1st XV vs Ledbury (A) Midlands 4 WS

The Wheats arrived at Ledbury with a coach packed full of supporters hoping to see their team prevail and avenge the Wheats solitary league defeat this season.

Missing a few players but with the confidence that being on the top of the pile gives, the team were looking forward to challenging themselves.

The club welcomed Pete Mills for his debut in the front row, along with Big Dom and Will T. Pace and Andy T were in the Row and Craigy, Critch and Wrighty made up the pack in the back row.

Lowey was at 9, Rich T at 10, Loachy and Rob T formed a new centre partnership and Josh, Casper and Ross completed the back division.

Chunky, Jack, Bobby and Stow were on the bench.

Ledbury were out of the blocks incredibly quickly and 2 converted tries and a penalty took them into a 17-0 lead after 25 minutes. They were playing with an intensity that the Wheats seemed unable to match and even when they did get into good positions a completely dysfunctional lineout, dropped passes and silly mistakes meant that the Wheats couldn’t capitalise.

It made for difficult viewing for the Wheats travelling supporters as all the endeavour and commitment being shown was being thrown away – literally!

Ledbury added another 7 pointer before Wheats registered their first score. Josh linked with Ross H, who gassed the cover defence to dot down for his 21st try of the season, Lowey adding the extras.

So the score was 24-7 at half-time.

The first score of the second half would be crucial – it came for Ledbury on the 50 minute mark with a 7 pointer to stretch their lead to 31-7.

In reality, the game was gone. Perhaps it was that knowledge that relaxed the Wheats as the next 20 minutes they played their best rugby of the match. They battered away again and again at stubborn Ledbury defence and finally got their rewards when Craigy crossed for a 5 pointer.

Ledbury completed the scoring with a try with just 8 minutes to go.

Final score Ledbury 36 - Wheats 12.

A bad day at the office for the Wheats but by no means disastrous. Wounds will be licked, lessons will be learnt and we’ll be back hard at it at training on Wednesday.

Many thanks to the big travelling support for making the journey down to Ledbury.