through the half. The home club proceeded to win three consecutive corner kicks in the closing minutes, going very near to grabbing a winner, but Tipton’s doughty and valiant defending ensuring they took home a point.