A GAME OF TWO HALVES!

Following a last week’s last minute heartbreak, Old Wheats were looking to bounce back, and with plenty of positives to be taken from the defeat by Old Leamingtonians and seeing the return of a score of players from injury Old Wheats were in an optimistic mood heading into the match.

Kick off and Old Wheats receive and immediately Woodrush pile on the pressure, forcing the turnover. Woodrush are quick out of the blocks, attacking the flanks but the Old Wheats defense stands strong.

A knock-on near the Old Wheats 22 meter line gave the home side a scrum, after which the ball was punted deep into the visitors half.

Woodrush retain possession at the line out on their own 10 meter line and make a break down the wings, a deceptive looping pass from the Woodrush fly-half split the Old Wheats defense in two allowing the visitors to dive in and score the in left hand corner.
The try was unconverted, 0-5 with 5 minutes played.

Following the restart Old Wheats were awarded a scrum due to a knock on, with a subsequent early push by Woodrush. A free kick was taken by Old Wheats, granting the opposition a line-out just short of their own 22 meter line.
The visitors remained in control of line-out plays, allowing quick ball to the back line, with some dashing footwork and pop-pass play Woodrush were in to score their second try in 5 minutes, shooting down the left wings, the old Wheats defense had no response.
A conversion gave the visitors a 0-12 lead with only 10 minutes on the clock.

Restart taken well by Old Wheats, as they quickly mounted an offensive of their own, excellent hands by winger Oliver Breeden allowed for deep and expansive play as Wheats tore into the Woodrush half.
After sustained pressure, a powerful scrum allowed quick ball to the back line, scintillating play by Wheats cutting the Woodrush defense apart, ends with an outstanding try scored by Josh White.
5-12

Old Wheats knock the ball on from the restart, Woodrush retain possession from the scrum and delve deep into the home side’s half, phases after phases of mounting pressure is quelled after outstanding defense from flanker Josh Waring who makes two tackles in one movement and then got up rapidly to make the third, forcing the knock on, outstanding play.

Woodrush earned a scrum just inside their own half, and were able to provide excellent ball to their back line, with some clever play, a dummy switch and a slew of missed tackles the visitors fly-half dashed through unopposed to score under the posts.
After he Converted the try himself to make it 5-19 with little over 15 minutes played.

Despite almost perfect playing conditions, it must be said that handling errors were rife, with Woodrush knocking it on again after the restart, giving Old Wheats an excellent attacking platform, deep in the opposition half. After a secure showing in the scrum Wheats opted to attack the wings and were almost over for a try all for an unlucky bounce from a drubber kick.

Woodrush maintained their dominance going through phase after phase of pressure, Wheats gave away an offside penalty in their own 10 meter line, the opposition opt for a kick at three point and it was put away without hesitation.
5-22 shortly after the 20 minute mark.

After a ferocious tackle and an unfortunate landing, fullback Joe Boyle was subbed off with a suspected wrist injury and was replaced by Cormac who himself was seeing a return from a spell on the sidelines due to injury.

Sustained pressure from Woodrush employing a chip and chase kick allowed their fullback to score right between the posts.
Converted try just shy of the 30 minute mark brought the score to 5-29.

A penalty taken quickly straight from the restart by Josh Warring left the Woodrush defense for dead, allowing Wheats to playing flowing and expansive rugby resulting in a try in the left corner by fly-half Gaz Windsor.
Gaz steps up and converted the try himself to make it 12-29 at half time.

Half Time Score
Old Wheatleyan RFC 12
Woodrush RFC 29

After a first half of fast paced flowing rugby marred with handling errors and missed tackles Old Wheats saw themselves trailing, but certainly had their tails up after scoring at the depths of the first half.

With momentum shifting, Old Wheatleyans were certainly quick out of the taps in the second half. With scrum half Ollie Breeden scoring following a quick tap and go penalty.
It was a difficult kick, right on the touch line and was not converted.
17-29 with 42 minutes played.

