1st XV vs Claverdon (A) Midlands 4 WS

The sun shone down on Claverdon’s “Stadium of Dreams” on Saturday afternoon as the Wheats met last season’s Nemesis.

Cainy, Ross and Dom were in the front row, BJ and Andy T in the engine room and Lee Harrison, Critsh and Skipper Hero completed the pack in the back row.

Lowey and Rob T were at half-back, Nolan and D-Day were in the centres and SBS, Dru and the Snake completed the back division on the wings and at full-back.

Jack, Ross, Gary, Josh and McShane made up the bench, McShane making his Wheats debut.

With Amy on standby with D-Day’s phone just in case Mrs Day went into labour, we were all set and ready to go.

The Wheats started STRONGLY and found themselves 10-0 up in as many minutes. Dan Nolan continued his try-scoring form by SCYTHING through the Clav defence to cross under the posts, SBS converting. SBS was on the mark again a few minutes later when more Wheats pressure resulted in a penalty, effortlessly converted.

Clav found their stride and got a foothold in the match with some useful territory but the Wheats were BOOMING in their defence as runner after runner was DISPATCHED. The Wheats scrummage was STRONG, the lineout functioning well as the forwards put in one of their best performances of the season.

The referee was finding fault with the Wheats at the breakdown, scrum-time and their defensive line. A staggering 17 penalties were conceded in the first half which halted the Wheats continuity significantly.

It didn’t stop the Wheats using the ball they had to good effect and Boy Band crossed for another 5 pointer, again converted by SBS and they were 17-0 up and sitting pretty.

Half-time came and changes were made; Josh White coming onto the wing, Pace into the 2nd Row, Jack having already replaced Cainy in the front row.

The second-half started as the first had finished with the Wheats finding themselves on the wrong end of the referee’s whistle. From one such penalty Claverdon kicked 3 points to close the score to 17-3.

The remaining half hour was all about the Wheats; HUGE in defence, DANGEROUS with ball in hand and STRONG together with McShane and Gary coming off the bench.

Lowey extended the lead to 17 with a DELICIOUSLY slotted penalty following some great pressure. Nolan then should have been awarded his hat-trick after the referee incorrectly adjudged that he knocked on over the line.

The Wheats had the final say with a try made on the training ground on Wednesday night. Dru took the ball inside of Nolan after D-Days dummy run had opened the hole. Dru showed AMAZING PACE as he GASSED through the gap, leaving the Clav defence trailing in his wake. He ‘DRU’ the winger and put the Snake one on one with the full-back. The Clav 15 threw all of his weight behind the tackle but couldn’t get hold of the SLIPPERY ONE. It was another incredible try to add to the list this season and a fine way to finish a great away victory and put one over Clav.

The front five put in an ENORMOUS performance, the back-row were IMMENSE and the backs as CLINICAL as ever.

Top performance you Wheats Boys!

Final Score: Wheats 24 – 3 Claverdon

Match report by Mase