Match Report: Wharfedale 22 Chester 19

Ed Williams has been reporting for the Yorkshire Times, part of the p.ublished group of online newspapers, on his local club, Wharfedale RUFC.

Wharfedale had chances to put the game out of Chester’s reach but in the end settled for the 5 points and a solid home win. Chester never gave in and some determined play saw them travel home with a deserved bonus point.

The opening salvoes showed how the wind would affect the game. It was difficult to kick or put together good passing phases. Wharfedale struggled to get out of their half after the kick-off but then the visitors found it hard to make progress when they had possession. Dale opened the scoring two phases after a turnover and a break by Robbie Davidson was run in by Harry Bullough.

Davidson converted from in front of the posts. Mistakes followed from both sides and the only meaningful event was the first scrum on halfway after a Dale handling error. Going uphill and into the wind the Green Machine exerted too much pressure for the Chester pack and won a penalty. The Green Machine took their domination to the lineout and having secured the ball on Chester’s 22 drove the defence back close to the line. Poor discipline allowed Chester a respite and they cleared for a line-out just outside their 22. They found it hard to deal with the wind and this affected passes which took them deeper into their 22. When they did attempt to kick, Zeb Heyes charged the ball down and followed up to touch down for an unconverted try.

The game reverted to the wind disrupting play. Star Man, Josh Prell, provided some warming moments with good strong running. Unfortunately, his efforts went unrewarded when mistakes were made.

The visitors now grew into the game and managed to put together some meaningful phases. They had multiple pick and goes close to the line but the Green defence held and moved the ball downfield. Dale again played good dominant rugby but mistakes halted progress. It was the barely used Chester backs that now came into the game. They gathered a clearance kick, and good handling and support play eventually was rewarded when Dafydd Williams scored in in the corner. Again, no conversion.

Dale extended their lead on the stroke of half time. After another dominant Green Machine scrum, Oliver Cicognini danced his way through the Chester defence and Heyes was on hand to receive the off-load and go on to touch down for an unconverted try.

Chester’s Dafydd Williams scored next following up two grubber kicks to grab his second. A good conversion closed the gap to 5 points. Wharfedale now started to dominate again and a series of penalties gave the home side territory and possession. Eventually a yellow card was given to Chester’s centre, Ben Ivory. Good work from the Green Machine set up Dan Stockdale for their bonus point unconverted try before Chester finished the scoring with a converted try by John Craven.

Not a day for open, flowing rugby but hats off to both sets of players for getting out on the pitch and trying to play entertaining rugby. A massive appreciation also to the good crowd who turned up in awful conditions to support their teams. There were moments to treasure from the Wharfedale players. Josh Prell had an outstanding game; defence splitting runs, and awesome tackling gave him the edge for the Man of the Match.

Robbie Davidson also made a massive contribution; in the first-half, into the wind, he controlled the game making good decisions. Zeb Heyes also had a strong game and his reward was the two tries. The front row, including the replacements, gave a dominant performance all afternoon. No player had a bad game and hopefully this team can produce two more strong performance leading up to Christmas. Dale travel to Fylde next Saturday before entertaining Harrogate at the Avenue in the Christmas Derby on the 21st December.

Wharfedale Bullough; Bullock, Prell, Cicognini, Hamilton; Davidson, Kaup-Samuels (Riddiough 50); Patchett (Dickinson 40), Stockdale (Collinson 74), Armstrong, Heyes, Hedgley (c), Pinder (Borrill 60), Fawcett, Markey (Weston 32)