Superb play from Old Wheats, running through the phases with masterful handling and position opened up the opportunity for another try in quick succession, scored by fly-half Gary Windsor.
He stepped up and converted it himself bring the scores to 24 – 29.

Woodrush weren’t going to let all their hard work in the first half go to waste an were awarded a penalty for a high tackle a couple of meters short from the Old Wheats 22. They opted for the kick at goal and were successful in their endeavors.
24-32.

Old Wheats seemed to really come into their own in the second half, communication was perhaps a factor that was lacking in the first forty minutes but any errors in that department were quickly brushed aside.
The forward pack were working together as a unit at the break down, which allowed for quick and efficient ball for the back line. After some savvy footwork and a remarkable passing display from the outhalves, hooker Alan Beauchamp crashed over the line with authority.
Unfortunately the try was not converted, 29-32 the scoreboard read after 56 minutes of play.

At the sixty minute mark Woodrush scored a well-executed drop goal to add an additional 3 points to their tally, 29-35.

Ill-discipline cost Woodrush, in an uncharacteristic lapse of concentration, this saw the referee penalising the visitors for diving in at the ruck.
The aforementioned penalty was kicked with great accuracy and vigor straight down to the opposition’s 5 meter line. After a dominate display at the line-out, second row Steve Pahal making full use of the maul, scored inches from the sidelines. An exceptionally difficult kick was not converted, but Wheats were within touching distance of grasping the lead. With a mere point separating the two sides, 65 minutes played the scores sat at 34-35.

Shortly after the restart prop Rich Saunders received an injury at the break down and had to be replaced by chubby cheeked Coach Matt Cappell.

Centre Dan Brooks followed last week’s stand-out performance with another excellent display of attacking rugby. He sliced through the Woodrush defense, working in concert with fly-half Gaz Windsor to allow winger Oliver Breeden to dive over in thrilling fashion. This gave Old Wheatleyans the lead in the match for the first time in the game, 70 minutes on the clock and the scoreboard read 39-35.

Dan Brooks finished off the game with a scintillating try right between the posts, which was gleefully converted by Gaz Windsor.

A whirlwind of a match, great from a neutral point of view and even better from a Wheat’s viewpoint. A truly impressive show of grit, determination and preservation was on display today. To overcome early set-backs to come back and win in such remarkable fashion really shows the depths of courage and character this team has.

Final score
Old Wheatleyans RFC 46
Woodrush RFC 35

Post-match interview with Coach Matt Cappell:

Q: Well, where do I start, what a game, what do you think of the players performance today?

A: Honestly, cliché, but it was definitely a game of two halves today, first half not at the races, we were still in the changing room to be quite honest.
29 points to 12 and half time I think we were lucky to be only that far behind, second half, phenomenal!
Win by 11 points stopped them getting a second bonus point, can’t fault it!

Q: You had to go on yourself after an injury to number 1 how was that for you?

A: Yeah Rich Saunders had to go off, he’s been suffering with a bit of compression in his neck over the last couple of weeks. So due to some changes in the squad, I was on the bench and it was good to have a run out with the boys, it’s the first time I’ve done that in the league game for The Wheats and it feels great to get the win.

Q: Were there any stand-out performances today?

A: I think Josh Waring in the first half for his tackling . Everyone saw him make two tackles in one movement and the got up and made the third tackle. His defense is probably some of the best I’ve seen, I haven’t seen a 7 with defense like that this low in the League structure.
Second half 18 lads put in a shift and really went for it and we did it, they had faith in each other and that’s what I think was lacking a bit in the 1st half. Second half they trusted each other and that’s a big thing we’re trying to build this year is trust, we have to trust each other and we’ll put on some great performances.

Report written by David Aston

Match photographs are (with huge thanks to Honourary Vice-President Mark 'Woody' Woodward):

Click Here for Match Photo's