Match Report – Wetherby Cavaliers versus Wetherby U9s A 

Well done to the Wetherby Cavaliers who played a development match against the U9s A team on Sunday at Grange Park.

The team was made up of the smaller and younger players in the large U10s squad, and was intended to give greater confidence, especially in the physical aspects of the game. It was also a chance for those players new to rugby to get more match time. 

Callum McHenry again shone throughout the match, seeming to be everywhere and making a strong impact in the forwards. Jo Driver also showed strongly, tackling hard in the centre alongside Greg Barrington-Hirst and William Shuttleworth, both of whom made several impressive runs through the middle of the defence. 

Tom Owen showed his pace on the wing and tackled well. Sam Seldon used his power, driving the ball up into contact. Both these new players are showing real signs of promise and benefiting from match practice.
 

Wetherby U10s versus Castleford – Sunday 2nd December 2007

On a wet and cold morning, Wetherby U10s hosted an under strength Castleford team which borrowed heavily from our large squad. After volunteering to play for the visiting team, Henry Evans scored a remarkable try, snatching a long lineout throw and darting down the touchline to score for Castleford. Callum McHenry also shone in the Castleford side, scoring a try and filling-in at both hooker and scrum half. Luke Hodgson and Niall Robinson also made a big impression on the visiting coaches.

Wetherby again lacked shape and structure to their game, playing well at times, but relying on individual performances from within a constantly changing line-up. Edward Contreras battled against the powerful Castleford pack and kept Wetherby going forward. Ben Thompson was typically aggressive in the rucks and mauls.

The team played in their new strip and enjoyed spelling out words with the letters on their backs. Next week is training at home, meet 10:00am prompt.
 

Wetherby U10s versus Old Leodensians - Sunday 25th November 2007

Wetherby U10s picked up from where they left off in the Yorkshire Cup at Otley, with Matthew Jones scoring early against Leos. But this lead was short-lived as Leos broke through a huge gap around the side of the scrum to draw level. The Wetherby pack then worked hard to create field position from which Luke Hodgson tore away to score. Wetherby ended up ahead 2:1.

After the first interval, with a less experienced Wetherby side taking over, Leos managed to level the scores winning 2:1 despite a fine try from man of the match Jake Wilby. Jo Driver made ground on the left wing and Callum McHenry drove hard in the loose play.

The third quarter was an opportunity for a mixed strength Wetherby team to find gaps in a tiring Leos defence, and Dave McElwee soon outpaced the opposition to score a fine try. Henry Evans took advantage of the space behind a powerful Wetherby scrum to dive over for a try. And Ben Taylor continued his scoring streak to get on the score sheet as well.

But the team failed to work together to best effect, only James Megarry using passing to create space. Possession was lost too often in the tackle, with Leos being handed numerous opportunities to score from soft turnovers. Joseph Waind was gifted the ball out wide after Oliver Heum was disposed after a strong run and he sprinted over to score for Leos.

Dan Martin kept Wetherby going forward in the last period but Wetherby found their opposite numbers hard to handle in the lineouts, and Leos eventually ran out 11 to 7 winners overall on the day.
 

Yorkshire Cup - Sunday 18th November 2007

Yorkshire Cup Success for U10s 

Wetherby under 10s today qualified for the second round of the Yorkshire Cup with three wins at the historic Cross Green ground in Otley.  

Despite losing narrowly to Otley A in their group, the Wetherby Roundheads beat Otley C and Aireborough to qualify as group runners up, before comfortably beating Otley B in the knockout stages to finish third overall and secure passage to the final stage. 

After going one try to nil ahead in the first half against Aireborough in the decisive pool match, Ben Thompson crashing over from a well worked tap penalty, Wetherby then conceded a controversial try after the referee seemed to halt play near to the Wetherby line. But a second half try by Sebastian Pitt sealed a deserved victory. 

The game against Otley A ended four tries to nil after two early scores by a very strong Otley side proved difficult to recover from in the biting November wind.  

Action at Otley	Tom at Otley	Roundheads at Otley
		Click on an image for the full-sized picture

But Wetherby played some excellent rugby and overwhelmed the Otley third string team in the last pool game with tries from Ben Taylor, Ben Thompson and a stunning solo effort from Luke Hodgson on the right wing. 

In the knockout stages, Wetherby Roundheads faced runners up in the other group Otley B. and by now the team was starting to enjoy some fast flowing rugby. At one stage Matthew Jones peeled off a lineout and drove into the heart of the defense to set up a ruck, the ball was driven on by Edward Contreras and James Megarry, before Tom Stearn darted over the line. Forwards Ben Thompson and Ben Taylor both romped away for second tries and the game ended comfortably for Wetherby with a four to one win. 

