Wanderers grab win with last play
St Josephs 22
Wanderers 25
“The penalty count cost us dearly but at the end of the day we came away with the win” commented Manager Mark Gould.
“We stayed in the fight and got our rewards at the end” added chairman Brian Patterson.
On an extremely cold windy night against a tenacious opponent the Wanderers gained a win with the last play of the game having survived a huge penalty count against and playing nearly half the game with 14 men (3 yellows). It was clear from the off that the strong wind would have a big bearing on the game and that plus the huge penalty count in the match made for a very poor spectacle for those that braved the cold. The Wanderers went ahead early with a Gruff Ab Ieuan penalty, but they then disappeared into their “end of season” shells as St Josephs took control. Tackling was optional and as the penalty count rose the home side manufactured two tries into the wind to put them ahead 12-3. Finally, the Wanderers woke up and showed, as they have done all season, with a little space they are dangerous. Attacking on the counter Ethan Holley sliced through the defence and raced away to score. Ab Ieuan added the conversion 12-10. Despite the strong wind on their backs the game became camped in the visitor’s half with only brief respites allowing the Wanderers to kick the ball deep. More penalties against the visitors followed and Ab Ieuan saw yellow making the Wanderers task up to half time even more difficult. A Penalty to the home side extended their lead to 15-10 but just before the break a rare foray into the St Joseph’s half and a penalty to the Wanderers (this time!) allowed Holley to reduce the arrears to 15-13 and that’s how it stayed to the end of the half.
The Wanderers coaches called for a response from the players and the half, into the wind began brightly. Another yellow thwarted any pressure they might have exerted but when a scrum was awarded on the opposition 22 a neat move by the backs saw Ab Ieuan glide through the would-be tacklers to put the Wanderers ahead 15-18. The penalties continued as did the end of season lethargy. Subs started to come and go and another yellow for Mike Vaughan this time, saw front row forwards coming and going nearly as often as the referee was blowing his whistle. St Josephs battled hard with some excellent carries they were really testing the Wanderers defence which had to dig really deep. Another penalty saw the home side set up play deep in the visitors 22 and after their lineout misfired a bouncing ball was gathered by the Joes side and the proverbially Red sea parted in front of the carrier to allow the home sides third try of the evening 22-18. Time started to run out for the Wanderers but there was one last twist to the game’s events. A superb carry downfield form Dylan Lawley set up play in the home side half and the visitors threw everything into the attack. St Josephs scrambled back and managed to halt the play in the corner, but their relieving lineout was deemed not straight and the visitors had one last chance. From the scrum, carries from forwards and backs took play to the line on three occasions only to be stopped short but finally the ball was recycled wide left and Ellis Evans popped up to crash over for the winning score. Ab Ieuan added the conversion. Final score 22-25.
Wanderer’s scorers
Tries: Ethan Holley, Gruff Ab Ieuan, Ellis Evans
Cons: Gruff Ab Ieuan (2)
Pens: Gruff Ab Ieuan, Ethan Holley
Massiv MOM: Finn Davies
Management MOM: Dylan Lawley
Match Pics: https://flic.kr/ps/c7gzd