Fowler brace buries Beddau
Wanderers 23
Beddau 3
“We lacked a little accuracy in the first half but in the second half we reaped the rewards with 2 superb team tries. It was also pleasing to prevent a side as good as Beddau from scoring a try” commented Coach Darren Gibbon
We’ve identified areas of weakness in the last few weeks and this group are learning not to repeat those mistakes” added Manager John Lyons.
On a grey afternoon the game was preceded by a well respected minutes silence for recently departed Wanderers the game being sponsored by the “Big D” in memory of Jim Bradbury whose grandchildren were mascots for the day. Despite the overnight rain the pitch was in decent order. The early exchanges were tense as both teams probed each others defences and after some initial aerial tennis the game was locked between the 22s. Back and forth the plays went from touchline to touchline but neither side could find a breakthrough. The majority of the play was with the home side and eventually they were rewarded with the first scoring chance. A scrum penalty allowed Paul Short to step up and land his first penalty 3-0. There was very little between the sides with all four wingers on show showing good pace and attacking ability on the ball, when chances arose but nobody could find the killer play. Short did have a chance to extend the lead but his shot went just wide. The Wanderers had the bulk of the territory with Beddau finding it tough to enter the home side 22 but although the ball was often in Wanderers hands there was very little to threaten a very organised Beddau defence. Just after half an hour the visitors had a chance to level it up but a penalty shot went wide keeping it at 3-0. Back came the home side and Cameron Gibbon and Steve Drummond were prominent in attack but the home side still found real scoring chances few and far between. The game continued as a really tough arm wrestle and just before the break Short had another penalty shot and he doubled the Wanderers lead 6-0. The half then ended as it had begun with two evenly matched sides cancelling each other out and the Wanderers took the slender 6-0 lead into the break.
The Wanderers began the second half brightly going through the phases they mounted a period of pressure. Max Wootton went close after a neat front peel at the lineout and that was to be his last contribution as he was replaced by Callun James. There was still little between the sides and the visitors started to ring the changes. The first line break of the game saw Beddau make ground but the Wanderers scrambled defence recovered to halt the attack. There was a definite increase in freedom for the backs of both sides as the game headed towards it last quarter. Beddau finally registered their first score when a penalty offence for offside allowed them to reduce the arrears 6-3. The Wanderers responded well. A scrum on the Beddau 10 metre line set the home side backs on the attack. Will Adams Jones took the play deep and after several phases Anthony Cox carried well. Recycling the ball Jake Beetham then fired in a cross kick into acres of space out wide. Aaron Fowler was loitering out on the touchline and after he had controlled the ball he gathered it and sauntered over the line for the first try of the game. Short added a touchline conversion 13-3. The Wanderers now had their tails up and they young home side backs started to gain confidence. Taking play deep into the visitors 22 they forced a penalty in front of the posts and Short landed his third penalty 16-3. Both sides sent for fresh legs but the home side were having a real purple patch of form. A defensive kick from Beddau failed to find touch and Drummond set the home side back on the attack. Rhys Beynon took play deep and with forwards and backs on hand Dan Apsee, on as a sub, put Short in the clear. He fed Fowler who raced away to score his second try, Short converted 23-3. Beddau realising the game was slipping away threw everything at the home side and as legs tired the penalty count rose. The visitors mounted a series of attacks declining shots at goal they elected for driving lineouts. The referee’s patience ran out with the home side and Apsee saw yellow but the young Wanderers dug deep and no matter what Beddau tried they could not break the home side line. The Wanderers line remained intact to the final whistle and the home side recorded a fine win. Final score 23-3.
Wanderers scorers
Tries: Aaron Fowler (2)
Cons: Paul Short (2)
Pens: Paul Short (3)
Wanderers Management man of the match: Aaron Fowler
Massiv man of the match: Aaron Fowler