The strong Wetherby squad also fielded a Cavaliers team in the other group. This team narrowly lost to Otley C in their final game having lost to Roundhegians, Yarnbury and Otley B.  Harry Johnson and Greg Barrigton-Hirst formed a strong partnership in the centre and Callum McHenry’s tackling gave the team hope against generally stronger opposition. The best moments for Wetherby Cavaliers came when speedster James Aldridge ran to score from inside his own half and also when pressure from Jake Wilby resulted in a try for Marcus Corneillsen in the last game.

The Yorkshire Cup second round takes place in April.

Wetherby U10s versus West Park Leeds - Sunday 28th October

The U10s squad split into two teams against West Leeds this week, The Roundheads and the Cavaliers. Each team played two 15 minute halves of regular nine-a-side rugby.

The Roundheads started well with Edward Contreras driving the ball up the middle several times and Tom Stearn tackling strongly in midfield. Ben Taylor again made an impact, as did Marcus Corneillesen who replaced him at prop after an early injury. At half time the score was one try to nil with the game well balanced.

The Cavaliers team included three players new to Rugby Union, and the backs were marshalled by Dan Martin at scrum half and Jo Driver who tackled strongly all afternoon at centre. Although up against a stronger team overall, they did manage to work Luke Taylor into space twice and he used his pace to run in two tries from half-way.

After the break, the Roundheads lost concentration and soon fell well behind despite hard tackling by Thomas Wright. Two tries from Oliver Heum, and then Henry Evans who darted over after a scrum-five gave Wetherby some hope. But at the end the result was a narrow defeat.

Similarly, the Cavaliers were beaten in the end, although several players made very encouraging contributions. Tom Owen grew in confidence on the right wing, and James Aldridge, who had tackled well all morning, sprinted the length of the pitch only to be tackled into touch in the corner two metres short of the try line.

Thanks to West Leeds for their hospitality and good luck in the development of their very impressive new clubhouse facilities. We will see them at Wetherby in January.

Next week training at home, meet 10:00am prompt please.
 

Wetherby v Roundhegians - Sunday 13th October

Wetherby found this week’s opponents hard to handle for the first 20 minutes of this week’s fixture, with Roundhegians running in six tries to the home team’s one. The visitors were aggressive and took the upper hand in rucks and mauls, using their superior bulk. With regulars Thompson and Jones missing, Wetherby then lost Seb Pitt and Niall Robinson through injury, leaving an inexperienced pack.

Wetherby found it hard to get the ball out to the wings and basic handling errors under pressure cost them the game. Gregg Barrington-Hirst, James McGarry and Davy McElwee tackled valiantly but couldn’t create any space out wide for Jo Driver or Tom Stearn on the wings.

In the second period, new prop Ben Taylor who had scored Wetherby’s only try earlier, started to create some forward momentum. He and Marcus Cornelleissen made some hard yards and started to turn the tide. First Edward Contreras found a gap through the defence and darted over to score. Then, as Roundhegians tired, Oliver Heum shrugged off three tackles to sprint in for a stunning try from half-way.

Wetherby hung on at the end, leaking a try after concerted pressure on their own line but still won the second session two tries to one. New players Thomas Wright, Tom Owen, Harry Johnson and James Aldridge all played a part in the win.

Training with Richard next Sunday due to half-term holidays. This is especially important for the newer players and is an opportunity to work on skills development.
 

Wetherby v West Leeds - Sunday 7th October 2007

Wetherby went into their first fixture of the season with confidence and a strong starting line-up, based on last year’s side, and established a comfortable lead by half-time. Ben Thompson was prominent and soon ripped the ball from a maul to gallop from half-way to score.

Forwards Matthew Jones and Edward Contreras controlled the tight play, setting up good-ball for Henry Evans to spread the play wide. Centre Oliver Heum started the game as he ended last season, finding space and running strongly to score twice. Wingers Jo Driver and Davey McElwee both had good runs as the ball was worked out to their flanks.

After half-time, several newer players were given an opportunity to make their mark in the October sunshine, with scrum half Dan Martin organizing a rookie back-line in which Luke Hodgson looked sharp.

But this smaller and less experienced Wetherby team came under strong pressure from a physical West Leeds pack, especially in the mauls and at line-outs. New prop Sam Seldon held his own in the scrum and hooker Callum McHenry linked play well around the rucks and mauls. Heroic tackling by Tom Stearn, and especially man-of-the match Niall Robinson near his own line, halted several West Leeds attacks.

So the squad made a good start overall, with the ball moving fluently along the line and positional play generally well organized. Well done to all involved.

Next week Roundhegians visit Wetherby, and our U10s will have several key players missing, giving further opportunities to the squad for more match practice. Meet 10:00 am prompt.