1st XV 24 - 20 Wharfedale

This was a must win game for both sides who need some clear ground between themselves and one of the bottom four relegation places and it was Stour who came out on top and a further four point cushion. Not that this was a comfortable victory and those of faiint heart were kept on the edge of their seats right up to the final whistle.

With arguably the second best centres in the league (Stour having the best), in form Wharfedale went into this game as favourites and kicked off with both wind and slope advantage. Two minutes gone and a surge of testosterone in the front row gave Mark Bedworth an easy penalty to send "Dale" ahead by three points but this was immediately cancelled out, a minute later when Bressington returned the favour after the home side were penalised for coming in from the side. This same penalty ping pong scenario was re-enacted 5/6 minutes later and, at six all, the game settled down to a fairly even contest where both sides produced some dangerous attacks and, in all fairness, where Wharfedale made fewer mistakes than the visitors. Their efforts were rewarded when, following a series of "pick and drives" the ball found itself out left. A superb dummy by Malherbe was enough to fool the defence and a quick pass to left wing, Jack Mackie, gave him a debut try which Bedworth converted with ease.

However, there were more "ping pong" points when, straight from the kick off, Stour were awarded a penalty and Bressington made it 13-9. The next 10 minutes saw Stour dominate loose and scrummage play. The pressure paid off when Dale were down to 14 men and a penalty against, inside their own 22. Stour made no mistake with the penalty/line out option and the ball was spun out left to Freeman. He made some good yardage but was stopped short allowing our own debutante wing, John Holtby, his five first points and a further two for Bressington's conversion. The half time whistle blew and, for the first time in this game, Stour were in the lead at 13-16.

Round two started with a bang as Stour kicked off with wind and slope advantage. Within 60 seconds they gained possession, Adam Billig's strength and tenacity created a pass to Holtby who scythed through Dale's defence and bagged his brace! Unfortunately, the left post got in the way of Bressington's conversion. Shortly after this and given a scrum at the opposite end of the pitch, Dale's No 8, Baldwin, picked up from the base and, virtually unopposed, scored and Bedworth converted. 20-21 and all to play for!

Dicky Tummy (AKA Tom Richardson) had to leave the pitch and was replaced by Jon Hall with Joe Baker coming on for Simon Homer to take a well earned rest. The game settled again - well for 12 minutes - with neither side capitalising on either territory or possession. However, with 70 minutes gone, Stour were awarded a penalty and Bress picked up a further 3 points to give him a tally of 14, for the day. After this, Dale picked up their pace, changed tactics to a forwards dominated style and came for victory in what can only be described as a barrage of attacks. Stour's defence held strong but at the cost of a Yellow Card to Adam Parr who found himself on the wrong side of a ruck and at the wrong end of several Yorkshire studs. The resultant play saw the ball speeding through Dale's back division and into the hands of Mackie. The debutant, with a clear view of the line and an overlap the size of Yorkshire, itself, must have been thinking how he would be heralded as the saviour of Wharfedale. Unfortunately (or highly fortuitous if you were from Stourbridge), the referee adjudged the final pass to be forward. Indeed, a Stour supporter was standing next to a Dales man, right in line with the pass but for some peculiar reason neither agreed with each other's own view of the situation. (It was nice to see, on the Wharfedale web site, that the informed opinion agreed with the referee. This is typical of the sporting nature of this fine club!). There was no time for argument as the referee blew for full time and the roar of the crowd was heard for miles around. So much so that some Stour ladies, shopping in the nearby village, thought we had lost!

This was a gutsy performance, full of character, determination and spirit. One which the boys deserved to win and proves that hard work and team spirit goes a long way in rugby. We have already won more away games in 2009 than we did before Christmas and this is a massive a confidence booster for next week's home fixture against Launceston. It is difficult to decide upon man of the match as all players performed superbly. The forwards worked hard, to a man and crucial yardage was made in the backs. I shall leave this decision to Mitch or our junior scribe but, in my opinion, Duncan White should be somewhere in the top three. Now that his fitness is starting to return, his experience and work rate is causing the opposition problems and long may it continue.

Scorers;
WHARFEDALE
Tries Mackie, Baldwin. Conversions Bedworth (2) Penalties Bedworth (2)
STOURBRIDGE
Tries Holtby (2). Conversions Bressington (1). Penalties Bressington (4)